EXCLUSIVE: Robert Jenrick watched a promo video of £1bn Westferry scheme for "3 or 4 minutes" at Tory dinner on Richard Desmond's phone, billionaire confirms in extraordinary rare interview

Weeks later, Jenrick overruled officials to approve it https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/robert-jenrick-watched-housing-promo-video-on-richard-desmonds-phone-bqb0s8kz2

Desmond tonight backs "pro-building" Jenrick, says he has done nothing wrong and there's nothing corruption about attending a dinner

He instead blames Sadiq Khan, who he accuses of duplicitiously U-turning on the scheme

Story by me @TomCalver2 @GeorgeGreenwood @ManuMidolo 2/14

Jenrick's decision to approve scheme came the day before a new community impact levy kicked in, saving Northern and Shell £40m

He also waived affordable housing rules, saving ~£106m more

It is the only time that Jenrick has rejected official advice and approved a scheme

3/14

Last month, Jenrick reversed his decision, admitting it was "unlawful" because of "apparent bias"

Desmond says Jenrick has done nothing wrong. "[He] is just a man who wants to build houses."

He blames people like Sadiq who want to "stop Britain being great" for the delay

4/14

Desmond says he didn't know he'd be next to Jenrick at Tory fundraiser

When he saw he was, he thought: "Oh, that’s good, he wants to know a bit more about the development, good!"

Jenrick saw the video enough to get the "gist" but both men say conversation went no further 5/14

He says nothing wrong with going to a dinner

“I’ve had lots of dinners, mate. You’ve had lots of dinners. I have David Lammy to the house over Christmas. I’ve been to dinner with Sadiq and his wife . . . I mean, it’s business. You want to know what’s going on, don’t you?

6/14

Three executives from Northern and Shell were also at the table: commercial director and joint managing directors

They were joined by development chief of Mace, construction giant building Westferry, Henry Bellingham, ex-MP now lobbyist, and editors from Express and Mirror

7/14

Desmond dismisses "cash-for-favours" claims, saying £14K to attend fundraiser was peanuts

“We’re being asked to put down £800m. I mean, quite big numbers, aren’t they?"

He remains confused by Jenrick U-turn. "More houses for more people. How could that be wrong?”

8/14

He insists he "never even discussed" the levy

“All we want to do is build more homes in London in a 1st class development. In fact, Joy and I are going to have an apartment."

"We want to be proud of it. We’ve even, for a piss-take, called it Desmond Boulevard!”

9/14

Desmond is furious because he says Sadiq Khan rushed up to him at Royal Albert Hall event for the Queen's 92nd birthday and told him to enlarge the scheme

Khan now opposes it, which he says is "crap" and "preposterous"

10/14

Desmond recalls: "Sadiq’s people came into my office and started waffling. I said: ‘Are you backing me on this f***ing development!?’ Yes, yes, it was all fine. Then they U-turned."

He blasts other delays: "It went to the government a year ago! A f***ing year ago, man!” 11/14

Reflecting on the scandal, Desmond says: “There’s nothing I can do. I mean, the more I do, the worse it is."

He is adamant there is no story.

12/14

Jenrick spokesperson: “He and the applicants were put on the same table for the dinner, although Mr Jenrick was not aware of this prior to arriving at the venue. The planning application was raised, but Mr Jenrick said that it would not be appropriate to discuss the matter" 13/14

Labour's @SteveReedMP says: “It looks like Mr Jenrick auctioned off the planning system to a billionaire donor at a Conservative Party fund-raising dinner.

Read all about it in tomorrow's Sunday Times

14/14