Former Cameron aide ‘obeyed rules’ for his next job

Downing Street is insisting that David Cameron’s former director of policy complied with rules on business appointments when he took on work for a lobbying company.

James O’Shaughnessy left No 10 last October after four years as a member of Mr Cameron’s inner circle. Lobbying firm Portland announced on Monday that he had been appointed its chief policy adviser.

The appointment sparked questions over rules designed to stop former officials trading on information gained while they were inside government and access to Ministers.

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Like other former officials, Mr O’Shaughnessy is required to inform the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments of any jobs he plans to accept within two years of leaving office.

On its website, Acoba states that it cleared him to work for an independent strategy and research consultancy advising charitable and corporate organisations, with certain conditions limiting the kind of work he can carry out.

The former special adviser should wait three months before accepting any commissions with clients in the education sector and should seek permission for any such commissions accepted in the following nine months, said Acoba.

Outside the education sector, he should not undertake work involving advice on any contract relating directly to his former work.

For two years after quitting Number 10 he should not be personally involved in lobbying government.

While in Opposition, Mr Cameron said lobbying was “the next big scandal waiting to happen”.