Boris Johnson’s decision to launch an independent investigation into the Greensill lobbying scandal in April left critics of the prime minister fearing a whitewash, designed to take the heat off the government as it faced mounting allegations of sleaze.
Following its long-awaited publication on Thursday, Nigel Boardman’s report immediately drew claims from Labour of a “classic cover-up”.
It was also light on recommendations — a second report will follow — and failed to address what may yet turn out to be the biggest scandal of all: the relationship between Lex Greensill’s company Greensill Capital and GFG, a metals company currently being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office.
But the 141-page document nevertheless provides a comprehensive account of how the disgraced Australian financier first came to work in Whitehall nearly 10 years ago.
Here the FT assesses Boardman’s findings and the roles played by a now familiar cast of characters in arguably the biggest lobbying scandal for a decade.
Jeremy Heywood
Boardman is clear in his belief that…