Come clean on second jobs now, Whitehall told

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing April 15, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Civil servants have been [ordered to reveal any outside work they may be doing](, as a second inquiry into the Greensill lobbying scandal threatening to engulf Boris Johnson’s government was announced. Whitehall departments have been given until Friday to disclose if senior officials have second jobs in the private sector or other potential conflicts of interest. It follows the revelation that Whitehall’s former head of procurement was working for Greensill Capital while still a civil servant. The demand emerged as the Treasury Select Committee said it would investigate the response of ministers - including the chancellor, Rishi Sunak - to lobbying by former prime minister David Cameron on behalf of Greensill. Mr Cameron, who joined Greensill in a paid role as special adviser in 2018, two years after leaving Downing Street, was found to have sent text messages and emails to ministers in an effort to exert influence within government on behalf of the financial services company. A leading scientist has [branded Mr Johnson’s looming trade trip to India “crazy”](, warning he risks bringing back an alarming new variant of coronavirus. The B.1.617 strain lies behind a dramatic surge in infections that is wreaking havoc across the country, including in Delhi, the prime minister’s destination. It contains a mutation reported to be “capable of immune escape, dodging antibodies (and T-cells) generated by a prior infection or a dose of vaccine”. Mr Johnson has scaled back the visit in response to India’s concerns, but still intends to go at the end of the month, with Downing Street insisting “all elements will be Covid-secure”. But Professor Christina Pagel, from University College London, attacked his “bizarre bravado”, telling The Independent: “He shouldn’t be going - it’s just crazy.” A major NHS trust in London is [planning to make vaccinations against coronavirus a contractual requirement]( for all its staff, according to a leaked email seen by The Independent that also reveals other trusts may follow suit. The letter to staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Foundation Trust, signed by the chief executive Lesley Watts, has not yet been sent to staff but has been shared with dozens of senior NHS bosses across London for them to “adapt and use in your trusts”. Adding a contractual requirement for a vaccination to employment contracts would constitute a change in terms and conditions for staff and is likely to be legally difficult to enforce. The letter indicates some of the trust’s 6,000 staff had “chosen” not to be vaccinated and it urged them to change their mind. It said: “We will need to take into account your vaccination status in your occupational risk assessment and this may impact the range of duties you undertake and indeed the environment in which you work.” . 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 [Iraq’s deadliest Covid wave is only just beginning]( [Officer who killed Daunte Wright to face manslaughter charge]( [Royals release previously unseen pictures of family with Prince Philip]( . Sign up to our free newsletters Subscribe to a wide range of free newsletters for exclusive news and features from our specialist reporters across the world . Stories chosen for you - [EU parliament again refuses to set date for ratifying Brexit trade deal amid concerns over UK conduct]( - [James Dyson’s back playing Brexit cheerleader while other firms deal with its bitter reality]( - [Boris Johnson’s vaccine high won’t last forever – here’s why | Andrew Grice]( - [Second inquiry into Greensill lobbying scandal announced]( - [Sleaze, corruption and power – Labour knows all about two of these things | Tom Peck]( . 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](.