Former PM responds to questions over his new role in the House of Lords, with calls for greater accountability from MPs

David Cameron has firmly stated that the controversy surrounding the Greensill Capital scandal is now “in the past” as he faces scrutiny regarding his new role as Foreign Secretary, despite sitting in the House of Lords. The appointment of Cameron, a former prime minister, to such a senior cabinet position has raised concerns about how MPs can hold him accountable, as he will not face regular questioning in the Commons.

Cameron’s position in the House of Lords means he will be subject to questions from MPs only when appearing before select committees, and major statements could be made either in the upper chamber or by junior ministers in the Commons. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has promised to ensure that Cameron is properly scrutinised, commissioning advice on how to enhance the ability of MPs to oversee the work of the Foreign Secretary.

This arrangement has sparked debate, with critics questioning the level of accountability Cameron will have while serving in the Lords. Lord Cameron responded by emphasising that he is now focused solely on his role as Foreign Secretary, having resigned from his previous positions, including the presidency of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

The appointment has also sparked renewed questions about the Greensill scandal, where Cameron lobbied ministers to secure access to a government loan scheme for the failed firm, where he worked in 2018. While Cameron maintains that the matter was thoroughly investigated at the time by the Treasury Select Committee, others, including shadow foreign secretary David Lammy, have criticised the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint an unelected figure with a controversial past.

Dr Alice Lilly from the Institute for Government highlighted that it is highly unusual for a Foreign Secretary to serve in the Lords, with the last such appointment more than 40 years ago. Despite these concerns, Downing Street stressed that Cameron would be accountable to the electorate at the next general election, while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would answer questions from MPs on foreign policy in Cameron’s stead.

Lord Cameron is also not expected to claim any salary or allowances typically available to ministers in the House of Lords.