Letter sent to Lord Alliance on Conflict of Interest

FOR THE ATTENTION OF:

Lord Alliance

House of Lords

Thursday 5 April 2012

Dear Lord Alliance,


I would like to ask you a couple of questions regarding a conflict of interest you appear to have.

I note in your registered interests you have shares in a company called Huntsworth plc run by Lord Chadlington.

Do you not think that having shares in a company run by a Conservative, who funded David Cameron's leadership campaign, and a company which gave £15,500 to the party in August last year, and has given money every year since 2008, crosses the boundaries of the coalition somewhat?

Furthermore, one company in the group that make up Huntsworth Health plc, and which you have shares in has involvement in private healthcare. Huntsworth Health's website states how the company ‘provides a full continuum of consulting and communications services to the healthcare and well-being industry.’ 



I consider this is a conflict of interest?

Also can you tell me if the vote you made rejecting Lord Rea's proposal to decline 'to give the bill a second reading' was influenced in any way by your shares in the company?

Finally, would you agree that such conflicts of interests could be avoided if Peers were not allowed to vote when such conflicts arise, as in this case? At local level councillors cannot vote with a prejudicial interest, Do you think this should apply to Lords?

I appreciate your taking the time to read this and would like to hear from you on this matter when you are able?

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Robertson


Liberal Democrat peer has shares in Tory owned PR company with private health links

The coalition has had its strains since it came together following the last general election, but few would imagine their bond would extend to financially supporting each other. 

But that’s exactly what is happening. 

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Alliance has shareholdings in a company called Huntsworth plc, which is owned by fellow peer Lord Chadlington of the Conservative party.

Huntsworth PLC, run a group of companies involved in ‘communications and lobbying.’ Lord Chadlington as the founder and CEO of Huntsworth PLC, also holds shares in the company. One arm of the group is Huntsworth Health, which operates in the U.S., Hong Kong, and Europe including here. Their website states how the company ‘provides a full continuum of consulting and communications services to the healthcare and well-being industry.’

One of Lord Chadlington's employees is Fiona Bride whose role at Huntsworth is the ‘director of market access.’ Her area of work is succinctly laid out on her personal profile page on the Huntsworth website: Fiona says she has: ‘expertise at leveraging commercial opportunities through market access at all levels of the NHS.’

In the same month as the white paper ‘liberating the NHS’ was released, Huntsworth Health acquired healthcare communications agency, ScopeMedical for £4.6m, thus expanding its health division. Lord Chadlington said of the takeover: "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of ScopeMedical," then added: "Healthcare is a major growth area and we are now very well positioned to take advantage of that growth with a fully integrated healthcare offering that supports the product lifecycle from discovery to patent expiry." 

One presumes Lord Alliance couldn’t agree more. The coalition is closer than we realised, so much so, it could be argued that ‘they are all in this together.’

Incidentally, Lord Alliance has provided £697,440 .48 to the Liberal Democrats central office and for local campaigns. In addition £2,000 to the free market collective UK Liberty League.