Cameron Tories in
TORY MPs have criticised David Cameron in a Commons debate about his attempts to lobby ministers on behalf of a finance firm.
Several backbenchers yesterday sought to distance their party from the former prime minister following revelations of his efforts to secure a Treasury loan for Greensill Capital.
Boris Johnson acknowledged that boundaries between the Government and business may have been breached in the scandal.
The Prime Minister said: “I share the widespread concern about some of the stuff we are reading.”
Government departments have been ordered to find out by the end of the week whether senior officials have rule-breaking second jobs.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has asked colleagues to declare paid roles or outside interests that “might conflict” with Civil Service rules.
In a letter to senior officials, Mr Case, who is in charge of the civil service, said there were issues of “acute concern”.
Labour claimed “Tory sleaze is back” but MPs last night rejected a motion calling for a full parliamentary inquiry into Whitehall lobbying by 357 votes to 262.
Probe
But despite opposing the probe, a string of Tories turned on Mr Cameron over his conduct as a paid adviser to the collapsed financial firm. One described his behaviour as not “seemly” while another said: “It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.”
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson insisted his administration was “tough” on lobbying and defended his decision to set up a Government probe headed by a City lawyer rather than a parliamentary inquiry into the affair.
He told MPs: “I do think it is a good idea in principle that top civil servants should be able to engage with business and should have experience of the private sector.
“When I look at the accounts I am reading today, it is not clear that those boundaries have been properly understood.”
The scandal deepened this week when it emerged that Whitehall’s chief procurement officer under Mr Cameron worked for Greensill Capital while still a civil servant.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed there was “a revolving door – indeed, an open door – between his Conservative Government and paid lobbyists.” He said a parliamentary probe was needed to “start to clean up the sleaze and cronyism that are at the heart of this Conservative Government”.
Mr Johnson rejected his demand, promising a “proper independent review” of Whitehall lobbying and
appointments under Boardman instead.
In the Opposition yesterday, Tory MPs
Mr Cameron.
Andrew Bowie, Tory MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, told the Commons: “We all condemn the actions that are alleged to have taken place regarding Greensill and the involvement of the former prime minister. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
“As so many have said, far better than I could, it does tarnish us all.We do need to make sure we uphold the best possible standards in public life lawyer
Nigel
Day debate rounded on
and ensure there is transparency in all interactions between companies, individuals and decision-makers in government.”
Jackie Doyle-Price, Tory MP for Thurrock, said: “The thing David Cameron will be concerned about more than anything else is the damage to his reputation that’s been done by this episode.”
William Wragg, who chairs the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, condemned Mr Cameron for issuing a statement about the scandal over the weekend following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. He said: “In a week of national mourning, and even on the day of tributes to his late Royal Highness, I did not think it seemly to be prattling about television studios and nor for that matter did I think it was at all seemly for Mr Cameron’s statement to be released at that time as well.”
Setting out Labour’s call for a parliamentary inquiry, shadow cabinet office minister Rachel Reeves said: “What is being proposed by the Government is not remotely fit for purpose. It’s not an inquiry, it’s not independent, it’s an insult to us all.”
Ms Reeves also described Mr Cameron’s statement explaining his conduct as “toe-curling”.
She said: “He’s not sorry for his conduct, for the texts and the drinks, but he is sorry he got caught, and he’s sorry that his shares are now worthless.” She added: “When it comes to lobbying, it takes two to tango.
For every former minister lobbying, there is someone in power being lobbied.”
Downing Street officials yesterday defended the decision to appoint a Government inquiry into lobbying under Mr Boardman.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “I think anyone can see that Nigel Boardman is a distinguished legal expert.
“He was asked to lead this review independently, he has been asked to do it thoroughly and promptly and we trust him to do that.”
Collapse
Asked whether he was a “friend” of the Tory administration, the No 10 official replied: “He is an independent reviewer.”
The Commons Treasury Committee announced it would launch an inquiry into the collapse of Greensill. It will focus on the regulatory lessons from the failure of the firm and the appropriateness of the Treasury’s response to lobbying – Mr Cameron contacted Chancellor Rishi Sunak and other ministers.