MPs question Levy secretary honour
Questions were being asked last night as to why a secretary working for Labour’s chief fundraiser, Lord Levy, was granted an MBE.
Jean Cobb received the award in the Queen’s birthday honours in June 2002 in recognition of her work with three charities headed by the peer, who is a close friend of the prime minister and his personal envoy to the Middle East.
Lord Levy was arrested last week by police investigating the cash for honours row, although he was bailed without charge. He denies any wrongdoing.
Following the revelation of Mrs Cobb’s honour by Channel Four News last night, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb has written to the Cabinet Office asking them to investigate whether anything was amiss.
He warned it appeared as if the MBE had been given because of who Mrs Cobb worked for, rather than what she did, and said the honour had been devalued as a result.
“Is this a proper basis on which an MBE is awarded? Was Mrs Cobb given preferential treatment as a result of her position as Lord Levy’s secretary?” wrote Mr Lamb, the chief of staff to Lib Dem leader Menzies Campbell.
“I would be grateful if you would clarify the precise basis of the award of this MBE. Further, please confirm who nominated Mrs Cobb for this award.”
Labour MP Stephen Pound also expressed concern about the honour, telling Channel Four News: “The point about having an honour like that is for something which is above and beyond what you would normally do.
“Hundreds, thousands of us are members of charities, we belong to charitable groups, we support them but we don’t get recommended for honours.
“What it would need is someone who actually brings something exceptional to it. Simply being a member of a board or a member of a committee shouldn’t be reason enough to get an honour.”
In a statement released afterwards by Lord Levy’s spokesman, Mrs Cobb said she was “surprised and very proud” to have received an honour for her work with Jewish Care, the Jews’ Free School and Community Service Volunteers.
“For many, many years, I have frequently worked late nights and over weekends helping to arrange charity functions and carrying out secretarial and administrative work on their behalf,” she said.
“I certainly didn’t expect any honour. When my retirement at 65 was coming up, some of the charities I had helped got together and I think they nominated me. Going to the palace and receiving the MBE was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.”
