Cherie Blair breached ministerial code, say Tories
The question of ministers’ spouses making money in ways linked to the role of their partners could be investigated following Cherie Blair’s controversial US lecture tour.
The Commission on Standards in Public Life, formerly the Nolan committee, has said it will look again at the ministerial code of conduct following complaints by shadow leader of the Commons Alistair Grayling
Mrs Blair was reported to have made £30,000 for a Washington lecture billed as the inside account of life in Downing Street.
The ministerial code of conduct bars government ministers making money from commercial activities relating to their job – but it is less specific about ministers’ partners.
Mr Grayling said it was “quite clear” Mrs Blair had breached the spirit of the code of conduct, and he hoped the commission would tighten the rules over this issue.
