The questions David Cameron must answer
Former PM faces grilling by MPs on two Commons committees today
David Cameron is due to appear before two parliamentary committees today over his lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital before it went bust.
The former prime minister is “set to face a long afternoon of questions from MPs” on the Treasury Committee from 2.30pm and then the Public Accounts Committee from 5pm, reports Sky News.
It comes two days after the Treasury Committee published a cache of emails, text messages and Whatsapps from Cameron to ministers and other officials.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Both before and after becoming prime minister, Cameron repeatedly warned that lobbying would be ‘the next big scandal waiting to happen’,” notes The Guardian. “Now he is caught up in exactly the kind of lobbying scandal he vowed to eradicate.”
So far, he has only issued a written statement on the matter, pointing out that he had been cleared of breaking lobbying rules, but his critics say there are still questions that remain unanswered.
What Cameron has said already
In a public statement, published in April, the former PM insisted he was right to lobby the government for Greensill to access a scheme called the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF), which would have enabled the firm to issue loans using taxpayer cash. “I sincerely believed there would be a material benefit for UK businesses at a challenging time,” Cameron said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
While the firm did not ultimately gain access to the CCFF scheme, it was given access to a separate pandemic programme called the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS).
Cameron also defended himself against accusations that the company’s founder, Lex Greensill, had been allowed into the heart of government when he was in office. He said Greensill was brought into the civil service in “good faith” and added that “as I recall, I met him twice at most in the entirety of my time as Prime Minister”.
The former Tory leader said the value of his shares in the company was also “nowhere near” the figures of $30m and $60m that have been reported.
However, he did admit: “There are important lessons to be learnt. As a former Prime Minister, I accept that communications with government need to be done through only the most formal of channels, so there can be no room for misinterpretation.”
And what Cameron didn’t say
Labour has accused the government of a “culture of cronyism” and said Cameron’s statement left “many serious questions” unanswered, The Times reports. The opposition wants to see him address those issues before parliament.
The Sunday Times, which has been investigating the scandal, agrees that “the list of questions about Cameron’s conduct keeps growing”. The newspaper suggests the most important is: “Why was Cameron able to get one man and one company such access to the people who shaped Britain’s response to the pandemic?”
The Guardian wants to know if he was aware that Greensill was in financial difficulty when he was lobbying ministers, exactly how much money he stood to gain and whether he was also lobbying any foreign governments on behalf of the firm.
Meanwhile, the BBC’s Chris Mason has drawn up a list of questions he would ask Cameron should he agree to sit down in front of a camera with him. It includes: how soon after Cameron left Downing Street was Greensill in touch to offer a job, how much was he paid, and: “Does all this prove you were right all along in 2010 when you were so outspoken about the perception of lobbying held by so many beyond Westminster?”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Can Cameron put the Falklands sovereignty dispute to bed?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary says issue 'not up for discussion' ahead of visit amid renewed push from Argentina
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will America recognize a Palestinian state?
Today's Big Question Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the move. Some see it as the only route to peace.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Fasting to burger buffets: the weird and wonderful diets of politicians
Why Everyone's Talking About Rishi Sunak reportedly starts his week with a 36-hour fast
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published