David Cameron

After leaving Downing Street, Cameron supported a UK–China investment fund worth approximately $1 billion. The Intelligence and Security Committee later considered it possible that his role had partly been 'engineered' by the Chinese state to lend credibility to Chinese investment and branding.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Shortly before returning to government as Foreign Secretary, Cameron attended events promoting Port City Colombo, a major Sri Lankan development undertaken by a Chinese state-owned company, prompting questions about his commercial ties and potential conflicts on his return to British diplomacy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After leaving office, Cameron became an adviser to Greensill Capital and held financial interests linked to the company. Greensill's collapse in 2021 highlighted the extent of his potential financial dependence on the group's success.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Close aide

Cameron contacted ministers and senior officials, including Chancellor Rishi Sunak, through text messages, telephone calls and informal channels to secure Greensill access to public COVID funding schemes. A parliamentary committee concluded that he had shown a significant lack of judgement.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Cameron's government implemented a major programme of public spending cuts and reductions in the size of the state after 2010, with lasting cuts to numerous budgets and services. The policy became one of the most contested aspects of his domestic legacy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Cameron's government participated in the 2011 intervention in Libya. In 2016, the Foreign Affairs Committee concluded that the intervention was based on inadequate intelligence, had evolved from civilian protection to regime change and had not been accompanied by a coherent post-Gaddafi strategy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

During the Calais migration crisis, Cameron referred to a 'swarm of people' coming towards Europe and later described people in the Calais camp as a 'bunch of migrants'. NGOs, politicians and refugee advocates condemned the language as dehumanising.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Cameron promised an in-or-out referendum on the EU and held it on 23 June 2016, against a backdrop of growing divisions within the Conservative Party and Eurosceptic pressure. He subsequently led the campaign to remain.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Leave won by 52% to 48%. Cameron announced the following day that a new Prime Minister should lead the UK's departure from the EU and left Downing Street in July 2016.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After several days of incomplete responses from Downing Street, Cameron acknowledged that he and his wife had held shares in Blairmore, an offshore fund established by his father, and sold them for approximately £31,500 before he became Prime Minister.

State of the evidence

Documented

Cameron's resignation honours list awarded or recommended peerages, titles and honours for numerous aides, political allies, Conservative donors and Remain campaign officials, prompting accusations of 'cronyism'.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Cameron hired former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as communications director. After Coulson was convicted of conspiracy to hack phones in 2014, Cameron acknowledged that hiring him had been a bad decision.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Cameron recalled Parliament to seek support for possible military action after chemical weapons were used in Syria. The House of Commons rejected the government motion by 285 votes to 272, forcing him to abandon participation in strikes at that stage.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After promising the 'greenest government ever', Cameron announced plans to reduce or shift certain environmental charges on energy bills. A senior Conservative figure attributed the phrase 'get rid of all the green crap' to him, triggering major controversy.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 profoundly restructured the English NHS, particularly its commissioning arrangements. The reform met substantial opposition from healthcare professionals and prompted accusations that it contradicted earlier Conservative promises to avoid sweeping top-down reorganisation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

David Cameron's membership of the Bullingdon Club at Oxford, known for its rowdy dinners and image of social privilege, was repeatedly used to challenge his modernising message and his connection with ordinary working people.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

The coalition government led by Cameron secured approval for an increase in the university tuition fee cap in England to £9,000, following a very close vote and major student demonstrations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

During the MPs' expenses scandal, Cameron repaid £947.29 after identifying several incorrect claims, including an overclaim for mortgage interest; he had also received approximately £82,450 in second-home allowances over five years.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant