Energy Secretary Ed Miliband at Labour’s Party Conference (Image: Getty)
should not offer companies meetings with ministers in return for cash again, has suggested.
The Secretary fired a four-word warning and signalled he was not comfortable with the offer, after a newspaper reported Labour’s commercial team had offered company chiefs a chance to “gain insight” with Business Secretary for £30,000.
Asked about his message to his party, Mr Miliband told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Don’t do it again is my message.”
He also defended his Cabinet colleague Mr Reynolds, telling ITV the minister was “completely unaware of this invitation”, adding: “He is not attending this.”
Mr Miliband also said: “The answer is – whether it is me or Jonathan Reynolds – it is not about paying to have access. That is not what we are about, no.”
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Reports said The party invited bosses to a plush restaurant for the “rare chance” to “gain insight” from Mr Reynolds in return for sponsorship of the meal.
Mr Miliband also said Sir ’s decision to repay £6,000 worth of donations sends “a signal” and was a “prelude” to introducing new rules on gifts for ministers.
Sir Keir paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts because he “understood the public mood”, Mr Miliband has said.
The Cabinet minister said that the Prime Minister had decided to return the money received since the election because he “wanted to send a signal to the public”.
Mr Miliband told Breakfast: “He made the decision he did to pay some money back because he wanted to send a signal that he understood the public mood and he says he will introduce new rules for ministers and I think it’s the right thing to do on these issues.”
Asked if there had been any directions to ministers about paying back some of their own freebies, he replied: “No.
“Look, I think the Prime Minister is in a particular position because he’s the Prime Minister and he wanted to send a signal that he gets public disquiet about these issues.
“And one way of dealing with that is to bring in new rules which is what he’s said he’s going to do, and I very much support that.
“But he’s also taken the step of paying back some of the money, just to send the very clear signal that he gets it on this issue.”