Letter: Minister and shares

John Redwood
Monday 13 October 1997 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: Margaret Beckett in her letter to you (13 October) still refuses to clarify which shares Nigel Griffiths owns. She has received several letters from me as she declines to tell us if Mr Griffiths, or his wife, own shares in P&O and in ICI. Why will she not tell us? Her letter leaves open whether some shares have passed to them rather than his sister. I have always made it clear that if the shares were owned by Mr Griffiths' sister I could see no problem with him continuing on the inquiry.

Why will Mrs Beckett not publish a list of all the shares owned by ministers in her department, whether they are now transferred to a blind trust or not and on what date they were transferred?

I see Nigel Griffiths has been involved with "over 100 competition decisions and issues". Would Mrs Beckett name them, at the same time as publishing a definitive list of the issues and companies which Mr Griffiths cannot handle? Mrs Beckett has not clarified which papers Nigel Griffiths saw prior to announcing an interest on 8 May and what decision he took on P&O/Stena before he withdrew from the case.

JOHN REDWOOD

Shadow President of the Board of Trade

House of Commons

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in