UK's former leader Cameron under lobbying investigation

Britain's former prime minister David Cameron is being investigated by an independent oversight body after reports he had campaigned for government help for now collapsed supply chain financier Greensill Capital.

The Financial Times reported that Cameron lobbied the government to increase the company's access to COVID-19 loan schemes, months before the finance company collapsed.

"The Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists is investigating whether Mr. David Cameron has engaged in unregistered consultant lobbying," the body said in a statement on Thursday.

It said it would not comment further while the investigation was ongoing.

Asked in parliament about what kind of investigation the government was planning into the case, business minister Kwasi Kwarteng avoided commenting directly, saying: "Officials often meet with a range of businesses affected by policy changes, that's part of policy development, but it's always done with proper and due consideration."

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had no knowledge that Cameron had lobbied Downing Street officials to help Greensill. His spokesperson said last week that the finance ministry decided not to support a request made by the collapsed company for the loans after "due process."

Source(s): Reuters