Lex Greensill’s access to Cameron’s Number 10 ‘not normal, says ex-minister
The level of access afforded to Australian banker Lex Greensill to Number 10 under David Cameron was “not normal”, according to ex-Cabinet Office minister Lord Francis Maude.
Maude told MPs on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that it was “surprising [Greensill] he had all that No.10 paraphernalia”, after being appointed as an external adviser to government in 2011.
Cameron went on to work for now failed Greensill Capital after his term in Downing Street, sparking allegations there had been a quid pro quo arrangement between the pair.
Cameron and Greensill deny the allegation.
Greensill was brought in to implement supply chain finance into government departments, including the Department of Health.
Supply chain finance is a complicated process that sees third-party firms pay the suppliers of large businesses faster than planned and then securitise the debt it’s owed.
Maude said Greensill was brought in to government by former cabinet secretary Lord Heywood and was introduced as “a very clever guy who’s going to help you save lots of money”.
“I have seen nothing that suggests that any involvement the government had with supply chain finance actually saved the government money in any way – and this was a distraction,” Maude said.
“I think the lesson here is that someone was brought in without there being much in the way of real process.”
Former Cabinet Office permanent secretary Ian Watmore told MPs that Greensill “did not go through the open recruitment process”.
“He was appointed simply for three months for a part-time, unpaid role to advise the civil service team on supply chain finance,” he said.
“I’d put him in the category of an unpaid consultant.”
Several Westminster committees, along with Number 10, are running inquiries into Greensill Capital’s involvement with government.
It was revealed earlier this year that David Cameron, working as a highly paid adviser for the firm, had contacted ministers and senior civil servants to try and get an emergency Covid loan.
The firm was refused entry into the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) scheme on multiple occasions.
The inquiries will also look at civil servants’ involvement with Greensill Capital, after it was revealed former senior mandarin Bill Crothers worked for the firm while also still working in Whitehall.
Crothers told MPs today that his “intention was to completely follow the rules, in spirit, and in form”.
“I was transparent in all that I did, and no conflict of interest happened,” he said.
Crothers worked as the government’s chief procurement officer, before leaving in 2015.
He said that he no longer held this role when he started working at Greensill Capital, while also working part time in the civil service.