Government adviser Nick Hillman blasts ‘toothless tiger’ watchdog as SIX ex-energy ministers land jobs at top firms including EDF

A FORMER Government adviser has slammed the “toothless tiger” watchdog that polices the revolving door between Whitehall and the City.

Nick Hillman, who advised former minister David Willetts, described the current rules for staffers and former ministers as “absurd”.

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He said ACOBA - the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments - had allowed the likes of disgraced Lib Dem ex-Energy Secretary Chris Huhne to take up lucrative jobs with energy firms.

And he said because they are unable to impose conditions or “punish transgressions”, people either ignored them or were “excessively cautious”.

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He said of the gravy train controllers: “Even when someone does seek consent to start a new job outside Whitehall, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments cannot impose conditions, monitor compliance or punish transgressions. It is a toothless tiger.”

And he added: “The whole thing feels designed to protect Whitehall from the whiff of scandal rather than to stop scandals from happening”.

Six former energy ministers have taken up jobs in the energy industry since 2008.

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The watchdog ruled on each occasion they were not allowed to take advantage of the “privileged information” they’d gained in office.

But ex Lib Dem energy secretary Ed Davey – who worked on the Hinkley Point deal with EDF – is now an energy consultant working for a lobbying firm that has EDF as a client.

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And fellow Lib Dem Chris Huhne is now chairman of green energy firm Zilkha Biomass Energy – having worked to push forward Britain’s drive for biomass technology while in Government.

Theresa May’s newly appointed joint chief of staff Fiona Hill was thrust into the spotlight this week when it was claimed she’d taken a job with a lobby firm – but not declared it to Whitehall officials.

Sources said it was unfair to expect special advisers to remember they needed permission for each new job they take for up to two years.