I am well aware that the supposed inquiry into David Cameron's obeying is said to be all about whether he complied with lobbying rules or not, and whether as a result those rules need reform, but if you read the government's own announcement of the review that's not what it says it is about, at all. That announcement says:
A Review into the Development and Use of Supply Chain Finance (and associated schemes) related to Greensill Capital in Government, led by Nigel Boardman, has been announced by the Government today.
The Prime Minister has asked Mr Boardman to conduct a review that will look into the decisions taken around the development and use of supply chain finance (and associated schemes) in government, especially the role of Lex Greensill and Greensill Capital.
Mr Boardman will have access to all necessary government information required to conduct the review and will engage with those involved at the time when decisions were made and will report his findings to the Prime Minister no later than the end of June 2021. He will pause his work as a non-executive Director of BEIS while the review is carried out.
It will be noted that David Cameron is not mentioned.
It will also be noted that this is not an independent enquiry: a Director of BEIS is doing it, even if he is a non-exec.
And it will be noted that the focus is not on lobbying, but is instead on ‘the development use of supply chain finance in government'.
For what it's worth, I answered that question here, very recently. There is quite literally no role at all for supply chain finance in government when the government can always create money costlessly and if it must borrow can always do so cheaper than any other market participant. So no debate on that issue is required. The answer is too obvious to necessitate an inquiry.
So what is going on here? I suggest there are three things.
First, there is an attempt to silence debate on this whole issue. Although it is said that Johnson is shafting Cameron by announcing this review it does not look like that to me. He is killing debate on it now and changing the terms of reference to ensure that nothing meaningful is said that the end of the day. And the news media have fallen for that.
Second, Johnson wants a distraction from his own abuses. Corruption always gets Conservative governments in the end. It will this one. And if one Prime Minister can be corrupt the question can be asked as to whether another one can be. This is far too close to home for Johnson.
Third, it would not surprise me if the review is rigged to find that there is a role for supply chain finance. After all, why not create another golden opportunity for Tory friends to win? Every scandal needs a silver lining after all. This one might just deliver one.
This story is not over yet. And maybe the corruption isn't either.
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What of the BBC’s and Laura Kuenssberg’s written piece yesterday and today :-
The BBC yesterday started off with a headline – “Greensill: Government to investigate Cameron’s lobbying”. Four hours later a new headline story – “Greensill: Cameron lobbying review may not change much”.
And Kuenssberg continues – “While there is no love lost between Boris Johnson and David Cameron, and it is pretty much impossible to think of a similar case where a serving PM commissions an investigation into one of his predecessors”. Building up theatre!
As is the norm for editor Kuenssberg she [deliberately] weaves a showy story path to likely deceive the reader that the Establishment will investigate its own [for the purposes of good government] but ends with seeding hopelessness “The review into this mess may perhaps be designed to end a difficult conversation, just when it was getting going”.
The BBC reporting is classic political behaviour, to make us feel hopeless in countering the Establisment’s corruption, in this case Tory malfeasance. The BBC and Kuenssberg are enablers, not Journalists.
Richard, I wouldn’t put it past them, that’s for sure.
This is Tory PR and window dressing.
Unless of course, Johnson and his henchmen have a personal reason to hang him out to dry.
The thing is, has Cameron been that critical of Johnson? Hmmm…………..
Well at least the Sunday Times and the FT have done excellent research into this scandal and will probably uncover more evidence of corruption. The public will see through any sort of cover-up or whitewash as they have done with the so-called study of racism in the UK with the Sewell report.
Meantime, a national period of mourning for Prince Phillip has been called which apparently precludes such simple bits of local democracy as meeting of Parish Councils to continue, and most usefully also precludes the government holding press conferences or generally being able to be held to account or have discussions issues of serious public concern , such as rampant corruption, or violence in N. Ireland to be discussed.
Johnson slithering out yet again – he sure has the luck of he devil. In fact, if I was ever to succumb a belief in religion it would be to accept that the Devil has won and has taken over the world.
Nigel Boardman is an independent non-executive director of BEIS, but he is also a former partner of, and still consultant to, Slaughter and May, a law firm that has done extensive government work, which rather calls the ‘independent’ bit into question.
https://www.slaughterandmay.com/services/sectors/government/
I entirely agree
Also given government appointments in his time by a certain David Cameron