David Cameron ‘asked for chancellor Rishi Sunak’s help’. Photo: Wikimedia Commons World Economic Forum—Moritz Hager 

• I WAS sorry to see J Hassid says he has left the Labour Party, particularly at such a critical time, (It’s no time for appeasement, Sir Keir, April 15).

The evidence of Tory sleaze is to be seen almost daily in the press. The news that Lex Greensill had a place in the Cabinet Office under David Cameron was just the tip of the iceberg.

It was extraordinary that he was given this position, and allowed to flash around business cards advertising the fact, when he was in fact working for himself.

This was bad enough, but more followed.

Soon it emerged that Greensill went on to offer David Cameron a job once the former prime minister left office, with lucrative share options that were worth millions.

Cameron and Greensill were then photographed on a trip to Saudi Arabia to see the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, roughly 16 months after the assassination of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

While working for Greensill, Cameron used informal texts to contact the chancellor Rishi Sunak. Cameron asked for the chancellor’s help to finance the firm he was then working for, Greensill Capital.

Cameron also contacted the National Health Service looking for access to the personal records of its staff for Greensill. And so the scandal has gradually unfolded.

Not only did the Tories lavish vast sums on many of their chums when seeking to purchase equipment worth hundreds of millions to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, they felt entitled to call on the resources of government to prop up the ailing firm that Greensill had founded.

The company has collapsed. Boris Johnson has now appointed an inquiry into this scandal. But the inquiry has no teeth, cannot force anyone to testify and has a very limited remit.

Sir Keir Starmer took the prime minister to task at Prime Minister’s Questions last week, pointing out: “The Greensill scandal is just the tip of the iceberg. Dodgy contracts, privileged access, jobs for their mates, this is the return of Tory sleaze.

“It’s now so ingrained in this Conservative Government, we don’t need another Conservative Party appointee marking their own homework.”

This is just what I expect from a Labour leader and it is worth pointing out that most Labour members are pleased with Sir Keir’s performance.

On April 15 YouGov published polling showing that 64 per cent of members think Sir Keir is doing well.

We are still a long way from the next general election and there is much to do to rebuild trust in Labour. But as someone who has been in the Labour Party for over 40 years I am convinced that Sir Keir can do it.

MARTIN PLAUT, NW5