The deputy leader of Westminster council has stepped aside after the Guardian revealed he had received hospitality or gifts 893 times over six years, frequently from property developers seeking planning permission.
Robert Davis, who chaired the Conservative borough’s planning committee for 17 years, said on Wednesday night that he was giving up all of his roles as deputy leader and cabinet member for business, culture and heritage while the authority and an independent QC investigates his conduct.
Davis was entertained by and received gifts from property industry figures at least 150 times since the start of 2015 – a rate of almost once a week. His entertainment was paid for by some of the country’s wealthiest property developers including Gerald Ronson, Sir Stuart Lipton and Sir George Iacobescu, the chief executive of Canary Wharf Group.
