Former Harrogate district MP takes up consultancy role

A former Harrogate district MP is set to advise UK and overseas firms as a consultant less than two years after leaving government.

Nigel Adams, who resigned as Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty in June 2023, has set up his own independent consultancy company to advise firms on IT and telecommunications.

Mr Adams, whose constituency included villages including Spofforth and Follifoot in the Harrogate district and was minister without portfolio under Prime Minister Boris Johnson, sought advice from the government’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

According to letters from Acoba, he intends to work with companies such as Berlin-based Better Earth Partners and Warwickshire communications firm, CloudClevr Holdings Ltd.

His work would involve “providing advice and consulting services” to firms and organisations in the UK and abroad.

Lord Pickles, who chairs the committee, told Mr Adams that while it would not be “improper” for him to set up a consultancy firm, he would be required to consult Acoba on each commission he takes on.

He said:

“It would not be improper for you to operate a consultancy which draws on generic skills and experience you gained from your time in government.

“The potential risks in this case are hard to quantify given the broad and wide ranging nature of the consultancy; and you had access to a wide range of sensitive information and insight whilst in office.

“The committee considered you could offer a potential unfair advantage over competitors- whether in relation to seeking new clients, or in providing them with advice.”

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Lord Pickles added that the cabinet office had no concerns over Mr Adams’ access to sensitive information given the time passed since he was a minister.

However, Mr Adams’ was warned not to become “personally involved in lobbying the UK government or any of its arm’s length bodies” in the two years from his last day in ministerial office for either of the companies he is involved with.

The former MP resigned with immediate effect in June 2023 after Boris Johnson stood down as Prime Minister.

Mr Adams, who was a key ally of Mr Johnson, said at the time that he will not stand again at the next election.

Ripon MP Julian Smith could lose £144,000 under PM’s plan to end consultancy work

Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith could lose £144,000 of consultancy earnings under proposals put forward by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson wrote to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle yesterday proposing MPs are banned from acting as paid political consultants or lobbyists. He said it would help maintain public confidence in Parliament.

Former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Mr Smith, a Conservative who has represented Skipton and Ripon since 2010, would be one of the most severely affected MPs.

He earns £144,000 from three part-time consultancy roles, all of which were approved by the Advisory Committee of Business Appointments.

According to the BBC, more than 200 MPs received earnings in the last year on top of their £81,932 salary.

Mr Smith, who also owns three London properties, is listed as the second highest earner of consultancy fees behind Andrew Mitchell, the Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, who is paid more than £180,000 for six consultancy roles that take up 34.5 days of work.

The Stray Ferret has contacted Mr Smith but he had not replied by the time of publication.

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Julian Smith’s jobs

Ryse Hydrogen: £60,000 for 12 months. He is expected to work 20 hours.

In August 2020, Mr Smith took an advisory role with Ryse Hydrogen. Its chief executive Jo Bamford also owns Wrightbus, a Northern Ireland bus production company that has a relationship with the Northern Ireland Office in government.

Simply Blue Management: £2,000 a month for one or two hours a month over 12 months.

In January, Mr Smith began advising Cork-based firm Simply Blue Management. Its website describes itself as ‘the leading early stage developer of sustainable and transformative marine projects’.

MJM Marine: £60,000 for 12 months. He is expected to work 30 to 40 hours.

In March, Mr Smith began advising MJM Marine on ‘business development’. The company calls itself a ‘leading international specialist in cruise ship refurbishment’. It’s based in County Down, Northern Ireland.

Watchdog refuses to release correspondence with Ripon MP over £3,000 an hour role

A parliamentary watchdog has refused to publish its correspondence with Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith about his £3,000-an-hour advisory role.

The Stray Ferret revealed in August Mr Smith would be paid £60,000 for 20 hours work for low carbon transport company Ryse Hydrogen.

Because of his former government role in Northern Ireland, Mr Smith sought advice from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments about a potential conflict in taking the role with Ryse.

In 2019, when Mr Smith was Northern Ireland secretary, Jo Bamford, the executive chairman of Ryse, became owner of Ballymena-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus.

The Bamford family owns JCB and are Conservative Party donors.

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We asked Acoba, which advises former ministers on employment and conflicts of interest after leaving office, to provide details of its correspondence with Mr Smith.

The FoI response said Lord Pickles, chair of Acoba, considered that disclosure of the correspondence “would be likely to inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and exchange of views; and would be likely to prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs”.

It added:

“The information being withheld includes that which was provided voluntarily by Mr Smith to
enable Acoba to properly advise on the application that had been made.

“Disclosure of the information requested would, or would be likely to, make applicants
reluctant to share information as freely with Acoba in future, especially if there was any
perceived sensitivity about the information. This in turn would compromise the advice that
Acoba is able to give.”

The response said the publication of its letter to Mr Smith on its website had fulfilled public interest requirements.

The letter said the appointment was not a conflict of interest, provided Mr Smith does not lobby on behalf of the company or advise on government contracts in the two years after he departed as Northern Ireland secretary in February this year.

The Stray Ferret is to request an internal review of the decision.