Cameron crony lands top job with oligarch
DAVID Cameron’s former energy minister has been appointed chairman of a Russian oligarch’s aluminium firm, in what critics say is further worrying evidence of the ‘ revolving door’ between Whitehall and the City.
Greg Barker has been hired by the high-profile oligarch Oleg Deripaska at his firm EN+.
The post is hoped to boost the firm’s credentials as it prepares to ask UK investors for money by selling shares on the London stock exchange.
Lord Barker is the latest former minister in the Cameron government to accept a job in the corporate world, raising concerns that some politicians see the job as a ‘halfway house to their real career’.
Earlier this year it was revealed that 52 former ministers now have jobs outside Parliament.
A host of ministers from David Cameron’s Coalition have roles in the private sector, including pensions minister Steve Webb and Owen Paterson, the ex-Northern Ireland Secretary.
Lord Barker, who was given a peerage in 2015 and organised a PR trip to the Arctic in 2006 to promote Cameron’s green credentials, has also worked for Russian oil oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Now he will work closely with the hugely controversial Deripaska, said to be an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin. EN+ chief executive, Maxim Sokov, last night said Lord Barker’s experience in promoting renewable energy would be ‘invaluable’ to its efforts to develop green energy.
A spokesman for the campaign group Transparency International said: ‘Lord Barker is familiar with the requirement to draw attention to his interest declarations in Parliament. When he speaks in the House of Lords, this latest appointment will cause peers to reflect on his professional business association with a close ally of Vladimir Putin, before listening to anything he might have to say.
‘As long as our MPs and peers have such business interests, the case for full and transparent public declarations is plain to see.’
The new job is the latest in a string of roles in the sector for the 51-year-old since he quit as David Cameron’s energy minister in July 2014. These include advising solar firm Equinox Energy Capital.
Last night critics said it was yet another example of the harmful revolving door between ministers and industry.
Jon Trickett, Labour’s shadow cabinet office minister, who wants tougher regulation on ministers’ jobs, said: ‘The impression the country has is that there is one rule for them and another for everyone else. This news will reinforce that perception. It’s time the rules were changed.’
Stefan Stern, director of the High Pay Centre, which campaigns against high corporate pay, said: ‘It is a concern if people see politics and a political career as some kind of stepping stone or halfway house to their real career.’
He added: ‘You really want people to go into public life to serve their constituents.’
A spokesman for EN+ said: ‘With respect to the House of Lords, Lord Barker has never spoken on Russia, or any other area or topic where he could be deemed to have any real or perceived commercial interest. This will remain the case in the future.’
Lord Barker could not be contacted for comment last night.