Lessons to be learnt over lobbying role - Cameron

David Cameron has said he should have contacted the government “through only the most formal of channels" when lobbying for a financial firm.

The former prime minister has faced criticism for contacting ministers on behalf of Greensill Capital.

In his first statement on the issue, he said he should have left "no room for misinterpretation".

But Mr Cameron reiterated that he had broken no codes of conduct or government rules on lobbying.

He added: "However, I have reflected on this at length. There are important lessons to be learnt."

It was revealed earlier that Health Secretary Matt Hancock had met Mr Cameron and financier Lex Greensill for a "private drink" in 2019 to discuss a new payment scheme for the NHS - which was eventually rejected.

An ally of Mr Hancock said he had "acted in entirely the correct way".

It is the latest in a series of Sunday Times disclosures about Mr Cameron's lobbying work since leaving office, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak - whom he texted - among the ministers contacted.

Mr Greensill, an Australian, worked as an unpaid adviser to Mr Cameron's government, and the former prime minister went on to be employed by his company - Greensill Capital - two years after leaving Downing Street.

In his statement, Mr Cameron said: "In my representations to government, I was breaking no codes of conduct and no government rules.

"Ultimately, the outcome of the discussions I encouraged about how Greensill's proposals might be included in the government's CCFF (Covid Corporate Financing Facility) initiative - and help in the wake of the coronavirus crisis - was that they were not taken up.

"So, I complied with the rules and my interventions did not lead to a change in the government's approach to the CCFF."

He added: "As a former prime minister, I accept that communications with government need to be done through only the most formal of channels, so there can be no room for misinterpretation."

Mr Cameron - who was prime minister between 2010 and 2016 - is reported to have told friends he was set to earn as much as £60m from shareholdings in Greensill Capital, although this has since been disputed.

The company recently collapsed, with the loss of 440 jobs.