Further revelations emerge about lunch-loving Councillor Robert Davis’ closeness to property developers
Yesterday, after we revealed details of councillor Robert Davis’ penchant for free lunches in London’s best restaurants, further details of him doing the rounds emerged. Aside from the 514 declared in the last three years, it can now be confirmed that this Conservative politician accepted a total of 893 outings and gifts over six years.
Social butterfly Davis was chairman of Westminster City Council’s planning committee from 2000 to 2017. He had dinner with the property developer Irvine Sellar on 16th April 2015 and lunch with him also on the 14th May 2015 and as these meetings were not held on council property, no record exists as to what was discussed. As reported in The Guardian yesterday evening, Davis also attended receptions organised by a planning consultancy representing Sellar’s interests on 11th March and 14th May 2015. At this time, Sellar was planning a “landmark project” in Paddington – an area within the realms of Davis’ domain.
Much later, of Sellar’s scheme, in September 2016, Davis told Architect’s Journal:
“I call it the ice cube because it’s going to make Paddington the coolest place in London.”
“There are some people who obviously hate it, and some people who absolutely love it, and some people who find it acceptable. I think it’s a clever design the way it sits there, the way it is transparent, it’s a slightly pure ice cube. I think it is something that is going to add to the area.”
Whilst no evidence of corruption has been uncovered or suggested even, one comes back to one simple quote: There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
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