David Cameron's lobbying for Greensill Capital

Date

20 July 2021

Relevant topic(s)

Democracy and participationPressure groups

What happened?

After leaving office, the former Prime Minister David Cameron became an adviser to the finance firm Greensill Capital. In 2020 he contacted ministers and officials repeatedly, by text, WhatsApp and phone, to seek access for Greensill to a Covid financing scheme.

Greensill collapsed in March 2021. The Treasury Committee found that Cameron had not broken the rules on lobbying by former ministers, but that his methods showed 'a significant lack of judgement' and the rules were too weak.

Over four months in 2020 he lobbied senior ministers, including Rishi Sunak, Michael Gove and Matt Hancock, for Greensill's access to a Covid-19 financing scheme, contacting six different ministers and a similar number of government and Bank of England officials.
One message to Rishi Sunak read: 'Am sure goodwill and common sense can fix this.'
Greensill Capital filed for insolvency in March 2021.
On 20 July 2021 the Treasury Committee concluded that his 'use of less formal means to lobby Government showed a significant lack of judgement'.
It accepted that he 'did not break the rules governing lobbying by former Ministers', but said this 'reflects on the insufficient strength of the rules' and that 'there is a strong case for strengthening them'.

Why is it politically significant?

The affair shows the 'revolving door' between government and business: a former Prime Minister could text serving ministers directly on behalf of a client, without breaking any rule. It is strong evidence that the UK's lobbying rules are weak.

How to use

Which arguments does it support?

Lobbying rules are inadequate

Reasoning: A former Prime Minister lobbied ministers directly without breaking any rule.
Evidence: The Treasury Committee said the rules were of 'insufficient strength'.
How it supports the argument: It said there was 'a strong case for strengthening them'.

Access depends on connections

Reasoning: Former ministers have direct lines to serving ones.
Evidence: He texted the Chancellor and other ministers.
How it supports the argument: He contacted six ministers.

Which counterarguments exist?

Limits of the evidence

The lobbying did not succeed

The Bank of England said no changes were made to the financing facility as a result of his contacts with its officials.

Other explanations

Scrutiny worked

A select committee investigated, published his messages and criticised his judgement.

Concepts and connections

Concepts it illustrates

Lobbyist Revolving door Accountability

Related examples

Sources and verification

Event20 July 2021

Added to bank11 November 2026

Last checked11 November 2026

Next check due11 May 2027

1
David Cameron's Greensill lobbying texts released
Publisher EuronewsPublished 11 May 2021Type NewsChecked 4 November 2026
Opened
2
Lessons from Greensill Capital: conclusions and recommendations
Publisher House of Commons Treasury CommitteePublished 20 July 2021Type OfficialChecked 4 November 2026
Opened

About this example

Is it still current?

Concluded

The development has ended or been reversed, but remains useful evidence.

Why it is in the bank

A recent, well-documented case of the revolving door for answers on lobbying.

✓Relevance to the specification
✓Strength and reliability of the evidence
✓Importance to a wider political debate
✓Usefulness in evaluative essays
✓Connections to other topics
✓Sufficiently current
✓Adds something new to the bank

Editorial status

Approved

Signed off for students.

Origin: AI draft (Claude) · Reviewer: Editor

Every fact on this page has been checked against original sources.