Sunak's Speaking Fees Revealed
Rishi Sunak earned nearly £200,000 for delivering speeches to hedge funds Brevan Howard and Towerbrook before becoming UK chancellor, according to newly published financial disclosures. The payments, made in 2019 and 2020, have sparked debate about potential conflicts of interest given Sunak's role in setting economic policy.
Details of the Payments
Brevan Howard paid Sunak £100,000 for a speech in 2019, while Towerbrook paid him £97,500 for a speech in 2020. The disclosures were made in the register of ministerial interests, which lists financial holdings and gifts received by government officials. Sunak, who served as chancellor from 2020 to 2022, also reported receiving a £50,000 payment from a former employer, the investment bank Goldman Sachs, for a speech in 2019.
Impact and Criticism
The revelations have drawn criticism from opposition parties and transparency campaigners, who argue that such payments create a perception of impropriety. Labour Party officials have called for an investigation into whether Sunak's speeches violated ministerial codes of conduct. In response, a spokesperson for Sunak stated that all payments were properly declared and that the speeches were given before he became chancellor, adding that he has always acted in the public interest.
