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Rachel Reeves says ‘Tory Sleaze is back and it’s bigger than ever’
Labour has voiced concerns about how Whitehall business roles currently at the centre of the Greensill lobbying scandal are appointed after it emerged one is held by a top Tory donor.
Daniel Green, who gave around £135,000 to the party in 2017, was made a crown representative while David Cameron was still prime minister. The same position allowed Lex Greensill controversial access to major government departments.
A series of probes have been commissioned, including by Downing Street, as Westminster looks to understand the role Mr Cameron played in securing Whitehall access for Greensill, which was selected as an intermediary lender for some government Covid-19 support loans at the start of the pandemic, and whose collapse now risks thousands of jobs, particularly in the steel sector.
Meanwhile, the former president of the European Commission has said he “made a mistake” in listening to Mr Cameron after being told not to interfere with the pre-referendum Brexit debate. Jean-Claude Juncker said he “should not have listened” to the former prime minister and “spoken out” on the issue.
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Tory donor drawn into lobbying row after being given key business role
Labour has demanded stronger checks on the appointment of crown representatives after a job was handed to an entrepreneur who donated £135,000 to Conservatives.
Daniel Green was made a crown representative while David Cameron was prime minister – the same position that allowed Lex Greensill controversial access to major government departments.
That revelation has led to growing questions over whether the system of crown representatives – business people brought into the heart of Whitehall to help secure value for taxpayers’ money – is fit for purpose.
Tom Batchelor19 April 2021 08:04
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the continuing fallout from the lobbying scandal, criticism of David Cameron over his Brexit advice and much else.
Tom Batchelor19 April 2021 08:00
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