Sleaze Crackdown On Ministers And Mandarins' Jobs With Private Firms

Boris Johnson has backed calls for the urgent reform of Whitehall’s “revolving door” with business.

- Martyn Brown

The Prime Minister said he “agrees thoroughly” with the Government’s sleazebuster Eric Pickles that rules on Ministers and top officials taking jobs with private firms must be changed.

Lord Pickles said there did not appear to be “any boundaries at all” between civil servants and the private sector.

It comes after news that a top civil servant worked for Greensill Capital while still on the Government payroll.

The company is at the centre of a row about access, influence and lobbying that has engulfed Westminster.

The Government has announced a review of contacts between top officials and ministers, including former prime minister David Cameron, and the now failed finance firm.

It will be led by Nigel Boardman, a non-executive board member of the Department for Business.

Speaking on a visit to Dartmouth College in Devon, Mr Johnson agreed with Lord Pickles that reform was needed.