Former Tory Minister George Freeman Suspended As Trade Envoy Over 'Cash For Questions' Claims
It followed claims that he was paid by a company to ask government departments certain questions.
He was listed as the trade envoy for Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei but Downing Street confirmed he had been 'suspended' on Monday evening.
Freeman, who has been the MP for Mid Norfolk since 2010 and served in both Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson's governments, referred himself to the parliamentary watchdog over the concerns.
He has been a paid adviser for a greenhouse gas emissions monitoring service, GHGSat, since April 2024.
According to The Sunday Times, which published alleged leak emails from Freeman asking the company director what to ask, he then submitted questions to ministers about the sector the firm operates in.
A No.10 spokesperson said: 'Parliamentary standards are a matter for the House and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
'And you can see the individual has referred himself to that process.
'While that investigation takes place, it is right he has been asked to step back from the role, and he has been suspended in representing the UK as a trade envoy until that process has been concluded.'
Freeman released a statement over the weekend announcing he had referred himself to the watchdog although he did not believe he had done 'anything wrong.'
He said he 'regularly asks experts for clarification on technical points and terminology' as a long-standing advocate of new technologies.
Freeman claimed he also 'deeply respects' the parliamentary system, and tries to 'assiduously follow the code of conduct for MPs and the need to act always in the public interest'.
'Throughout my 15 years in parliament (and government) I have always understood the need to be transparent in the work I have done for and with commercial clients and charities and am always willing to answer any criticism,' he said.
He added: 'I am very concerned at the unauthorised and targeted access to my emails and diary which I have raised with the police and parliamentary authorities.'
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