Govt says GSD using McGrail Inquiry to push political agenda

The Government says the GSD's opposition to the draft Conflicts of Interest Bill "shows how far they are prepared to go to capitalise on the McGrail Inquiry to push their own political agenda".

Number Six says the GSD is trying to create the false impression that the Government ignored the Openshaw recommendations when, it says, the exact opposite is true.

It says according to the Openshaw Report's recommendations, Gibraltar could either adopt the Canadian model directly or develop a tailor-made model, and that the latter was supported by Daniel Greenberg - the UK Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who drafted the bill in a private capacity.

It says, "The Bill covers similar ground to the Canadian model and more, but in a more certain, enforceable and structured way that fits in with Gibraltar's legal system and is flexible to adapt to changing circumstances."

Number Six says, "This was explained clearly at the time of the publication of the Command Paper for public consultation, which itself followed an extensive period of discussion with a wide cross-section of public officials, statutory bodies, law enforcement agencies, representatives of the business community, and, indeed, the Opposition."

It accuses Keith Azopardi of aligning himself not with the Chair of the Inquiry but with Ian McGrail and his lawyers, and of letting his political ambition get in the way of what is best for Gibraltar.