Submission by Lord Harris of Haringey,
Monday 23 February 2009
HOUSE OF
LORDS' SUB-COMMITTEE
ON LORDS'
INTERESTS: SUBMISSION
BY LORD
HARRIS OF
HARINGEY
1. My name is Toby Harris, Lord Harris of
Haringey. I am 55 years old, was appointed a Life Peer in 1998
and was introduced in October 1998.
2. Like many Peers of working age, I still
need to earn a living and so, in addition to my duties in the
House, I have a "portfolio" existence combining a number
of public appointments with advisory and non-executive roles in
the private and voluntary sectors. These various interests are
declared in the House of Lords Members' Register of Interests
(and also in the registers maintained by the public bodies with
which I am involved).
3. Amongst my interests is the public affairs
consultancy that I established some 10 years ago—Toby Harris
Associates. This provides mentoring and advisory services to senior
people in organisations in the public and private sectors. The
work done is described on its website—www.tobyharrisassociates.co.uk.
The consultancy does not provide parliamentary services.
4. I received a phone call on my mobile
telephone on the morning of Thursday 8 January 2009. The woman
calling me identified herself as Claire Taylor, working for what
she said was a primarily Brussels-based public affairs consultancy.
She said that one of their overseas clients was looking to appoint
some UK-based advisors and might that be something I would be
interested in doing. I was actually running late for a meeting
when she called and told her that I might be, but that I did not
have time to discuss it further then and suggested that she should
send me further details and gave her my email address.
5. She sent me an email the following day,
which said she worked for a company called "Michael Johnson
Associates" and referred me to its website at www.mja.eu.com.
She said that they were looking to expand their network in the
UK and that one of their Chinese clients was particularly keen
for them to develop their UK parliamentary contacts. The email
suggested coffee in the next week.
6. I responded suggesting three possible
times when I was free in the week beginning 12 January and she
responded opting for the one time of the three that I had suggested
that we meet at the House of Lords. The full email exchange is
appended to this submission.
7. The meeting took place at 3.30 pm on
Tuesday 13 January 2009. I met "Claire Taylor" at the
Peers' Entrance and she introduced me to someone she described
as her boss, "David Thompson." They both gave me their
business cards and I bought them tea in the Peers' Dining Room.
8. They again described themselves as from
a public affairs company that did most of its work in Europe and
said that they had a Chinese client who was keen to expand its
presence in the retail clothing market in the UK, by opening a
chain of high street shops.
9. I outlined the nature of my public affairs
consultancy, explaining that I offered strategic advice and/or
personal mentoring to senior people in public or private sector
organisations. I also made it clear that there were three things
that I did not do as part of my consultancy work: I would not
act in Parliament on behalf of clients; I would not personally
lobby on behalf of clients; and I would not make introductions
for clients.
10. They then described the issue that was
particularly concerning their client. This related to the Business
Rates Supplement Bill and the impact that any supplements might
have on their client. They said their client was keen to see the
Bill amended either to require a referendum of all the businesses
potentially affected before a supplement could be imposed or to
provide an exemption for a period for newly opened businesses.
I pointed out that in my opinion the first would be very strongly
opposed by the Government as it would in practice undermine the
purpose of the Bill and in particular would make the funding needed
for the Crossrail project more problematic. I also suggested that
the second option would be better pursued via a trade association.
11. Rather to my surprise, they kept coming
back to whether I would be able to help their client secure the
amendments. I again explained that I was not prepared to act in
Parliament on behalf of a client, nor to make personal representations
or introductions on a client's behalf.
12. The meeting concluded—after about
50 minutes—with "David Thompson" saying they would
be back in touch.
13. I made no effort to contact them again
and did not hear from them further.
14. On the morning of 23 January 2009, I received
a phone call from Michael Gillard of the Sunday Times asking
about my business arrangements with "MJ Associates."
I said I had no business arrangements and that the only contact
I had had with them was a cup of tea about 10 days before. He
then informed me that "David Thompson" and "Claire
Taylor" were, in fact, under-cover reporters and that they
had taped the conversation in the Peers' Dining Room. He asked
me whether I had anything to say and I reiterated that I had entered
into no arrangement with them and restated that I was not prepared
to act in Parliament on behalf of clients, or lobby or make introductions
on their behalf. The conversation concluded with Michael Gillard
saying that they would be running the story in the Sunday Times
on 25 January 2009.
APPENDIX: EMAIL
EXCHANGES WITH
"CLAIRE TAYLOR"
From: Lord Toby Harris [***]
Sent: 11 January 2009 22:35
To: "claire@mja.eu.com"
Subject: RE: Consultant opportunity
Excellent! I will see you at the Peers' Entrance
at 3.30pm. The Peers' Entrance is marked as (8) on the map at
the link below:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/faxmap.pdf
Lord Toby Harris
Toby Harris Associates: www.tobyharrisassociates.co.uk
From: Claire Taylor [mailto:claire@mja.eu.com]
Sent: 11 January 2009 18:34
To: Lord Toby Harris
Subject: RE: Consultant opportunity
Great, why don't we do 3.30pm on Tuesday at
the Lords?
Claire
From: "Lord Toby Harris" <***>
Sent: 09 January 2009 18:16
To: claire@mja.eu.com
Subject: RE: Consultant opportunity
Thank you for this. I would be happy to meet
next week. I could do 11.30am on Monday at the Institute of Directors
in Pall Mall, 3.30pm onwards on Tuesday at the House of Lords
or 3.30pm on Friday. Are any of these any good for you?
From: Claire Taylor
Sent: 09 January 2009 09:08
To: ***
Subject: Consultant opportunity
Dear Lord Harris
It was nice to speak to you yesterday.
As I explained, I work for a communications
company called Michael Johnson Associates. We currently do most
of our work in Brussels but are looking to expand our network
in the UK. One of our Chinese clients is particularly keen for
us to develop our UK parliamentary contacts and potentially take
on a consultant with a good link to government and a track record
in working for enterprises outside parliament.
One of the researchers suggested your name and
I wondered if you might like to meet for a coffee to discuss whether
this is something you might be interested in? I am in London most
of next week, so please let me know what days/times suit. My number
is ***** ******.
Here is a link to our website—http://www.mja.eu.com
Many thanks
Claire Taylor
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