Sunak ‘pushed’ officials in Cameron lobbying row

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing April 09, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Rishi Sunak is facing questions over [a possible breach of the ministerial code](, after it emerged he told David Cameron in a private text message he had “pushed” Treasury officials over the ex-prime minister’s requests for help for ailing finance firm Greensill. Labour demanded a “full, transparent and thorough investigation” into the company’s links at the highest levels of government, saying that the message suggested Greensill received “accelerated treatment and access to officials”. The comment emerged in a text message released by the chancellor in response to a freedom of information request. Mr Sunak also confirmed that Mr Cameron “reached out informally by telephone” to him and two other Treasury ministers - financial secretary Jesse Norman and economic secretary John Glen - as he fought unsuccessfully to get access for Greensill to government Covid support. Ministers have [given the green light for holidays abroad as early as 17 May](, but ignored industry pleas to make trips affordable by cutting the cost of Covid tests for travellers. Plans drawn up by a taskforce under transport secretary Grant Shapps will use a trafficlight system to divide destinations into green, amber and red zones based on infection risk, with even arrivals from the safest countries required to take a test before departure and a PCR test after arrival, at a cost of as much as £200. The move means that travel is likely to be affordable initially only to the well-heeled or to those with pressing needs to go abroad, such as for family reunion. Details of the countries on each of the lists will not be revealed until early May, with industry eyes focused on whether the US, France and Spain will win the coveted green status. A journalist who has lived in Britain since she was 10 years old has been refused post-Brexit immigration status and [could face deportation within months](. Dahaba Ali, 27, a Dutch-Somali national who studied at the University of Cambridge, was informed by the Home Office that she had not qualified for EU settled status on the grounds that they had “no evidence” that she has been in the UK after December 2019. This is despite the fact that she has lived in Britain continuously for the past 17 years - during which she attended school in London and completed a history degree - and currently works as a freelance journalist. Due to Brexit, EU citizens who wish to stay must apply for the new form of status through the scheme by 31 June. Those who do not do so risk becoming undocumented - leaving them unable to access state support and liable for removal from the country. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Most Britons still trust AstraZeneca vaccine, YouGov poll shows]( [Biden calls for ‘calm’ as water cannon fired in fresh violence]( [Black people go missing in vast numbers - campaigners want answers]( . The full Independent perspective Save 30% when you subscribe today. Now just £5.99 a month [Subscribe now]( . Stories chosen for you - [Who are the loyalists in Northern Ireland and why are they rioting?]( - [Boris Johnson likes to lie until a problem goes away – but Northern Ireland isn’t going anywhere | Tom Peck]( - [Journalist refused post-Brexit status despite living in UK since age 10]( - [Why I would say yes to the AstraZeneca vaccine despite risk of clots]( - [Rishi Sunak ‘pushed’ officials over David Cameron request for help for Greensill, text reveals]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.