British Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell was cleared by Tony Blair today of breaching the Ministerial Code over her financial affairs because her husband did not tell her about a massive cash "gift" he had received.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell said in a letter to shadow Commons leader Theresa May that Ms Jowell "fully accepts" that her husband, international lawyer David Mills, should have told her about the money and "if he had, she would of course have reported it to her Permanent Secretary".
Mr Mills agreed with the Inland Revenue that the money he received in September 2000 was eventually treated as earnings, rather than the gift he had at first believed it to be.
But Ms Jowell did not find out about the money until August 2004, said the Cabinet Secretary.
Mr Blair immediately backed Ms Jowell, issuing a statement saying: "She is not in breach of her obligations under the ministerial code . . . I have full confidence in her."
Ms Jowell insisted in a statement: "I have always discharged my responsibilities under the Ministerial Code in good faith."
PA