Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister announces new candidate for the Commissioner for Public Appointments, published on 18 June 2026, whether the preferred candidate made (a) a declaration of political activity or (b) a nil return in this regard.

The campaign for the new Commissioner for Public Appointments was subject to open and fair competition, in line with the principles of the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

All candidates were required to declare any political activity as part of the application process.

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s recent pre-appointment hearing report on the appointment of the new Commissioner endorsed the Government’s preferred candidate and referenced a declared political donation.

The appointment will be announced on gov.uk once the process has formally concluded. This will comply with the Code’s requirements on the disclosure of political activity.