What are the government’s emergency coronavirus business loan schemes – and can we trust their integrity?

Did these schemes serve a valuable role in preventing viable businesses from collapsing? Or are they a major scandal which will, in time, be fully exposed? Ben Chu investigates

David Cameron lobbied Greensill to access publicly guaranteed funds (Reuters)

The Greensill lobbying furore has shone a spotlight on the government’s emergency coronavirus lending schemes established last year.

David Cameron was seeking to persuade the government to permit Greensill Capital to access publicly-guaranteed funds under one of these schemes.

The financial firm also participated in another scheme, with Greensill passing on the funds to its client, Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel, which is now in financial crisis.