Dan Peters Sam Clayden 06 February 2018

Call for Javid to resign after 'misleading' House of Commons

Andrew Gwynne has demanded the resignation of his counterpart, local government secretary Sajid Javid, after the minister admitted he knew the provisional finance settlement was wrong.

The MJ was the first to reveal Whitehall officials rushed out the provisional settlement despite knowing the figures it was based on were wrong.

Mr Gwynne said Mr Javid had now admitted he knew the provisional finance data was ‘incorrect and [he] knowingly mislead Parliament as a consequence’.

He tweeted: ‘The ministerial code is clear. Ministers that knowingly mislead Parliament should resign.’

Mr Gwynne said: ‘I wrote to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government to ask whether serious allegations set out in The MJ were true, namely that he knowingly misled this house on figures published in the provisional local government settlement and knowingly misled honourable and right honourable members in the answers he gave to their respective questions.

‘Yesterday, Mr Speaker, I received a letter from the secretary of state confirming that he and the department knew the overall scale of the error and still nevertheless published the provisional settlement on the basis of those statistics.’

Mr Gwynne accused the communities secretary of creating a ‘damaging lack of trust in the ministry across local government’.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Democratic Services, Elections & Monitoring Officer

Harborough District Council
Grade 12 £67,236 – £71,223 plus £3000pa Statutory Officer Allowance
We are looking for an accomplished and proactive leader for our vacant post of Head of Democratic Services & Elections Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Recuriter: Harborough District Council

Social Worker - Family Support and Safeguarding - Bicester Banbury

Oxfordshire County Council
£37035 - £47754
You will manage a caseload tailored to your experience, ensuring that children’s and their families’ voices are heard, and their needs are met. You will work with families using the FSP Workbook modules, and a strengths-based approach, ensuring the As Bicester
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Executive Director of Resources & Governance (S151 Officer)

Basildon Borough Council
Up to £146,245
Together, we lead. Together, we deliver. Together, we transform. Basildon, Essex
Recuriter: Basildon Borough Council

Executive Director of Homes, Communities & Environment

Basildon Borough Council
Up to £146,245
Together, we lead. Together, we deliver. Together, we transform. Basildon, Essex
Recuriter: Basildon Borough Council

Executive Director of Strategy, People & Transformation

Basildon Borough Council
Up to £146,245
Together, we lead. Together, we deliver. Together, we transform. Basildon, Essex
Recuriter: Basildon Borough Council
Linkedin Banner