16-07-2013, 01:57 PM
David Cameron's support for Syria uprising questioned over top aide's links to rebels
16 Jul 2013 08:44The UK arm of strategist Lynton Crosby's lobbying empire represented the Syrian National CouncilSupport: David Cameron
Getty
David Cameron's support for the Syrian uprising has been questioned after revelations that his top aide's firm worked for the rebels.
The UK arm of strategist Lynton Crosby's lobbying empire represented the Syrian National Council.
Mr Cameron stepped up his calls for action including arming forces trying to oust bloody dictator Bashar al-Assad after hiring the Australian as his elections adviser last year.
Frank Roy, a member of the Foreign Affairs select committee, said: "We need to know that David Cameron's crusade has not been inspired by his lobbyist chum.
"It would be quite wrong if Lynton Crosby was using his position to influence the Prime Minister on such an important foreign policy issue on behalf of a former client."
Mr Roy's comments came as it was alleged that Mrs Cameron had pushed for a more robust response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
The Prime Minister's wife Samantha, who visited a refugee camp in Lebanon earlier this year, is reported to be one of the reasons for his hawkish stance on the conflict.
Many Tory Mps are deeply alarmed at the prospect of Mr Cameron going further and arming the rebels who are locked in war of attrition with Assad's forces.
The PM raised the prospect of sending them weapons after hiring Mr Crosby last year.
Mr Cameron has already faced questions over his decision to employ the lobbyist after plain fag packets and minimum booze pricing were shelved.
Mr Crosby has links to firms that have fought both measures in his Australian homeland.
Australian Health Minister Tanya Plibersek yesterday claimed Mr Crosby had been "key" in the UK government's decision to abandon plans to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.
"It's very clear Lynton Crosby has been a key adviser in this move to dump plain packaging in the UK," Ms Plibersek was quoted saying by the Australian newspaper.
The UK arm of Crosby's international public affairs and PR consultancy spent six months working for the Syrian National Council, the main opposition grouping.
Crosby Textor Fullbrook placed articles in Western newspapers and got airtime for opponents of the Assad regime on broadcasters including the BBC and Sky News.
The company, founded with a former Tory official, then pitched for a paid contract with the SNC, asking for a reported £180,000 fee, which it failed to win.
Contact with the with the group was broken off before the PM hired Mr Crosby last autumn.
But Frank Roy said that his links to the Syrian opposition was another example of the "huge conflict of interest" that Mr Cameron had created by employing him.
The Labour MP said: "David Cameron promised to get firms peddling influence out of politics before he was elected.
"Instead he has done the opposite and brought a lobbyist into the heart of his operation and created a huge conflict of interest on his and many other issues."
Downing Street yesterday played down the suggestion Mr Cameron was being pushed to take a more proactive stance on Syria by his wife.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said the policy on Syria was a matter for the National Security Council.
"I would proceed with a fair bit of caution on this one. The Government's approach to Syria is driven through the National Security Council. That is where our policy and approach is driven," he said.
The spokesman also said Mr Crosby had not lobbied the Prime Minister on Syria, alcohol pricing or cigarette packaging. But he refused to say if Mr Crosby and Mr Cameron had discussed any of these issues.
"Mr Crosby has never lobbied the Prime Minister on anything," the spokesman said. Legislation being introduced in Parliament tomorrow (WEDS) will require lobbying firms to list their clients.
So far Mr Crosby has refused to name the companies he works for despite having such a key role in the Conservative Party.
Mr Crosby did not reply to a request by the Daily Mirror to comment.
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"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.