Tony Baldry: Difference between revisions

In September 2009 Baldry, in his capacity as a barrister instructed by the solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla, wrote a letter to [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] [[David Miliband]] on behalf of Nigerian governor [[James Ibori]], who was under investigation by [[Scotland Yard]] for corruption.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tory MP Accused Over Links to Nigerian Politician |first=David |last=Connett |author2=Michael Gillard |work=The Independent on Sunday |date=15 February 2010 }}</ref> The ''[[Oxford Mail]]'' reported that Mr Baldry had been "paid more than £37,000 for 29 hours' work between September and December by Sarosh Zaiwalla, a London-based solicitor who had acted for the Ibori family".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/5007091._I_m_not_corrupt___MP_Tony_Baldry_says/ |title='I'm not corrupt,' MP Tony Baldry says |work=Oxford Mail |date=15 February 2010 |access-date=11 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313135925/http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/5007091._I_m_not_corrupt___MP_Tony_Baldry_says/ |archive-date=13 March 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that same month, ''[[The Independent]]'' printed a correction and an apology over a report in which they had suggested that Tony Baldry had "lobbied" on behalf of James Ibori. The correction clarified that Mr Baldry had not lobbied on Mr Ibori's behalf, and supported his claim that despite it being contrary to legal protocol, he had written to the Foreign Secretary in his capacity as a barrister, and not as an MP.<ref name="correction">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/corrections/tony-baldry-mp-1910971.html|title=Tony Baldry MP|work=Independent|date=28 February 2010|access-date=11 March 2010|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311012717/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/corrections/tony-baldry-mp-1910971.html|archive-date=11 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> It was reported in issue 1320 of the ''[[Private Eye]]'' that Baldry's own libel solicitor had described the letter's purpose as pointing out that once the case was resolved "relevant agencies might want to reflect on lessons learned".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://barthsnotes.com/2012/08/10/nigeria-delta-state-clerics-planned-to-lead-praise-and-worship-for-corrupt-former-governor/ |title=» Nigeria: Delta State Clerics Planned to Lead "Praise and Worship" For Corrupt Former Governor Bartholomew's Notes on Religion |publisher=Barthsnotes.com |access-date=16 October 2013 |date=10 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016214606/http://barthsnotes.com/2012/08/10/nigeria-delta-state-clerics-planned-to-lead-praise-and-worship-for-corrupt-former-governor/ |archive-date=16 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>