Probe call after Tory minister 'left briefcase of documents unattended on train'

31 July 2023 , 12:28

1095     0

Robert Jenrick is reported to have left his ministerial briefcase unattended on a train (Image: ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA)

A Tory immigration minister has been accused of leaving his ministerial briefcase - which would usually contain confidential papers - unattended on a train.

Witnesses say they saw Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick leave it for at least four minutes on an LNER train as he headed back to his constituency. Mr Jenrick's Labour counterpart, Stephen Kinnock, branded it a "clear breach of security" and said it must be looked at.

Mr Jenrick's office maintain he did not abandon the box after pictures appeared to show it balanced on the seat of a first class carriage on Friday. Downing Street said ministers are expected to follow security guidance.

It is reported that Mr Jenrick - who took the lead when the controversial Illegal Migration Bill was put before MPs - was on a train back to his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire on Friday morning.

Labour's Stephen Kinnock said it was a 'clear breach of security' (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

A fellow passenger told The Sun: “He walked off in the direction of the toilet and didn’t take it (the box) with him. I couldn’t believe it so we took pictures. He was gone for about four minutes."

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

After seeing the report, Labour's Shadow Immigration Minister, Stephen Kinnock, said: "The Minister must urgently explain what happened. This raises serious questions about his judgement. Leaving sensitive Govt documents unattended is a clear breach of security."

And Mr Kinnock continued: "This must be looked into further to understand how it happened and whether it is an isolated incident"

The minister could now face questions about whether a security breach was committed. His spokesman said: "Mr Jenrick was working on the train throughout the journey, with his ministerial box close by at all times.

"He sat in the seat directly to the left of this misleading photo and he left the train with his locked ministerial box."

Earlier this year The Mirror reported that Mr Jenrick had been banned from driving for six months after being snapped doing 68mph in a temporary 40mph zone on the M1.

Rishi Sunak's press secretary said it is a longstanding custom not to talk about security arrangements, but added: 'I don't have all the details of what actually happened... I haven't spoken to the PM about it.

"He believes all ministers should follow guidance of security around government business."

* Follow Mirror Politics on Snapchat, Tiktok, Twitter and Facebook.

Dave Burke