Parliamentary probe turns eye to Jeremy Hunt
JEREMY Hunt came under renewed pressure yesterday as the parliamentary watchdog launched an investigation into claims that the culture secretary failed to declare donations from media companies.
Hunt has been in the firing line since emails released to the Leveson inquiry earlier this month suggested he supported News Corp’s takeover bid for BSkyB while supposed to be acting in an impartial judiciary role.
Labour MP Stephen McCabe then complained to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards about a series of “networking events” with media firms that Hunt had not entered in the register of interests.
Culture minister Ed Vaizey had recorded the events as donations in kind worth around £27,000 in total.
A spokesperson for Hunt said the ommission had occurred because of an administrative error and the register entry has now been amended. She said Hunt would co-operate with the watchdog probe.
Hunt has faced several calls to resign over the last few weeks, but has resisted. He is set to appear before the Leveson inquiry within the next fortnight.