Last week Evolve Politics revealed a company officer position held by DWP Secretary Esther McVey – which was not included in her declarations of interest:

Esther McVey has serious questions to answer.https://t.co/lRhqSplbmX — Evolve Politics (@evolvepolitics) November 3, 2018

The Loyal Scots Company registered Ms McVey as its company secretary – an important role responsible for ensuring the company’s compliance with regulation and implementing board decisions – in March this year. The position has not been included in her register of MPs’ interests.

Even more seriously, the company is a political campaigning or lobbying firm.

McVey – who recently attracted criticism for repeated false claims about an official report on the government’s disastrous Universal Credit system – responded by going on the offensive, attacking Evolve journalist Alex Tiffin on social media and denying any knowledge of the company or the position for which it registered her:

But the matter is not settled. The company secretary registration at Companies House shows Ms McVey’s registered address being her Tatton constituency office:

Documents for the company secretary – which would be fairly frequent – would be sent to that address, in the UK in spite of the use of Denmark, which may be an error on entry at Companies House. But even if no other documents had been sent since March, a letter from Companies House would have been sent to this address confirming Ms McVey’s registration.

Falsely registering a company officer or director is a serious offence. The only person convicted for doing so – ironically a whistleblower who did so to highlight the possibility – was fined over £12,000 and could have faced two years imprisonment.

But while Ms McVey says she has contacted Companies House, she has not said that she has reported the alleged fraud to the police for investigation. So Alex Tiffin attempted to do so for her – but was told that he needed her permission to do so on her behalf. He has asked for that permission, but had not received a reply by the time of publication:

Ms McVey attacked Alex Tiffin, complaining that he had not followed proper procedure before publication. The SKWAWKBOX contacted her for comment, asking:

Ms McVey has said that Loyal Scots Company has used her name but that she has no connection to the company. However, Ms McVey is named at Companies House as the company secretary under her constituency office address. Please confirm by return: 1. How company correspondence coming to the constituency office – which as secretary would be most of it – was missed/not brought to her attention.

2. The unapproved use of her name as company secretary would constitute fraud – has it been reported to the police? If so, please provide details of the force and crime number.

3. Whether Ms McVey has ever met William Thow.

McVey was also asked whether she intended to give Alex Tiffin permission to report the alleged unauthorised registration on her behalf.

Up to the time of publication, no response had been received except an automated acknowledgement of receipt, in spite of a reminder of imminent publication.

SKWAWKBOX comment:

Esther McVey could put this matter to bed very simply, by confirming that she has involved police and publishing the crime reference number. So far, she has not done so – nor answered this blog’s questions.

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