A former UK cabinet minister, Kemi Badenoch, has been accused of attempting to use taxpayer money to pay for a personal holiday flight to the US, according to sources.
The Guardian UK reports that Badenoch
asked her department to cover the cost of a flight to Dallas, Texas, for a family holiday in February last year.
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However, her request was denied due to concerns that a taxpayer-funded diversion would be difficult to justify unless it was for official business, even if the flight was cheaper.
These allegations suggest that Badenoch may have violated the ministerial code, which states that ministers must uphold the highest standards of propriety and must not ask civil servants to act in conflict with their own code of conduct, including with public funds, as stated by the Guardian UK.
She, however, ended up paying for the flight herself.
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An anonymous source close to Badenoch told the Guardian UK that she had been due to fly to Texas for an official visit with the state governor, Greg Abbott, to discuss a state-level trade agreement. Still, when the timings did not work out, she covered the cost herself.
However, evidence seen by the Guardian UK suggests the former minister did ask the department to try to find a way to fund the flight even when there was no official reason for the trip.
The international media report read, “Badenoch had travelled to Mexico for an official visit to discuss the UK’s bid to join the CPTPP Indo-Pacific trade bloc, of which Mexico was a founding member, as well as bilateral trade with the country. Her business class flight there was covered by her department.
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“But before travelling, she asked the office of DBT permanent secretary, Gareth Davies, whether the department would pick up the bill for a flight to Dallas, where she was holidaying with her family, as the overall cost was lower than a business class return from Mexico.”
However, sources claim that Badenoch’s request was not an isolated incident and that she had a history of using taxpayer-funded resources for personal gain, like packing her suitcases, shopping for expensive clothing, and purchasing Christmas presents. She reportedly refunded the cost of these purchases.
“The stuff she asked them to do was well out of their remit. I’m amazed they put up with it but I’m not sure they felt they had much choice. Kemi treated them like a PA. It felt like such an abuse of taxpayer-funded time,” said a departmental source.
The Guardian UK also reported that Badenoch utilised her official ministerial car for personal errands, including gym visits, and to travel to her constituency in Essex, which contradicts the ministerial code, which restricts the use of government cars to official business and commutes if the time is used for work.
The source close to Badenoch said she was doing official government business whenever she used the car, often with her ministerial red box or virtual meetings with civil servants.
Additionally, departmental insiders claimed that Badenoch allegedly created a challenging work environment, described as “toxic” by some colleagues.
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Advisers also allegedly ordered lunches from upmarket meal delivery service Lions Prep, now rebranded as Frive, to fill her office fridge twice a week, with staff members sent down to the department’s main entrance to pick them up.
Sources claimed she had specific rules for snacks to stock her office and would complain if, for example, aides bought the wrong colour of apples. She requested room temperature Coke Zero for meetings.
They were also asked to buy Christmas presents for Badenoch’s children, alleged ex-colleagues, as well as gifts for other friends. The former cabinet minister refunded the cost of purchases.
A spokesperson for Badenoch denied any wrongdoing, stating that “the business department said there were no complaints or investigations into Kemi.”
The department told the Guardian, however, that there had been no “formal” complaints in response to allegations that senior officials had spoken privately to the permanent secretary about her alleged behaviour.
Her spokesperson added: “Given that today they’ve confirmed that the proper process was followed on the ministerial code, we look forward to having to deny tomorrow that Kemi faked the moon landings.”
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However, the department did not confirm whether Badenoch’s use of the car was either within, or outside, the ministerial code.
A DBT spokesperson said: “The department takes both the ministerial code and civil service code seriously, to ensure they are followed at all times.
“The ministerial code is clear that ministers can use cars for work, official travel, and where there is a security concern. It is normal for permanent secretaries to advise what is appropriate within the ministerial code so proper process is followed.”