Former PM under investigation in UK

UK former prime minister David Cameron is under investigation by the lobbying watchdog set up while he was in office, for possibly breaching laws in his interventions on behalf of Greensill Capital, Report informs referring to The Daily Telegraph.

It comes after reports the former prime minister lobbied former colleagues in Whitehall to try to help Greensill access government-backed emergency coronavirus loan schemes, just months before the lender collapsed into insolvency.

Under legislation brought in by Cameron while he was in Downing Street, anyone who directly lobbies ministers or senior officials on behalf of a third party in return for payment, must first sign up to the Government’s official register of lobbyists. Failure to do so can lead to a £7,500 civil penalty or, in severe cases, criminal prosecution.

The rules do not apply to lobbying by in-house teams or individuals.

Cameron is alleged to have directly contacted the Treasury, including text messages to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Number 10 and the Bank of England, who also received approaches from Greensill. Cameron has been an adviser to the lender since 2018.

In a statement on March 23, the Office of the Register of Consultant Lobbyists said it “is investigating whether Mr David Cameron has engaged in unregistered consultant lobbying.”