I didn’t lobby to save my money, insists Cameron
FORMER Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday said he was not motivated by money when he sent a “barrage” of messages to ministers, lobbying for Greensill Capital.
He said he “really believed” in the now-collapsed finance firm.
He admitted he had a “big economic investment” in it but refused to say how much he earned.
Mr Cameron, 54, sent more than 73 messages lobbying for the company and had phone calls and face-to-face meetings to push the case for access to Covid-19 loan schemes.
During more than four hours of questioning by two Commons committees, Labour MP Angela Eagle said his behaviour had been “more like stalking than lobbying”.
Mr Cameron said there had been “absolutely no wrongdoing” but added: “This is a painful day, coming back to a place I love and respect so much... in these circumstances.”
Greensill Capital, founded by Australian businessman Alexander Greensill, went into administration in March, threatening thousands of UK
jobs at Liberty Steel. Before that Mr Cameron said the firm had paid him a “generous, big salary” – but it was “absurd” to suggest he was expected to make £60million.
He said: “I had a big economic investment in the future of Greensill, so I wanted the business to succeed.” But he insisted his intense bout of Government lobbying about Covid-19 loans was because “we thought we had a good idea”. However he admitted: “There are lessons to learn... in future, the single formal email or formal letter would be appropriate.”