A Welsh Conservative who sits on the Senedd Standards Committee has asked it to include a recent so-called “informal” meeting between Labour ministers, a prominent lobbyist, and the director of Green Man in its probe into lobbying in Wales.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Natasha Asghar MS said: “The purchase of Gilestone Farm is already turning into a scandal and we need as much transparency as possible, either to give people confidence that the Welsh Government has acted properly or expose wrongdoing and see justice done.

“The more we here about this case, the more questions are raised and the more defensive Labour ministers are as it becomes increasingly apparent that this family farm should never have been snapped up using public money to host a festival that never needed it.

“If the First Minister – a man not given to looking into his own government’s actions thinks that this meeting is worthy of an investigation then I think the Standards Committee should examine this as part of its lobbying probe.”

Natasha Asghar MS has written to committee chair asking that the meeting be included in the review as it raised concerns given the Labour Government’s recent acquisition of Gilestone Farm to host the Green Man Festival despite no plans by the organisation to move there.

In a separate move Welsh Convservative leader Andrew R T Davies has written to First Minister Mark Drakeford following news he has launched an inquiry into an undeclared meeting between two Welsh Government Ministers, a senior lobbyist, and her client.

In his letter Mr Davies asks the First Minister to publish the terms of reference of the inquiry, and to publish any findings and recommendations, adding that the two ministers should recuse themselves from any decisions relating to Gilestone Farm.

“I’m writing in relation to press reports of the inquiry you have set up to look into the activities of the Minister for Climate Change and the Minister for Education, who attended a ‘social’ meeting at the home of a senior lobbyist and former special advisor, Cathy Owens, and her client Fiona Stewart, whose company is in exclusive discussions with Welsh Government following the purchase of Gilestone Farm in Powys” writes Mr Davies

“I have several concerns, including the compromising position the Minister responsible for planning has put herself in, given the alternative uses that have been explored for Gilestone Farm which would be subject to planning permission.

“Additionally, the Education Minister’s role in approving funding requests for projects of an educational nature, the relationship between Green Man and Cardiff University, and the stated aim to develop educational usage on the farm.

“It is vital that permanent secretary’s inquiry is swift, thorough, and deals with these matters, as well as the perception of favourable access to Ministers via lobbying consultancy Deryn Consulting and Cathy Owens.

“I hope you’ll agree that the terms of reference should be made public and any findings and recommendations should be published.

“I would also, in light of the dinner party that has taken place, and the position the Ministers have put themselves in, seek assurances from you that they will now recuse themselves from any decisions in their portfolio areas that relate to Gilestone Farm.

Mr Davies also drew attention to assurances from the Economy Minister, who has previously said that no ministerial meetings had taken place with Green Man or Plant Pot Limited.

“Clearly, from reports, even in a social capacity, two Ministers did meet in a lobbyist’s house with an individual seeking to benefit from Welsh Government investment and decisions – the managing director of Green Man.

“I therefore would be grateful if you could address the specifics of this misleading response in light of the above meetings,” said Mr Davies in his letter.