David Cameron introduced schoolfriend to Tory ‘fixer’ to discuss Covid tests
April 26, 2021, 10:30 am

David Cameron introduced schoolfriend to Tory ‘fixer’ to discuss Covid tests

The Guardian has established that David Cameron contacted Feldman on 3 April last year, around the same time he was contacting ministers about Greensill.

Former PM connected fellow Old Etonian Hugh Warrender with Andrew Feldman, then an adviser at DHSC

David Cameron introduced an old schoolfriend from Eton to a senior government adviser after he was approached about an offer to sell Covid-19 testing kits to the UK government, the Guardian can reveal.

The former prime minister introduced the friend, Hugh Warrender, a former hedge fund manager, to the influential Tory “fixer” Andrew Feldman, who at the time was working as a senior adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

It is understood that Warrender, who attended Eton college with Cameron in the 1980s, was representing a supplier of testing kits from South Korea and contacted Cameron in early April last year.

The supplier, whose identity is not known, wanted to sell its kits to the government and enlisted Warrender to make contact with decision-makers in government.

When asked to identify his client, Warrender refused to disclose the name of the individual or company he was representing. Cameron, Lord Feldman and DHSC did not respond to questions about the supplier’s identity.Details of the introduction have emerged as Cameron’s interactions with Whitehall officials and ministers face intense scrutiny following revelations about his lobbying for the now-collapsed finance company Greensill Capital.

The Guardian has established that Cameron contacted Feldman on 3 April last year, around the same time he was contacting ministers about Greensill. The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, texted Cameron on the same day, acknowledging a message from Cameron and promising to call him back.

Feldman, who served as the Conservative party’s co-chairman between 2010 and 2015, confirmed to the Guardian that he had “passed to officials in DHSC” details of the supplier’s testing kits. He said officials “were aware of the source of introduction”.

He added: “I did not take part in any meetings with Mr Warrender. DHSC officials subsequently advised that these tests did not meet MHRA published specifications and could not be used.”

A spokesperson for Cameron said the former prime minister “has no connection with this company whatsoever. His sole involvement was to forward a single email – regarding a Covid testing kit – in good faith to Lord Feldman. In doing so, he received no remuneration, was not in line to receive any remuneration, and has had no other contact with the company, before or since.”

The spokesperson did not respond to a question about how Cameron knew Feldman was working at DHSC, which had not been publicly disclosed at the time.

Feldman’s role working alongside the health minister and hereditary peer Lord Bethell was first reported by OpenDemocracy in November. According to Feldman, he worked as a volunteer at DHSC between 23 March to 15 May 2020.

Cameron once described Feldman as “one of my oldest and best friends”. The pair met at Oxford University and Cameron elevated the businessman to the House of Lords in 2010. He was reportedly the first Tory chairman to have his own office in 10 Downing Street.

After his stint at DHSC, Feldman returned to the PR and lobbying firm Tulchan Communications, where he is the managing partner. He has a wide-ranging portfolio of business interests including a shareholding in Samantha Cameron’s fashion label.

A spokesperson for DHSC said Feldman was “not involved in any procurement decisions and no contracts were awarded as a result of this contact.” She said DHSC had “received offers of support from a large number of suppliers” in the early days of the pandemic, but “many were not taken forward as we prioritised volume, price and clinical acceptability.”

source: Harry Davies

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.