The Greensill affair shows why civil servants must be free from political influence | Gaby Hinsliff
David Cameron’s ‘chumocracy’ instincts run through the Tory party, which treats Whitehall checks and balances as the enemy
David Cameron is, we are told, very embarrassed. But shame might seem a more fitting emotion for an ex-prime minister caught trying to wheedle private favours from former underlings on behalf of a company from which he personally stood to make a fortune.
No wonder he spent a month ducking questions about his work for the failed financier Lex Greensill, which will now be subject to an inquiry led by the Cabinet Office. Only on Sunday did Cameron eventually concede that, on reflection, he should have lobbied government on behalf of his new boss via “only the most formal of channels” – rather than going over officials’ heads to text Rishi Sunak or meet Matt Hancock for a private drink.
