Tory Chairman Jake Berry grilled as MP was unknowingly appointed company director

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Government Whip Damien Moore was appointed director of Berry's taxpayer-funded Northern Research Group without declaring it because he didn't know he was on the list. Jake Berry now faces a grill

Jake Berry was Minister of Northern Powerhouse (

Image: Getty Images)

Tory Speaker Jake Berry faces a toast after an MP was unknowingly made a director of a taxpayer-funded company.

Companies House records show Government Whip Damien Moore joined Mr Berry's Northern Research Group Ltd in June 2021 and resigned two months later.

But Tory MPs say that despite his short tenure, he should still have declared his trustee position in the Commons Members' Register of Interests.

But a spokesperson for Mr. Moore said: "Damien was never a director of NRG. The Registrar is clear there is nothing to report."

The company was set up by former Northern Powerhouse minister Mr Berry in November 2020 as part of his campaign to get the government to invest in the North in its leveling scheme.

MPs representing constituencies in the North of England pay £2,500 to join the North of Parliament Research Group, reimbursement of expenses as 'joint recruitment services'.

Liz Truss delivers her leader's speech (

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Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)

Insiders say the money from public funds constitutes NRG Ltd's assets of £61,848, used to pay for research and media summaries. Company secretary Paul Fitton said: “Jake Berry asked me to set up NRG Ltd and sent me a list of interested colleagues. Damien's name was among those. Those who became administrators returned signed documents. Damien has not registered in my office yet and he has been appointed. I was contacted by Damien Moore's office to say he had no intention of being a director, so I resigned him."

Mr. Berry left the company last month when he became party chairman and joined the cabinet of Liz Truss. He caused fury at the Conservative Party conference this week when he defended the Prime Minister's tax cuts for the rich, saying: 'People know when t...