David Cameron breaks silence on Greensill lobbying row

David Cameron has broken his silence over the Greensill lobbying allegations to accept he should have communicated "through only the most formal of channels".

The former prime minister said there were "important lessons to be learnt", and that he should have acted differently "so there can be no room for misinterpretation".

In a statement Mr Cameron said by making representations to government on behalf of Greensill, he "was breaking no codes of conduct and no government rules".

He cautioned that "the outcome of the discussions I encouraged about how Greensill's proposals might be included in the Government's CCFF [Covid Corporate Financing Facility] initiative - and help in the wake of the coronavirus crisis - was that they were not taken up".

Mr Cameron also sought to clarify the use of text message and email, as a means of communication. He said: "I understand that concern, but context is important: at that time the Government was - quite rightly - making rapid decisions about the best way to support the real economy and welcomed real time information and dialogue."

He added that he made the communications "not just because I thought it would benefit the company, but because I sincerely believed there would be a material benefit for UK businesses at a challenging time".

The former Prime Minister has faced mounting questions over his efforts to secure access to the government's coronavirus loan scheme for Greensill which later collapsed putting thousands of UK steelmaking jobs at risk.

Mr Cameron also made reference to a camping trip he took in the desert with founder Lex Greensill and Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, less than 18 months after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist.

Mr Cameron said: "Greensill planned to open a new regional office in Riyadh as part of its international expansion and I wanted to assist in this effort."

Sir Tom Scholar, permanent secretary at the Treasury, will appear before the public accounts committee on April 22, when he will be questioned about Greensill. The Daily Telegraph understands that discussions are under way among Parliament's select committees about a bigger inquiry, with two senior members working closely together so as not to "overlap" witnesses.

It comes after revelations that the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, met Mr Cameron and Mr Greensill, for a "private drink" to discuss a new payment scheme for the NHS in 2019, according to The Sunday Times. An ally of Mr Hancock insisted the decision to use the scheme was for NHS employers.

"Matt acted in entirely the correct way. He updated officials on the business that was discussed, as is appropriate," the friend said.