David Cameron’s new year began rather like the last one left off — with a new business headache.
He spent much of 2021 fighting for Greensill Capital’s lobbying efforts. But he was forced to deal with a difficult problem at his own firm.
Humiliatingly, Cameron, who as Prime Minister was also First Lord of the Treasury, was hit with a ‘compulsory strike off’ order from Companies House for ‘The Office of David Cameron’.
Cameron, the sole shareholder in the case, had failed to submit the required paperwork by the deadline. The Companies House order was made public.
He spent most 2021 fighting for Greensill Capital’s lobbying efforts, but had to deal with a difficult problem at his company.
The threat of a lawsuit was lifted only when the necessary documents showing ownership were submitted to Companies House.
Cameron held more than £873,000 equity in the company, according to the last accounts, which were posted in 2019.
The limited company was made unlimited by him last year. He will not have to produce detailed annual accounts.
As he reportedly earned around £7.2 million from lobbying ministers and civil servants for Greensill, it’s no wonder he’d rather keep his earnings under wraps.
Overheard in the House of Commons: ‘Boris can’t possibly go. Who else could live with the hideous new decor in the Downing Street flat?’
Boris Johnson will be the 10th longest-serving prime minister after he is removed from office today. He has spent two years, and 184 days at No 10. This will make him the 38th-longest serving prime minister among the 55 people who have held this post since 1721. When Robert Walpole (regarded as de facto PM) took office, it was only 38 years.
Boris, who is now directly behind Spencer Perceval is not a good appearance. Perceval’s two-year, seven month tenure ended in an unhappily. In 1812, Perceval was gunned down in the Commons lobby.
One Tory MP who’s unlikely to have ever been moved by whips’ threats is current Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng
Kwarteng will be scared by tall order
Their backbenchers have accused the whips in government of using deceitful tactics last week.
But one Tory MP who’s unlikely to have ever been moved by whips’ threats is current Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.
‘Generally, my whips were a lot shorter than me,’ he says.
‘So I’m not sure how the physical intimidation or other forms of intimidation would be effective.’
He’s 6 ft 5 in.
Whipped men have been known to master the dark arts. From 1948 to 1951, Sir Walter Bromley Davenport was a loud-voiced junior whip who boarded the train at Crewe to discover that there weren’t any seats available. So he marched along the corridor calling ‘All change!’. He took his place when he saw a carriage.
When he was instructed to prevent MPs escaping during an important vote, his whipping career came to an abrupt halt. He saw one escape and called for help. His colleague was kicked in the back. Unfortunately it wasn’t an MP — it was the Belgian ambassador.
I-Spy: in Parliament last week Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, sporting a badge bearing the initials ‘TL’. There was speculation that it stood for ‘Tory leader’. Zahawi is quick to deny it, however, stating that TL is for the T-Levels, the Government’s new technical qualifications. However, 40-1 odds suggest that he is being considered as a potential PM candidate.
You beauty! Helen defeated Nicola
Helen Whately, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury cheered Tories from north of the border at a Burns Night party arranged by The London Branch of the Scottish Conservatives at the Cavalry and Guards Club.
They sat down to their haggis and she shared that she once won a significant victory against Nicola Sturgeon the Scottish First Minister.
‘When I got the invitation to speak, I did wonder if word had reached you about a shock poll result last year,’ she said. ‘Anyone here who is an avid reader of the Doncaster Free Press will know that I was voted Britain’s fourth sexiest female politician.
‘That was an honour in itself, but what I was particularly pleased about is I beat Nicola Sturgeon. So if anyone wants to talk about strategies to defeat the SNP, I can give you some tips.’
Sturgeon came fifth.