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Greensill inquiry: David Cameron and founder to give evidence to MPs

Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images
Photograph: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images

David Cameron and Lex Greensill, founder of the now-collapsed finance firm for which Cameron was an adviser, are both to give evidence before MPs next week, it has been announced.

The Treasury committee, which has launched an inquiry into lessons that can be learned from the firm’s demise and its role working with government, is to hear from Cameron on Thursday afternoon, it said.

This will be preceded, on Tuesday afternoon, by questions to Greensill, whose company is at the centre of a controversy of lobbying by Cameron over access to government Covid loans.

Related: What is the Greensill lobbying scandal and who is involved?

It will be the first time that either the former prime minister or Greensill has spoken publicly about the firm and its collapse since information emerged in March about the lobbying.

Cameron, who had share options potentially worth millions of pounds in Greensill Capital, texted the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to seek emergency Covid loans, and repeatedly contacted other Treasury ministers.

While the loans were not granted, the select committee inquiry is among a series launched into Greensill Capital’s role in government offering supply chain financing, and whether ministers were improperly lobbied.

Watch: Government Lobbying Scandal Explained

Mel Stride, the Conservative MP who chairs the cross-party Treasury committee, said: “The committee is determined to answer the key question as to whether HM Treasury responded appropriately to the lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital, including that carried out by David Cameron.

“We also want to establish what lessons there are from Greensill’s collapse for the operation of the financial system.

“Following our first evidence session of the inquiry last week with experts, next week we’ll hear from two of the key figures: Lex Greensill and David Cameron. The committee will want to carefully examine their actions in relation to Greensill Capital and its interactions with HM Treasury.”

Separately, Downing Street has ordered an inquiry into the role of Greensill Capital and the lobbying, to be led by a corporate lawyer Nigel Boardman.

Two other parliamentary committees, the public administration and constitutional affairs committee and the public accounts committee, have also said they will look into aspects of Greensill’s work and interactions with government.

The National Audit Office, the independent parliamentary spending watchdog, is also holding an inquiry into how Greensill Capital was authorised to issue financial support through the coronavirus large business interruption loan scheme (CLBILS). This was the scheme the company was allowed access to, after Cameron failed to persuade ministers to allow it full access to loans under the Covid corporate financing facility (CCFF).

Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, has also ordered civil servants to disclose any conflicts of interest after the revelation that a senior official worked for Greensill while in government.

Watch: Former prime minister repeatedly lobbied Bank of England for Greensill access to COVID support