Cabinet minister says David Cameron did nothing wrong in Greensill lobbying scandal April 18, 2021 Environment secretary George Eustice has defended David Cameron for his role in the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal, saying the former Prime Minister did nothing wrong. Eustice said today that Cameron “meticulously observed the rules” around lobbying, but that he perhaps should have written instead of texted ministers when working for the failed finance firm Greensill [...]
National Audit Office launches investigation into Greensill’s involvement in Covid loan schemes April 16, 2021 The National Audit Office (NAO) has launched a probe into supply chain finance firm Greensill Capital following its collapse. Last month the supply chain finance firm appointed Grant Thornton as its administrators, warning it is in “severe financial distress” as its practices came under severe scrutiny. Now the NAO will investigate Greensill’s involvement in the [...]
An ethical dilemma: Penguin Random House made huge sales during the pandemic, but kept the furlough cash April 15, 2021 A little over twelve months ago, Rishi Sunak pumped unprecedented amounts of money into the economy to help ensure businesses could make it through the pandemic – saving as many jobs as possible. Now, as we begin to take our first tentative steps out of the third national lockdown, businesses are under no illusion that [...]
Number 10 defends taxpayer-funded vaccine film April 14, 2021 Number 10 has defended the production of a taxpayer-funded film documenting the UK’s “extraordinary” vaccine rollout, insisting it was produced in-house and within departmental budgets. The trailer for A Beacon Of Hope: The UK Vaccine Story was released more than four weeks ago, with the full version billed as “coming soon”. The 30-minute film was originally [...]
Live events: UK to launch pilot insurance scheme as part of sport and culture reopening April 14, 2021 Live events: UK to launch pilot insurance scheme as part of sport and culture reopening
Treasury Select Committee launches inquiry into Greensill Capital scandal April 14, 2021 Westminster’s Treasury Select Committee has today launched an inquiry the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal. Committee chair Mel Stride said MPs would “take a closer look” at the circumstances surrounding efforts by David Cameron and former senior civil servant Bill Crothers in lobbying on behalf of the failed finance firm. A statement from the committee said [...]
Keir Starmer hits out at ‘return of Tory sleaze’ over Greensill scandal April 14, 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of overseeing a “return of Tory sleaze” over the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal. Starmer told MPs today that the government needed to “overhaul the whole broken [lobbying] system”, while also calling for a full Westminster-led inquiry into Greensill Capital’s links with ministers. Labour is introducing an [...]
Britain has a productivity problem – but we have the tools to solve it April 14, 2021 Budgets come and go. There is a huge buildup, the papers are filled with speculation and leaks, and in the days before excitement in Westminster reaches fever pitch. It is one of the few times when you will find all backbench MPs avidly reading government documents in detail because they know the details matter. Most [...]
Brexit: We must use EU divorce to slash tariffs for developing nations and boost UK trade, says PM adviser April 13, 2021 Brexit: We must use EU divorce to slash tariffs for developing nations and boost UK trade, says PM adviser
Labour turns up pressure on Rishi Sunak over his role in Greensill Capital scandal April 13, 2021 Labour is calling for Boris Johnson to conduct a more thorough inquiry into the David Cameron lobbying scandal, with Anneliese Dodds today also calling for Rishi Sunak to answer questions over his contact with Greensill Capital. The shadow chancellor criticised Sunak for not answering questions in parliament today about how Greensill Capital was allowed to [...]