Greensill had no contract while working at No10

FINANCIER Lex Greensill’s appointment to a role in Downing Street was a ‘screaming, glaring conflict of interest’, a top Whitehall official admitted yesterday.

Mr Greensill was given a pass and security clearance to enter No10 when he was advising David Cameron’s Government.

He had Downing Street business cards calling himself a ‘senior adviser’, but officials have been unable to find a job contract for him. Darren Tierney, director general of propriety and ethics in the Cabinet Office, was giving evidence to MPs. He told the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: ‘He wasn’t a special adviser – his exact status is unclear.’

He added: ‘We’ve been unable to find a contract.’ Tory MP David Jones said Mr Greensill was in the business of selling services to the Government – yet was in a position to acquire important commercial information from inside the administration.

He asked Mr Tierney: ‘Doesn’t it look a screaming, glaring conflict of interest?’ Mr

Tierney replied: ‘Yes, it does.’ Britain’s top civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case agreed that he was ‘alarmed’ by the arrangement. An appointment letter for Mr Greensill setting out confidentiality conditions has been found and it was said that his role was signed off by then minister Francis Maude.

Links between the financier’s firm Greensill Capital, the Government and Mr Cameron have come under scrutiny after the former prime minister worked for the firm following his departure from No10. Greensill

Capital went bust last month despite Mr Cameron lobbying ministers and senior figures at the Bank of England over access to Government-backed loans on its behalf.

Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that nearly 100 top mandarins have paid second jobs, with some working as yoga instructors and tutors in their spare time.

Mr Case insisted none of the roles raised concerns about conflicts of interest. A probe was ordered after a former Government procurement chief advised the Greensill Capital board while working in Whitehall.