The new home secretary,
Priti Patel, is facing allegations of breaching the ministerial code for the second time in her parliamentary career for accepting a lucrative position with a global communications firm before receiving the all-clear from an anti-corruption watchdog.
Patel has been working for Viasat, a California-based company with a UK base in Farnborough, for the past three months as a
strategic adviser on a salary of £5,000 a month for five hours’ work – or £1,000 an hour.
The ministerial code states former ministers must seek guidance from the advisory committee on business appointments (Acoba) on taking up any business appointments within two years of leaving the role – and must not take up the position until advice has been received.
Patel did not approach Acoba to seek advice on the Viasat appointment until June 2019 – a month after she had started the role, in which she was advising on unspecified matters relating to India. She did not receive any guidance from the committee until earlier this month, by which time she had already earned £10,000.
Patel has been approached for comment by the Guardian.