23 January 2023 , 23:34
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Money. Power. Connections. These three things link the scandals swirling around the Conservatives.
The cast list is small but it involves three Prime Ministers, the party’s chairman and two multi-millionaires.
Revelations about Boris Johnson’s finances and Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs give an insight into how the elite running this country operate. When the former PM, earning £164,000 a year, was strapped for cash he was helped by former adviser Richard Sharp.
Mr Sharp, now BBC chairman, spoke to Canadian millionaire Sam Blyth. Mr Sharp was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s former boss at Goldman Sachs bank.
He later served as an adviser to Johnson when he was Mayor of London and Mr Sunak when he was Chancellor.
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Tory donor Mr Sharp also knows Mr Zahawi, now subject of a probe into tax affairs – announced by the PM – and whether he broke the ministerial code.
When David Cameron, another ex-PM, was lobbying for the company Greensill, he messaged Mr Zahawi for Mr Sharp’s contact details. Mr Cameron subsequently messaged Mr Sharp.
Mr Cameron also messaged then-Chancellor Sunak. Mr Sharp and Mr Zahawi had no Greensill involvement.
Mr Sunak has said Mr Cameron’s intervention was “not relevant”. All say they acted above board but to outsiders it smacks of a cosy establishment network.
Here are the key players’ links:
Simon Case
Britain's newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (C) is greeted by Britain's Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Simon Case (AFP via Getty Images)- Appointed head of Civil Service by Johnson and worked for Cameron.
- Advised on whether the credit facility supplied by Blyth to Johnson amounted to a conflict of interest.
- Faces question on if concerns were flagged about Zahawi’s appointment as Chancellor over his tax affairs.
Rishi Sunak
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak takes part in a question and answers session with members of the public at the The Platform music venue in the town of Morecambe (James Maloney/Lancs Live)- Worked for Sharp at Goldman Sachs
- As Chancellor, he enlisted Sharp as an unpaid adviser during pandemic.
- Appointed Zahawi Tory Chairman even though doubts had reportedly been raised within Civil Service about his tax affairs.
- Was lobbied by David Cameron when ex-PM worked for Greensill.
Nadhim Zahawi
Revelations about Boris Johnson’s finances and Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs give an insight into how the elite running this country operate (Alastair Grant/AP/REX/Shutterstock)- Worked for Sharp at Goldman Sachs.
- As a business minister, was asked by Greensill worker Cameron for Sharp’s contact details. (Zahawi had no involvement in Greensill.)
- Made Chancellor by Johnson.
- Sunak appointed him Conservative Party Chairman.
David Cameron
Then Prime Minister David Cameron pictured at Downing Street in 2016 (PA)- Under him, Tories were given £150k from Mr Sharp.
- Lobbied ex-colleagues including Zahawi on behalf of Greensill.
- At Greensill, contacted then-Chancellor Sunak.
- Showed “considerable lack of judgement”, MPs said, but broke no rules.
Lex Greensill
Businessman Lex Greensill speaking during his appearance before the Treasury Committee on 'Lessons from Greensill Capital' in 2021 (PRU/AFP via Getty Images)- Australian founded Greensill Capital in 2011.
- Banker got unpaid role in coalition Government when Cameron was PM.
- Awarded CBE in 2017.
- In 2018 hired Cameron.
- Company’s collapse in 2021 put thousands of steel industry jobs at risk.
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson was at Eton the same time as David Cameron (Ben Cawthra/LNP)- Was at Eton at same time as Cameron.
- As PM, had £800,000 credit facility from Blyth, arranged after Sharp introduced Blyth to Case.
- Blyth was headhunted for role of chief executive of British Council but his name did not progress.
- Johnson and wife Carrie reportedly stayed at Blyth’s villa in the Dominican Republic.
Richard Sharp
Richard Sharp, the former boss of Sunak's at Goldman Sachs (PA)- BBC Chairman.
- Was Sunak’s boss at Goldman Sachs.
- Unpaid adviser to Sunak during Covid.
- Adviser to Johnson as London Mayor.
- Helped connect Johnson with Blyth.
- Gave Tories £400,000 since 2010.