Stephen Byers
Stephen Byers (born 13 April 1953, Wolverhampton) is a British Labour Party politician who was MP for North Tyneside from 1997 to 2010; in the previous parliament, from 1992, he represented Wallsend. He did not contest the 2010 UK general election.
During Byers' ministerial career, he was chief secretary to HM Treasury, secretary of state for trade and industry, and secretary of state 'for transport, local government and the regions' in the Cabinet.
Byers resigned his position as transport secretary in 2002 after being criticised for standing by Jo Moore, a spin doctor, and over his decision to force Railtrack into administration.[1]
Contents
Controversies and conflicts of interest
Cab for hire
In 2010 a sting by the Sunday Times found the ex-minister was extraordinarily willing to provide access for cash.
- I'm a bit like a sort of cab for hire," Stephen Byers explained to the fake lobbyist whom he had never met before and whose credentials he had not checked. "I still get a lot of confidential information because I'm still linked to No 10," he boasted. His fee, the former transport secretary explained, was "usually between £3,000 and £5,000 a day". He had a particular "trump card" to offer clients in the shape of his friendship with Lord Mandelson. He had also, he pointed out, done serious business for a major client with Lord Adonis at the transport department – "We sort of worked together, basically the way he was comfortable doing it." If that was not enough and if his clients were interested, "we could have a word with Tony".
Consultant for oil construction firm in Iraq
In 2008 Byers controversially took on a lucrative consultancy job with Consolidated Contractors Company, an oil construction company seeking contracts in Iraq. The company had previously employed former foreign secretary Robin Cook a few years earlier, who had been forced to resign his role.
Byers supported the Iraq war and was a close ally of former prime minister Tony Blair. [2]
Affiliations
- Labour Friends of Israel
- Consultant,[3][4] Consolidated Contractors Company (http://www.ccc.gr/) - International oil construction company interested in Iraq
- Non-executive Chairman,[5] Yalta European Strategy LTD (http://www.yes-ukraine.org/) - International network to promote Ukraine in the EU
- Non-executive Chairman,[6] ACWA Services Ltd. (http://www.acwa.co.uk/) - Water treatment company
Resources
- BBC, "Stephen Byers quits government," 28 May 2002, accessed 25 November 2008.
- Boffey, Daniel, "Row as shamed former Minister Stephan Byers takes job with Iraq oil firm," Daily Mail, 08 July 2006, accessed 25 November 2008.
- They Work For You, Stephen Byers MP, accessed 25 November 2008.
- Ungoed-Thomas, Jon, et al., "Revealed: how minister cashed in on contacts," The Sunday Times, 23 November 2008, accessed 24 November 2008.
Notes and References
- ↑ BBC, "Stephen Byers quits government," 28 May 2002, accessed 25 November 2008.
- ↑ Boffey, Daniel, "Row as shamed former Minister Stephan Byers takes job with Iraq oil firm," Daily Mail, 08 July 2006, accessed 20 October 2014
- ↑ They Work For You, Stephen Byers MP, accessed 25 November 2008.
- ↑ Boffey, Daniel, "Row as shamed former Minister Stephan Byers takes job with Iraq oil firm," Daily Mail, 08 July 2006, accessed 25 November 2008.
- ↑ They Work For You, Stephen Byers MP, accessed 25 November 2008.
- ↑ They Work For You, Stephen Byers MP, accessed 25 November 2008.
