Rishi Sunak faces call for inquiry into ‘secret election meetings’ with Dominic Cummings – latest

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Rishi Sunak’s secret election conferences with Dominic Cummings should be investigated by the prime minister’s impartial ethics adviser, the Liberal Democrats have mentioned.

Wendy Chamberlain, the occasion’s chief whip, claimed the conferences weren’t “declared in the proper way” as she urged Sir Laurie Magnus to probe whether or not Mr Sunak had damaged the ministerial code by attending.

Mr Sunak and Mr Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser, met twice in December 2022 and December final 12 months reportedly for talks on how the Conservatives might win the election.

Mr Cummings claimed that he was provided an adviser job by the PM and that the pair mentioned a number of areas for coverage reform – together with nuclear weapons and future pandemic defences.

In a letter to Sir Laurie, Ms  Chamberlain mentioned: “We urgently need to know why these meetings weren’t declared in the proper way, and if any officials were present or informed.”

The ministerial code states that “official meetings held in a ministerial capacity” ought to be declared, and if official enterprise arises, “any significant content should be passed back” to the Cabinet Office.

A authorities spokesperson denied any guidelines have been damaged, saying that “meetings with private individuals to discuss political matters do not need to be declared.” No 10 claimed no job was provided.