Parliamentary reporter @TrinderMatt

LABOUR has accused Priti Patel of being a “serial offender” over multiple ministerial code breaches after she allegedly organised a meeting between a billionaire Tory donor and British Airways (BA).

The Home Secretary reportedly attended a lunch on August 11 at Heathrow airport’s Hilton Garden Inn — part of a chain owned by Tory donor Surinder Arora.

Mr Arora — founder of the Arora Group, a specialist hotelier for the airline industry — was at the meeting along with his son and Arora strategy director Sanjay, according to the Sunday Mirror. 

The firm’s chief financial officer Carlton Brown also allegedly attended, as did Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths and BA corporate affairs director Lisa Tremble. 

BA chief executive Sean Doyle is understood to have been invited but could not attend.

The newspaper claimed there was no official from the Home Office present, as rules dictate there should be if government business is discussed.

The ministerial code states that a “private secretary or official should be present for all discussions relating to government business.”

Should a discussion take place without an official in attendance, “any significant content” should be officially recorded later, the rules make clear. 

A spokesman for Ms Patel said: “Details of all the Home Secretary’s relevant external meetings will be published in the usual way in accordance with the ministerial code.”

It is understood she considered it a private meeting and that it was declared to her private office.

But the reports will raise eyebrows after Ms Patel was forced to resign as international development secretary in 2017 following unauthorised talks with Israeli officials.

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “The Home Secretary is a serial offender with no regard for the ministerial code. It’s time Prime Minister [Boris Johnson] took away her get out of jail free card.

“This secret lobbying lunch would break the rules three times over. She has serious questions to answer and must be investigated immediately.”

And shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds blasted the “reckless” Ms Patel for organising such a meeting behind closed doors. 

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, whose Spelthorne constituency borders Heathrow airport, also attended without an official. 

Mr Arora told the Sunday Mirror: “I’ve known Kwarsi and Priti for years. I said pop in and see my new hotel.

“I don’t do politics. I don’t support anyone. There wasn’t any agenda.”