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Lord Evans
Lord Evans, chair of the committee on standards in public life, will call for a revamp of rules governing current and former prime ministers and other office-holders. Photograph: David Mirzoeff/PA
Lord Evans, chair of the committee on standards in public life, will call for a revamp of rules governing current and former prime ministers and other office-holders. Photograph: David Mirzoeff/PA

Ban ministers from lobbying for five years, Greensill review to propose

This article is more than 2 years old

Lord Evans to call for tougher rules to stop former ministers using contacts and expertise for private gain

Ministers could face a five-year ban from lobbying after leaving office and face fines if they break the rules.

Lord Evans, chair of the committee on standards in public life, will propose the tougher measures following an emergency review carried out in the wake of the Greensill scandal.

Lord Evans, 63, will call for a revamp of rules governing current and former prime ministers and other office-holders. His report will demand an overhaul of the rules in an attempt to stop former ministers using their contacts and expertise for private gain, the Sunday Times reported.

The report follows widespread disquiet over the extent and secrecy surrounding lobbying efforts by the former prime minister, David Cameron, on behalf of the Australian finance company Greensill Capital. The company employed Cameron to help acquire government contracts. Greensill’s collapse earlier this year has put tens of thousands of jobs in jeopardy.

It was revealed that Cameron lobbied senior ministers including the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, via scores of private emails, texts and WhatsApp messages.

Ministers could face lobbying bans of up to five years, as well as anti-lobbying clauses in their contracts, requiring the government to publish details of lobbying meetings monthly. Lord Evans told the BBC Westminster Hour programme that he there needed to be “greater transparency” about lobbying.

More on this story

More on this story

  • Rishi Sunak faces fresh byelection as former Tory MP suspended

  • Former British army chief joins Lynton Crosby’s lobbying firm

  • Tory MP investigated over payments for chairing group that lobbied PM

  • Tory peer cleared for second time of breaking lobbying rules over PPE contracts

  • Bring in new lobbying rules for ex-ministers by autumn, says watchdog

  • Labour rules on lobbying would ‘clean up politics’, says Angela Rayner

  • More than 100 MPs received freebies worth £180,000 this summer

  • Revealed: senior Tory MP was paid £2,000 a month by lobbying firm

  • Tory MP Scott Benton has whip suspended after newspaper sting

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