Former Cabinet Minister Liam Fox Criticised for Lobbying UK Prime Minister

Strategic Insights -

Liam Fox, a former trade secretary, has been embroiled in a controversy over his work as chairman and commissioner of the Global Britain Commission, a business group that pays him £1,000 an hour, equivalent to £6,000 for six hours of work over the past six months. Fox has been lobbying the UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, on behalf of the group, advocating for tax breaks and changes to government departments. Labour's Anneliese Dodds has criticised Fox's actions, accusing him of undermining the prime minister's promise of a government of professionalism, integrity, and accountability.

Key Takeaways:

  • Liam Fox, a former trade secretary, is the chairman and commissioner of the Global Britain Commission, a business group that pays him £1,000 an hour.
  • The group's members include representatives from the banking industry group UK Finance, private bank Coutts, Heathrow, Virgin Atlantic, and others.
  • Fox has lobbied the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, advocating for an export tax credit, a merger between government departments, and changes to apprenticeship levies.
  • Anneliese Dodds, Labour's chair, has criticised Fox's involvement, highlighting the potential for undue influence and the undermining of the prime minister's promise of a government of professionalism, integrity, and accountability.
  • Fox's activities do not appear to fall foul of lobbying rules as he is a member of the organisation rather than acting in an advisory capacity.
  • Fox has received £10,000 in August for having done 15 hours of work for the Global Britain Commission and is separately paid £10,000 every six months as a retainer by WorldPR, a company based in Panama.
  • WorldPR's clients have included the late Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and the governments of Kazakh and Azerbaijani migration.

Statistics:

  • £1,000 per hour is what Fox is paid by the Global Britain Commission.
  • £6,000 is the amount Fox was paid for six hours of work over the past six months.
  • £10,000 was the payment received by Fox in August for having done 15 hours of work for the Global Britain Commission.
  • £10,000 is the amount Fox is paid every six months as a retainer by WorldPR, a company based in Panama.
  • 6 hours is the amount of time Fox works to earn £6,000.
  • 15 hours is the amount of work Fox did in August to earn £10,000.
  • 2021 is the year when Fox became chair of the Global Britain Commission.
  • 2022 is the year when Fox's role in the commission became a paid position.
  • August 2022 is the month when Fox's role in the commission became a paid position.

Sources:

  • The Guardian, "Liam Fox under fire for lobbying Rishi Sunak over £1,000 an hour job"
  • The Telegraph, "Liam Fox: 'I'm proud to chair the Global Britain Commission'"
  • Anneliese Dodds, Labour Party, "Rishi Sunak's grand relaunch undermined by dodgy second jobs"