Robert Jenrick has come under fire for texting Richard Desmond, the businessman behind plans for a controversial development in east London, while preparing to decide whether to approve it.
James was most angry about trying to expedite the application before a new tax scheme came into force which would have cost Mr Desmond £45m, money that would have gone to Tower Hamlets, the poorest borough in London.
Speaking on his LBC show, James said: "Is there anything that would be a sackable offence in Boris Johnson's cabinet?
"If you're an aide, you can claim that you went for a 60-mile drive to get your eyes tested.
"If you're a Minister, you can conduct secret negotiations with a foreign government, get fired for it, but then get re-hired by this Prime Minister.
"And if you're a Housing Minister, it seems to me that you can expedite a development and overturn a decision by council and government planning inspectorate in order to save an extremely wealthy man about £45m.
"That money wouldn't have gone to a rival tycoon. It's £45m that would have made its way to the coffers of the poorest borough in London.
"The idea that that £45m being taken out of the coffers of the poorest borough in London really disgusts me."
No comments:
Post a Comment