Zac Goldsmith has promised voters he will build a ‘solar revolution’ in London if he becomes mayor [Image: Carl Court/Getty Images].

It seems if you elect a Conservative to Parliament, they will set about improving their own personal prospects, and throw all their constituents to the dogs.

Londoners: Do you really want such a person as Mayor (after the last one)?

The Conservative [London] mayoral candidate asked questions in parliament about cuts in green grants that affected solar energy companies owned by his younger brother, but did not declare an indirect interest.

Zac Goldsmith put down six questions between November 2011 and February 2012 after the government announced it would slash subsidies to the solar industry. Goldsmith warned MPs that there was panic in the industry over ministers’ plans.

His younger brother, Ben, a venture capitalist, had personally invested in one solar energy firm Engensa, which described the cuts as unacceptable. Ben Goldsmith’s investment fund, WHEB, also owned a quarter of Engensa’s software partner, PassivSystems, a firm valued at £40m in 2014.

Zac Goldsmith also has a personal stake in a separate £24m investment fund run by WHEB and by 2011 his younger brother had donated £15,000 to his parliamentary office, according to the Commons’ register of members’ interests. Despite these links, the Tory MP did not declare his brother’s interests when intervening in the Commons.

Parliamentary rules at the time stated MPs should declare “any past, present or expected future financial interest, direct or indirect … when a member is making a speech in the House or in committee or participating in any other proceedings of the House”, that might “reasonably be thought by others to influence the speech, representation or communication in question”.

It goes on to say that the declaration should be “brief but should make specific reference to the nature of the interest”.

Source: Zac Goldsmith did not declare family interest in green grant cuts | Politics | The Guardian

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here: