David Cameron's Foreign Office blows £70,000 on Clever Nelly app to help memory

19 January 2024 , 17:33

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The Foreign Office, which is led by David Cameron, is spending taxpayer money on the Clever Nelly app (Image: Getty Images)

"Forgetful" David Cameron authorised a £70,400 contract to help Foreign Office staff remember things.

The department signed off a one-year contract for an AI tool called "Clever Nelly" that is designed to help officials with their knowledge retention. The technology, developed by Shoreditch-based firm Elephants Don't Forget, sends staff micro-quizzes each day designed to increase recall through repetition.

It is not known whether the Foreign Secretary himself is using the app but there are a number of occasions where it could have helped him.

On Sunday, Lord Cameron said he cannot remember “in any detail” being briefed about the Horizon scandal while he was Prime Minister. Despite being in No10 between 2010 and 2016, he told the BBC: “I don’t recall in any detail being briefed or being aware of the scale of this issue. We’ve got to get to the bottom of it, and that’s what inquiries do, they can look at what were ministers told, what information was put in front of them, what did they decide – because it’s hard to remember every letter and piece of paper put in front of you.”

On January 9, Lord Cameron also appeared to forget what advice he'd received on the lawfulness of Israel's air strikes during a grilling by the Foreign Affairs Committee. “I can’t recall every single piece of paper put in front of me,” he said.

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Back in 2021, he told MPs NINE times that he couldn't remember whether he had met specific individuals or discussed certain matters during a grilling over his lobbying for failed firm Greensill Capital.

In 2016 he said he'd suffered a "brain fade" when he forgot that he was an Aston Villa supporter - and said: "Of course I'd rather you supported West Ham".

And he famously left his daughter Nancy, then 8, at a pub near the PM's Chequers retreat in 2012.

A Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: “This is a tool that improves staff performance by providing bite-sized training in an engaging way that adapts to match the needs of the role and individual. It is used by a number of leading businesses. All training costs undergo rigorous oversight to ensure they deliver best value to the taxpayer.”

It is understood that the tool is not used by ministers or their offices.

Lizzy Buchan