Labour peer Baroness Scotland faces calls for a probe over accusations of cronyism
Claims £160,000-a-year Labour peer ignored warnings about employing Lord Patel as her £30,000-a-month crony
BARONESS Scotland was last night facing calls for a probe into her conduct, after it emerged the embattled Labour peer ignored official warnings about employing a £30,000-a-month crony.
The £160,00-a-year Commonwealth Secretary-General, awarded the contract to fellow Labour peer and her self-described "partner in crime" Lord Patel days after taking office.
In a leaked document seen by The Sun, ex-Commonwealth official, Ram Venuprasad, raised concerns over the ex-Labour cabinet minister's "procurement, transparency and the use of public funds".
The consulting job to produce a review of her department was not advertised to other bidders - and her staff were instructed to “seek a waiver from the Secretariat’s preferred procurement practices”.
Last night Tory MP James Cleverly demanded the Foreign Affairs Select Committee investigate.
He said: "At the moment there is no indication that anything is criminal, but I strongly feel that our relationship with the Commonwealth is too important to just ignore these issues or brush them under the carpet.
"I think maintaining the visible integrity of posts like this are really important and it needs to be resolved.
"This is exactly the kind of thing the Foreign Affairs Committee should look at."
Mr Venuprasad further alleges staff “advised Baroness Scotland against making this appointment” of Lord Patel, to which she reportedly replied: “he was very supportive during her campaign to become Secretary-General”.
The four year contract is with Mr Patel’s company KYA Global, whose only directors are him and his wife.
Related stories
The Baroness, who is the most senior political chief of the union of 53 countries, was also under intense pressure this week to explain why she paid two aides £15,000 a month each.
Advisers Matthew Doyle and Joe Phelan trousered £15,000 in April and May and £18,000 in June.
Mr Venuprasad warned her the salaries were "excessive" and described it as "an inappropriate use of public resources".
