SALISBURY MP John Glen was contacted by former Prime Minister David Cameron, as part of his attempts to secure Government help for controversial firm Greensill Capital.

The Government has launched an independent review into Mr Cameron’s lobbying for the business, which involved texts and calls to key Treasury figures.

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, took the unusual step of publishing two texts he sent in reply to Mr Cameron, in order to show he acted properly in response to his approaches.

Mr Sunak said the former PM “reached out informally by telephone” to him, as well as Economic Secretary and City Minister - and Salisbury MP - John Glen

Salisbury MP acted properly

The Journal has been told Mr Glen “acted in line with the ministerial code” when dealing with contact from Mr Cameron.

But the city’s MP did not respond to questions put to him for this article and intead referred us to the Treasury press office.

Mr Cameron’s request to Mr Glen and others in the Treasury - for pandemic support for Greensill Capital - was referred to the appropriate officials.

And, following a consultation process involving other firms in the sector, the request was turned down.

The Chancellor has defended the decision to listen to the requests given the desire to help businesses survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

Calls for Greensill inquiry

However the Labour party has called for an inquiry and questioned whether or not Mr Sunak had followed the ministerial code fully.

Its leader, Keir Starmer, quipped at Prime Minister's Questions today (April 14) that Line of Duty's AC-12 were needed to probe allegations of 'Tory sleaze'.

Later media reports also claimed Mr Cameron had arranged a “private drink” between Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Lex Greensill of Greensill Capital to discuss a payment scheme later rolled out in the NHS.

What has David Cameron said?

On Sunday evening, breaking a long silence on the issue, Mr Cameron insisted that, in his representations to Government, he did not break any codes of conduct or lobbying rules while working for Greensill.

But he did acknowledge that he should have communicated with the Government “through only the most formal of channels”, rather than texts to Mr Sunak, and said he accepts there are “important lessons to be learnt”.

However Mr Cameron added “many of the allegations” made in recent weeks “are not correct” as he challenged what he called a “false impression” that Mr Greensill was a key member of his team while he was Prime Minister.

Greensill Capital, which entered administration in March, was the biggest backer for Liberty Steel, a firm which employs thousands of workers around the UK and now faces an uncertain future.

Number 10 has ordered an independent review into the affair led by lawyer Nigel Boardman. A Cabinet Office spokesman said the review would be “wide-ranging”.

Get more Salisbury news and nominate your local heroes for the South Wiltshire Hero Awards.

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.