David Cameron and financier Lex Greensill are due to appear before MPs next week, amid controversy over lobbying.
Mr Greensill will answer questions from the Treasury Committee next Tuesday, and Mr Cameron will follow on Thursday, as part of the Lessons from Greensill Capital inquiry.
in other news, Treasury select committee has called witnesses:
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) May 7, 2021
– Lex Greensill, 4pm Tuesday
– David Cameron, 2.30pm Thursday
Mark your calendars: both David Cameron and Lex Greensill will be grilled by MPs over the Greensill Capital scandal next week https://t.co/vARkWH05uL
— Kalyeena Makortoff (@kalyeena) May 7, 2021
Links between Greensill, which was founded by the financier, the Government and Mr Cameron have come under scrutiny following questions over the former Conservative prime minister’s lobbying on behalf of the firm.
Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds Tweeted: “The collapse of David Cameron’s Greensill Capital could put £320m of taxpayer cash at risk. £320m would cover a year’s employment costs for:
“8,800 nurses, 7,500 police officers, or 5,600 teachers
“That’s the key worker cost of Conservative sleaze. #VoteLabour today.”
The collapse of David Cameron's Greensill Capital could put £320m of taxpayer cash at risk.
— Anneliese Dodds ? (@AnnelieseDodds) May 6, 2021
£320m would cover a year's employment costs for:
??⚕️ 8,800 nurses
?♂️ 7,500 police officers, or
??? 5,600 teachers
That's the key worker cost of Conservative sleaze. #VoteLabour today.
Sunak
Cameron, who had share options potentially worth millions of pounds in Greensill Capital, texted the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to seek emergency Covid loans, and repeatedly contacted other Treasury ministers
Mr Cameron’s activities have prompted a review by lawyer Nigel Boardman, ordered by Boris Johnson.
The collapse of Greensill – which filed for insolvency in March – has threatened thousands of UK jobs at Liberty Steel, which was dependent on it for its financing.
Ahead of the Greensill sessions, committee chairman Mel Stride said: “The committee is determined to answer the key question as to whether HM Treasury responded appropriately to the lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital, including that carried out by David Cameron.”
Mel Stride, the Conservative MP who chairs the cross-party Treasury committee, said: “The committee is determined to answer the key question as to whether HM Treasury responded appropriately to the lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital, including that carried out by David Cameron.
“We also want to establish what lessons there are from Greensill’s collapse for the operation of the financial system.
“Following our first evidence session of the inquiry last week with experts, next week we’ll hear from two of the key figures: Lex Greensill and David Cameron. The committee will want to carefully examine their actions in relation to Greensill Capital and its interactions with HM Treasury.”
Related: David Cameron touted Greensill’s services to German government