Kemi Badenoch asked officials to pay for a holiday flight with taxpayers’ money to the US while in government but was rebuffed by her former department’s top civil servant, the Guardian understands. Officials at the department for business and trade (DBT) ended up booking her travel to Texas for a family holiday in February last year, sources claimed, although the former cabinet minister covered the cost herself. The ministerial code states that ministers are expected to uphold the highest standards of propriety and must not ask civil servants to act in conflict with their own code of conduct, including with public funds. Badenoch had travelled to Mexico for an official visit to discuss the UK’s bid to join the CPTPP Indo-Pacific trade bloc, of which Mexico was a founding member, as well as bilateral trade with the country. Her business class flight there was covered by her department. But before travelling, she asked the office of DBT permanent secretary, Gareth Davies, whether the department would pick up the bill for a flight to Dallas, where she was holidaying with her family, as the overall cost was lower than a business class return from Mexico. Her request was refused amid concerns that a taxpayer funded detour would be hard to explain unless it was for official business, even if the flight was cheaper. The DBT said it was normal for permanent secretaries to advise on what was appropriate. Sources close to Badenoch said she had been due to fly to Texas for an official visit with the state governor, Greg Abbott, to discuss a state-level trade agreement, but when the timings did not work out she covered the cost herself. However, evidence seen by the Guardian suggests the former minister did ask the department to try to find a way to fund the flight even when there was no official reason for the trip.
Badenoch’s private holiday came within days of the trade department merging with the business department. Another senior departmental source claimed Badenoch had used her official ministerial car, paid for by the taxpayer, to take her to the gym in Knightsbridge twice a week on the way to work, leaving the driver waiting outside for an hour each time. She also used the government car to travel to her parliamentary seat in Saffron Walden, Essex, on Fridays for constituency work and local political events. The ministerial code states ministers are only permitted to use government cars for official business and for travel between home and the office – if they use the time to work – and not for travel arising from party or private business. The source close to Badenoch said she was doing official government business whenever she used the car, often with her ministerial red box or virtual meetings with civil servants. Departmental insiders claimed the request to book – and pay for – flights was typical of the way in which Badenoch dealt with civil servants. The Guardian revealed on Tuesday that she has been accused of creating an intimidating atmosphere in the government department, with some former colleagues describing it as toxic. The former minister allegedly admitted in meetings that she had asked taxpayer funded political advisers to go to her home in south-west London to pack her suitcases for work trips abroad. Sources said she paid a compliment to one aide, in front of colleagues, for their aptitude in packing. The same taxpayer-funded adviser was spotted by civil service colleagues returning to the office with bags of expensive suits and dresses from outlets like Fold and Boss, having been sent out by the former minister on shopping trips. On one occasion they are claimed to have shown colleagues Olang snowboots, which can cost more than £200 a pair, which they had bought for Badenoch’s work trip to the world economic forum in Davos, Switzerland.
They were also asked to buy Christmas presents for Badenoch’s children, ex-colleagues alleged, as well as gifts for other friends. The former cabinet minister refunded the cost of purchases. One departmental source said: “The stuff she asked them to do was well out of their remit. I’m amazed they put up with it but I’m not sure they felt they had much choice. Kemi treated them like a PA. It felt like such an abuse of taxpayer funded time.” Advisers also allegedly ordered lunches from upmarket meal delivery service Lions Prep, now rebranded as Frive, to fill her office fridge twice a week, with staff members sent down to the department’s main entrance to pick them up. Sources claimed she had specific rules for snacks to stock her office and would complain if, for example, aides bought the wrong colour of apples. She requested room temperature Coke Zero for meetings. Departmental insiders claimed that officials were asked to book dentist and doctor appointments for Badenoch and her family. On one occasion, she was said to have asked if the department would cover the cost of new glasses. A spokesperson for Badenoch said: “Yesterday the business department said there were no complaints or investigations into Kemi.” The department told the Guardian, however, there had been no “formal” complaints in response to allegations that senior officials had spoken privately to the permanent secretary about her alleged behaviour. Her spokesperson added: “Given that today they’ve confirmed that the proper process was followed on the ministerial code, we look forward to having to deny tomorrow that Kemi faked the moon landings.” However, the department did not confirm whether Badenoch’s use of the car was either within, or outside, the ministerial code. A DBT spokesperson said: “The department takes both the ministerial code and civil service code seriously, to ensure they are followed at all times. “The ministerial code is clear that ministers can use cars for work, official travel, and where there is a security concern. It is normal for permanent secretaries to advise what is appropriate within the ministerial code so proper process is followed.”