Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden emphasized that the tightening of transparency rules for ministerial hospitality is necessary to close loopholes which created imbalance in declaration responsibilities for ministers and shadow ministers.
The current regulations allow ministers to declare hospitality linked to their government roles in departmental records without stating the value, leading to concerns about transparency compared to MPs who must declare gifts over £300 in a timely manner.
Critics highlighted a specific instance in 2022 where Dame Priti Patel attended a James Bond premiere as a minister, declaring it only in her departmental record without listing it in her MP's register, showcasing the discrepancies in the rules.
In light of recent controversies regarding gifts from Labour donors, MP Rosie Duffield expressed her frustration, stating that the party leadership seemed more focused on greed and power rather than making meaningful contributions to society.
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