Greensill controversy: Boris Johnson shares ‘widespread concern’ over lobbying – as Labor calls for ‘return of sleaze Tories’ | Political news

Boris Johnson told MPs he shared a “widespread concern” about the Greensill controversy – and questioned whether the “boundaries” between senior officials and business had been “well understood”.

the Prime Minister faces a repeated quiz from MPs on the lobbying dispute that engulfed its predecessor David cameron and also trained former and current ministers and government officials.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer used the Prime Minister’s questions to accuse Mr Johnson of overseeing the ‘return of the tory sleaze’, while suggesting that Ted Hastings and his anti-corruption police unit – from TV’s Line Of Duty – were ‘needed to go at the bottom of it ”. .

Greensill’s feud deepened after former Whitehall purchasing manager emerged became an advisor to Greensill Capital while working as a civil servant, in an approach approved by the Cabinet Office.

Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that he shares “the widespread concern about some of the things we are reading right now”, and that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case also had concerns.

“I think it’s a good idea in principle that senior officials should be able to engage with business and have private sector experience,” he said.

“When I look at the accounts I read to date, it is not clear that these limits have been fully understood and I have called for a proper independent review of the arrangements we need to make by Nigel Boardman, and he will. will report in June. “

Later, when asked when he last spoke to Mr Cameron, the Prime Minister told Labor MP Ruth Cadbury that he “cannot remember the last time I spoke to Dave “.

But he added: “If she wants to know if I have had any contact with him about any of the topics that have been in the press, the answer is no.”

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