Environment Secretary George Eustice defends ex-PM David Cameron over lobbying scandal

0
149

A CABINET minister yesterday defended former PM David Cameron over the lobbying scandal.

Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted Mr Cameron had not “broken any rules”.

Environment Secretary George Eustice defended David Cameron, insisting he had not ‘broken any rules’
Mr Cameron is under fire after it emerged he bombarded Rishi Sunak with texts and emails asking for millions in Covid bailout cash for Greensill

Mr Eustice told the BBC: “It is acceptable because people have worked within the rules.”

Mr Cameron is under fire for messaging Chancellor Rishi Sunak asking for millions in Covid bailouts for finance company Greensill Capital.

Mr Eustice also defended Health Secretary Matt Hancock for having shares in his sister’s company which won NHS contracts.

He said: “There is nothing wrong with ministers having financial interests provided they declare them.”

Boris Johnson has ordered a lawyer-led review into the Greensill affair.

Meanwhile, a string of parliamentary inquiries have been set up into lobbying and second jobbing at the top of government.

But Mr Eustice downplayed talk of major reform.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has shares in his sister’s company which won NHS contracts

He said it might be right to “consider tweaks to policy” but that, fundamentally, the system was a “pretty good one”.

But Labour’s Rachel Reeves said Mr Cameron had plunged his party into a fresh Tory sleaze scandal.

Shadow minister Steve Reed said the lobbying scandal was something “you would associate with a tinpot dictatorship”.