Clarity Call in Russian Row Over Wisley as MP Sir Paul Offers to Withdraw Claim

Published on: 22 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 22 Jan, 2019

Sir Paul Beresford MP and Cllr Paul Spooner

The denial by GBC leader Paul Spooner that he visited Russia in his official capacity over possible development on the controversial green belt Wisley site has been questioned by Dragon reader David Roberts.

Mr Roberts wrote in a comment: “I thought Cllr Spooner’s wife was Russian. If so, it seems strange that he has never been to Russia. Or is that not what he is saying? Is he perhaps saying that he has been to Russia but only in a private capacity?

“I find his statement: ‘I can categorically state that I have never taken a trip, or trips, to Russia, for GBC or any borough, district, county, or as a politician, for any party/parties, at any time. I have never travelled anywhere with a councillor from the Vale of the White Horse, let alone abroad and let alone Russia’, very convoluted.”

The row erupted after a Commons claim by Mole Valley MP Sir Paul Beresford in a meeting over Guildford’s Local Plan with Mrs Heather Wheeler, Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. He said, in Parliament: “There appears to be a Russian influence behind the [Wisley] proposers. We know that, for example, the leader of Guildford Borough Council took a trip, or trips, to Russia with a councillor from the Vale of the White Horse, who was working with the Wisley owners.

“I understand that the reason for the visit was to encourage Russian development in the UK and presumably in Guildford, with an emphasis on Wisley.”

Cllr Spooner swiftly issued his denial, adding today (January 22, 2019): “To clarify for Mr Roberts, I repeat, I have never travelled to Russia for GBC in any way or form as stated by Sir Paul Beresford.

“For absolute clarification, I have not travelled anywhere with a councillor from Vale of White Horse. If Sir Paul was referring to Cllr Mike Murray, who is promoting the Wisley site, I have met him at Millmead with other Wisley site promoters, council officers being present.

“Again, I have noted Cllr Murray’s attendance at one or two conferences in the UK where I have also been a delegate. As it happens, I once went in to the Britannia pub in Guildford after a meeting and Cllr Murray, there with his colleagues at the bar, offered me a drink. I politely declined.

“I understand that Sir Paul has stated that his ‘source’ cannot be contacted at present because he is skiing in Malaysia and Sir Paul will withdraw his statement after he has discussed matters with him. I assume he is still trying to contact this elusive ‘source’.”

Sir Paul said: “To my annoyance, I have been unable to contact my source and assume he is away. He is retired and often on holiday. But I doubt he is in Malaysia.

“On Sunday, through the Guildford Conservative Association chairman [Bob Hughes], I asked Cllr Spooner to write to me confirming that my information was wrong. If I am still unable to locate my source, I will take Cllr Spooner at his word and withdraw the comments formally in the House of Commons.”

Responses to Clarity Call in Russian Row Over Wisley as MP Sir Paul Offers to Withdraw Claim

John Powell Reply

January 22, 2019 at 8:12 pm

What a nasty business. We need to know in short clear sentences what is going on here because it does not look good. My feeling, based on what I have read, is that Sir Paul Beresford, who does not have an unblemished reputation, is not looking too brilliant.
John Ferns Reply

January 22, 2019 at 8:42 pm

Parliamentary privilege is a privilege. It exists, and must exist, to ensure MPs can do the job we elected them to do.

But it cannot be abused. Surely the question must always be asked: If it can’t be said outside the chamber, then should it be said at all?
David Roberts Reply

January 22, 2019 at 9:26 pm

So am I right in thinking Cllr Spooner has perhaps been privately to Russia, but has never discussed any planning issues there?

It’s still not very clear, I’m afraid.
Jim Allen Reply

January 22, 2019 at 11:24 pm

The misty reply of Cllr Spooner leaves a foggy answer to what could have been said quite clearly stated as: “I have a Russian wife and travel there for both private and commercial reasons in the past but have never undertaken council business with people I have known for years in Russia. Much as other councillors have foreign spouses there is a degree of separation between private foreign travel and council life.”

If only Cllr Spooner hadn’t wanted to be less than transparent by over interpretation of a simple question.
- Adam Aaronson Reply
  
  January 23, 2019 at 7:15 pm
  
  I agree with Jim Allen. I was taught at school, “Avoid the complicated, when the simple will suffice.”
  
  However, Jim seems to have forgotten the golden rule of today’s politics – avoid the simple when the complicated will obfuscate.
Ben Paton Reply

January 24, 2019 at 10:57 am

P4 KGB on a number plate is pretty nasty too. See: https://guildford-dragon.com/2018/12/07/letter-the-kgb-at-millmead/

The KGB was a bunch of murderous state-sponsored gangsters, not a liberal cake recipe club. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:People_killed_in_KGB_operations
- Paul Spooner Reply
  
  January 26, 2019 at 8:18 am
  
  Good grief!
  
  Mr Paton seems to have missed the point. You can read that plate two ways and in the 1990s it was on a vehicle suitable for meeting senior Russian delegates, they could read it the way they wished – a talking point at the time. I remember being stopped when driving past a tennis club in London by a very enthusiastic well dressed Russian chap who definitely read it as ‘pee’ for KGB. Not quite the context that Mr Paton is implying.
  
  Before anyone responds asking if I am a murderous ex-KGB or FSB member, can I assure our residents that I was merely a businessman who, thanks to an opportunity presented in 1993 when I was working in Russia for Medelec (Vickers Medical) set up my own business based in Moscow as a master distributor for many well known British brands alongside several international leading brands in the healthcare field. We traded across the former Soviet Union and also had offices in several countries in Eastern Europe, notably Romania and Bulgaria.
  
  As I have previously stated, this business was divested long before I became a councillor due to changes in the market. Working in an emerging market had many challenges but was overall a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I met many great people, not least the 60 people that worked for me directly and the many thousands of fantastic residents of the former USSR and Eastern Europe who were customers and friends.
  
  If you haven’t visited that area of the world then I thoroughly recommend a visit, current Russian politics aside!
  
  I trust this satisfies Mr Paton?