I have recently received a reply from the Guardian Reader's Editor after I wrote to them, questioning the accuracy of their reports of Sajid Javid's second job:
2 messages
nicholasphatton <nicholasphatton@gmail.com> Sun, 11 Apr 2021 at 20:08
To: guardian.readers@theguardian.com
Dear Guardian Reader's Editor,
I am writing, with concerns about the accuracy of two articles that you have published. These relate to the occupational activities of Sajid Javid, M.P.
As a resident of Bromsgrove, I was concerned that the articles suggested that my parliamentary representative has taken up a second job. I was worried that this may lead to his becoming unavailable fulfil his duties as my parliamentary representative.
I have conducted my own research into this matter. I have spoken to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. The commissioner drew my attention towards the attached letter. This is a public communication, outlining to Mr Javid the conditions under
which he may pursue employment at J.P. Morgan.
In paragraph 14 of the attached document, it states that Mr Javid must undergo a waiting period of 6 months between his last date of ministerial office and the commencement of his employment.
Mr Javid is clearly still working as a member of Parliament. He is voting on bills and contributing to the proceedings of the House. The commission was able to confirm Mr Javid's continuous ministerial appointment between 2010 and the present.
I wrote to Mark Sweney to ask him about his article. I don't think that Mr Javid has taken up his new job role yet. From what I can work out, Sajid Javid's appointment with JP Morgan has been arranged for after he has left office.
I am concerned that Mr Sweney and Miss Sultana's articles are misleading. Do you have any evidence at all that Sajid Javid has started working at JP Morgan alongside his current ministerial duties?
If he has, he has breached the advice that was given to him in the letter. Surely, if he has broken the rules, something should be said?
The articles in question are linked below.
Zarah Sultana
Mark Sweney
Surely Zarah has seen Mr Javid in Parliament herself, so she would know that he is fulfilling his ministerial duties.
I am also concerned that the articles breach your second journalistic principle of "right of reply". Mr Javid hasn't been asked to explain the nature of his work. None of the other ministers mentioned in the "second jobs" article have been approached for
comment. Zarah Sultana has also omitted to mention that Labour Minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan has worked as a Doctor alongside her ministerial duties. This begs the question of whether the article is balanced.
I would be very grateful if you could offer a response to my email. It is quite serious to suggest that Bromsgrove should be left without a Parliamentary representative. The issue of conflicts of interest is currently in the news, due to David Cameron's links
with Greensill Capital. Maybe it is time to follow up on this issue with respect to Mr Javid's financial interests.
Many thanks for your assistance.
Kind regards,
Nicholas Hatton
Readers' editor (Guardian) <guardian.readers@theguardian.com> Tue, 13 Apr 2021 at 14:57
To: nicholasphatton <nicholasphatton@gmail.com>
Hello and thank you for your email.
The letter you attach makes a clear distinction between Sajid Javid's ministerial role, ie, his role as chancellor, and his role as an MP.
At the time the article was written, Javid had been out of his ministerial role for six months, thus complying with the rules set out in the letter.
The letter also states that it is a part-time role at JP Morgan, therefore he will continue to carry out his duties as an MP while also taking up his JP Morgan role. The evidence that he had started his role is the statement from JP Morgan cited
in the news article.
Regarding your queries about Zarah Sultana's piece, it is an opinion piece so the right of reply is not necessarily applied in such articles. And the article makes mention of the former Labour PM Tony Blair as a form of balance. The fact that
an opposition MP is working as a doctor during a pandemic ie helping those most in need, (and otherwise only occasionally during parliamentary recesses) is considerably different to a minister or a government MP working for a bank on
an ongoing part-time basis ie helping those arguably least in need.
If you wish to find out more about your constituency MP's employment, your best bet may be to go directly to him.
Kind regards
Kirsten Broomhall
Guardian readers' editor's office
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