Sunday shows round-up: Cameron’s behaviour ‘is acceptable’, says Environment Secretary

George Eustice – David Cameron’s behaviour ‘is acceptable’

Both Andrew Marr and Sophy Ridge were joined this morning by the Environment Secretary George Eustice – and much of their conversations focused on the recent lobbying debacle sparked by the former Prime Minister’s texts to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Cameron was attempting to secure support loans on behalf of the financial services firm Greensill Capital, but was unsuccessful and the business filed for insolvency in March. Marr questioned Eustice over whether the current lobbying rules were too soft and ineffectual:

AM: Do you think that what David Cameron has done is acceptable?

GE: …Well, it is acceptable because [it was] within the rules… He left office some five years ago, and you can’t begrudge people going on to another career…

AM: I put it to you… that this doesn’t pass the smell test…

GE: …The issue always is how did a minister act after that conversation, and I think it’s very clear… that the Chancellor has not acted at all improperly.