Conservative MP George Freeman will not face a parliamentary standards investigation regarding potential lobbying, it has been confirmed.
The Member of Parliament for Mid-Norfolk had previously referred himself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner in June, following allegations that a company he was affiliated with assisted him in drafting questions for government officials.
Freeman, a former science minister, had received prior counsel that lobbying the government could present a conflict of interest.
Freeman expressed his “delight” with the determination that there were insufficient grounds for a formal inquiry, characterizing the allegations as “unfounded.”
In a statement, he added: “The Commissioner has reiterated that the lobbying rules do not prohibit [MPs] asking [Parliamentary] Questions or advocating for sectors or issues of public interest, even where they themselves may have a financial interest, as long as the rules on registration and declaration are followed. As was the case with my Questions.”
The allegations of “cash for questions” centered on Freeman’s advisory role with GHGSat, a company specializing in greenhouse gas monitoring satellites.
Reports in the Sunday Times alleged that Freeman consulted with the company’s director regarding the subject matter of parliamentary questions he intended to submit.
Furthermore, emails reportedly revealed Freeman requesting assistance from the company in “get[ting] the wording right” for questions related to space data and emissions tracking, which he would then “convert into parliamentary language.”
In a statement provided to the BBC at the time, Freeman maintained that he believed he had not acted improperly, while his party deemed it “inappropriate” to comment during the ongoing inquiries.
Freeman assumed the role at the environmental monitoring company in April 2024, with his declared register of interests indicating a monthly salary of £5,000 for eight hours of work per month, before leaving the role in March this year.
Following notification to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), he was advised to “not become personally involved in lobbying the UK government” on behalf of GHGSat.
Freeman served as science minister under both Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, and currently serves on the science, innovation and technology committee.
Requests for comment have been submitted to the Conservative Party and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
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