The Guardian’s bank correspondent, Kalyeena Makortoff, talk to Rachel Humphreys about Greensill, a company specializing in supply chain financing, and its relationship with former Prime Minister David Cameron. Cameron joined Greensill as an adviser in 2018, two years after his resignation as prime minister. It is revealed that last year he sent text messages to Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, and “informally” called two other finance ministers, asking Greensill Capital to get the largest possible allocation of government-backed loans under the Covid Corporate Financing Facility, or CCFF. . He also lobbied a number 10 assistant, and in 2019 took Lex Greensill to a ‘private drink’ with Matt Hancock, the health secretary.
While Cameron has not broken any rules, questions have arisen that he appears to have used personal contacts to seek preferential treatment for a company in which he had a financial interest. On Monday, No. 10 said it was launching an independent investigation into Cameron’s lobby, led by corporate lawyer and government adviser Nigel Boardman. Rachel also hears from Guardian political correspondent Rajeev Syal about how Cameron has responded to the scandal and the broader role of lobbying in British politics.
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