“Given the evasive nature of your responses, your inability to answer specific questions asked of you or to provide context of your relationship with Merlyn Advisors, the committee found that there was a violation of the rules governmental practices regarding professional appointments,” Acoba President Eric Pickles wrote in a letter to Johnson published Friday.
Johnson had previously sought advice from the watchdog regarding working with Merlyn Advisors as an independent contractor in September 2023. But that request was withdrawn after Johnson said he would not accept the work.
The Sunday Times reported that Johnson’s February trip saw him speak with Maduro about the war in Ukraine and discuss terms for normalizing relations with the United Kingdom, which does not accept the legitimacy of Maduro’s administration. Maduro.
In his letter to Johnson, Acoba Chairman Eric Pickles said there was a “reasonable concern that you were acting for Merlyn Advisors in a capacity that would be considered advisory – for which Acoba would expect an application “.
Acoba rules state that former ministers must not announce or accept new appointments until the committee has provided its advice.
“Inapplicable” rules
In a separate letter to Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden – whose ministry must decide whether to take action against Johnson – Pickles said Johnson had been “evasive” with the watchdog, avoiding responding to specific questions and “refused to be open” about the relationship.
Pickles, who is pushing for an overhaul of Acoba’s rules long described as toothless, said the current setup depends on the cooperation of candidates and departments, and warned that the rules “are no longer relevant in the modern world and are inapplicable for the candidates were determined to ignore them.
Johnson’s spokesperson declined to comment. The Cabinet Office did not respond to a request for comment.
Politico
