An update on where @GoodLawProject is with its contemplated private prosecution of @RobertJenrick.

We are currently being advised by Raj Chada of Hodge Jones Allen and Jason Coppel QC. THREAD https://goodlawproject.org/news/shrinking-public-assets/

As we presently understand matters, the key factual question is whether Mr Jenrick reasonably believed that the viability of the Westferry Printworks development would be jeopardised if the scheme was liable to community infrastructure levy.

There are statements in the heavily redacted correspondence Mr Jenrick released that the answer to that question is yes (see eg below). But the heavy redaction of the correspondence makes it difficult to rely on the bits that we are allowed to see. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/895113/Annex_A___Supplementary_Documentation.pdf

The @CommonsHCLG also wrote to Mr Jenrick putting 26 questions to him. And he was supposed to appear before it yesterday to answer them. The key question, we think, is Q13. https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1702/documents/16631/default/

Mr Jenrick replied to @CommonsHCLG refusing to attend yesterday and offering a very incomplete explanation. On our analysis, he either wholly or completely ignored a full twenty of the 26 questions put to him (including Q13). https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/1806/documents/17663/default/

On 6 July 2020 our lawyers wrote to Mr Jenrick pointing out he promised to “help ensure the highest standards in public life” and asking him – under whatever conditions he wanted – to let us review unredacted correspondence. He failed to respond.

I hope it goes without saying that Mr Jenrick's conduct – refusing to answer questions, refusing to give access to documents, refusing to appear before a Select Committee – is not the conduct one would expect of a Minister who has nothing to hide.

In addition to Westferry Printworks, there are questions as to why Mr Jenrick “decided to take all planning casework decisions himself.” A Minister is subject to very different pressures from independent civil servants and we think this increases the need for scrutiny.

The press may have gone away but we are here for the long term.

If you have relevant information that you would like to share in confidence please do let us know.

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