Rishi Sunak ‘running scared’ over Cameron-Greensill lobbying scandal amid ‘cover-up’

Former prime minister David Cameron has ‘welcomed’ an inquiry into his lobbying activities on behalf of collapsed financial firm Greensill Capital

(AFP via Getty Images)

Rishi Sunak's failure to appear before parliament to answer questions about the Cameron-Greensill lobbying scandal shows he is "running scared", Labour has claimed.

Shadow chancellor Annaliese Dodds requested that her opposite number reply to her urgent question in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

But Mr Sunak said his Treasury department was not responsible for running the coronavirus business loan scheme accessed by Mr Greensill's firm. Business minister Paul Scully was sent to parliament in Mr Sunak's place.

Ms Dodds said: "The Chancellor said he would level with the public, why is he running scared of levelling with them on the Greensill scandal?"

Earlier on Monday, Boris Johnson said he had given Nigel Boardman “pretty much carte blanche” to speak to anybody he needs to as part of his inquiry into Mr Cameron’s lobbying activities on behalf of the now-collapsed finance firm, although it will have no legal powers.

Elsewhere, the government’s LGBT+ panel of independent advisers has been disbanded by ministers. It came after three members quit in protest earlier this year over the government’s delay in introducing a ban on conversion therapy in Britain.

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