Independent candidate Arnold Cassola has written to the Standards Commissioner to request an investigation into what Cassola is alleging to be a breach of ethics by parliamentary secretary Andy Ellul.

In his letter, Cassola says that the code of ethic prohibits any minister or parliamentary secretary from holding jobs other than those linked to their role as part of the Executive.

In a reply to parliamentary question 11465 given on 25 September, it emerged that Lex Group Limited was given a consultancy contract from the Creativity Centre Foundation, worth €800 a month, valid for the whole of 2023.

The owner of this company is Andy Ellul, and the contract was given when he was already a parliamentary secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister.

According to Cassola, this constitutes a breach of ethics and “confirms the impunity climate” that has taken root in the political class.

Cassola asked the commissioner to investigate this and whether the requested due diligence by Minister Owen Bonnici, responsible for the foundation, was made.