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This morning the Chancellor is desperately trying to avoid taking responsibility for giving Greensill access to at least £400 m of government-backed loans.
He's claiming it's nothing to do with him or the Treasury.
Of course, that hasn't always been his view. A thread...
He's claiming it's nothing to do with him or the Treasury.
Of course, that hasn't always been his view. A thread...
2. It was the Chancellor who announced the new government-backed loans - the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS).
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-strengthens-support-on-offer-for-business-as-first-government-backed-loans-reach-firms-in-need
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-strengthens-support-on-offer-for-business-as-first-government-backed-loans-reach-firms-in-need
3. When civil servants sought a ministerial direction on CLBILS, they were clear who was behind all this. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/891470/2020-04-16_AO_Direction_letter_on_CLBILS.pdf
4. As was the minister who gave that direction https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/891461/2020-04-16_SoS_to_AO_CLBILS_Direction_Letter.pdf
5. It was the Chancellor who was keen to announce that he was taking action https://twitter.com/rishisunak/status/1245998565509513216?s=21
6. And to announce the details of the new CLBILS scheme https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1245998573872984064?s=20
7. And when the government reports on CLBILS on its own website, it's very clear which department is publishing the data.
You guessed - it's the Treasury. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-treasury-coronavirus-covid-19-business-loan-scheme-statistics
You guessed - it's the Treasury. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hm-treasury-coronavirus-covid-19-business-loan-scheme-statistics
8. This morning however, his team were clear: "the scheme is not led by the Treasury but rather the department for business, energy and industrial strategy."
9. His schemes, his launch, his headlines.
But where is he today?
Nowhere to be seen. Missing in action. Passing the buck. Dodging responsibility.
But where is he today?
Nowhere to be seen. Missing in action. Passing the buck. Dodging responsibility.
Update at 13:10 - there are even more of these.
Who exactly does the Chancellor think he's kidding?...
Who exactly does the Chancellor think he's kidding?...
11. The Treasury described it as "our loan scheme for larger companies": https://twitter.com/hmtreasury/status/1251146487041409037?s=20
12. Rishi Sunak even posted a promotional video about the design of the scheme: https://twitter.com/rishisunak/status/1265206642611834880?lang=en
13. Rishi Sunak was very keen to take questions on CLBILS last year - on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1263379123013136384
14. We have plenty of questions for the Chancellor. If the answers are so simple, let's hear them - and from him.
