Party donor drawn into Tory lobbying scandal

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing April 19, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines Labour has [raised concerns about the appointment of Whitehall business roles]( currently at the centre of the Greensill lobbying scandal after it emerged one is held by a major Conservative donor. Daniel Green, an entrepreneur who gave around £135,000 to the Tories in the run-up to the 2017 general election, was made a crown representative while David Cameron was still prime minister. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves told The Independent that the case “raises concerning questions about the links between Tory donors and crown representatives. Given growing concerns about revolving doors in government, we need urgent reassurances that stronger checks and measures will be put in place to tackle the Tory sleaze scandal.” Boris Johnson has ordered an official investigation into the Greensill scandal, which erupted after it emerged that Mr Cameron texted the chancellor Rishi Sunak to urge him to include the company in a government Covid-19 recovery scheme. A dozen of Europe’s richest football clubs, including six from the Premier League, [have agreed to join a new European Super League](. Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham have announced plans to establish the competition along with AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid. It is anticipated three more clubs will join the breakaway group as founding members of the new mid-week competition, which will begin “as soon as practicable”. The 15 regular participants, who will be granted automatic entry each year, will be joined by five more teams, who can qualify annually based on achievements in the prior season. The plans have faced widespread criticism for creating a “closed shop” at the summit of European club football. Mr Johnson has described the move as “very damaging” for the domestic game. Britons who have received their first vaccine dose [have subsequently become infected by new coronavirus variants](, NHS Track and Trace’s chief medical adviser has said. Dr Susan Hopkins told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that both the South African and Kent variants have been identified in people “who have had their first dose of vaccine”. She added: “That’s to be expected, we know that these vaccines aren’t 100 per cent protecting you against infection and that’s why we ask people to take caution. You can see that they’re not as good against the South African variant as they are against our own B117 at preventing infection and transmission.” . 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 [Nasa’s Mars helicopter set for first flight]( [Table Mountain wildfire tears through Cape Town university library]( [UK ‘stands with’ Czech Republic as Skripal suspects linked to blast]( . Discover the full story Save 50% on a digital subscription when you subscribe today. [Subscribe now]( . Stories chosen for you - [Model suggests ‘green’ travel list could include only eight countries]( - [‘I should not have listened to Cameron over Brexit’, Juncker says]( - [Labour calls on Johnson to cancel India trip amid Covid variant surge]( - [What is Keir Starmer’s position on Brexit now?]( - [Editor’s Letter: Pubs are open again but I don’t seem to be able to drink anymore]( . 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](.