BBC Scotland seemed to have missed a memo from HQ on breaking news stories yesterday.
BBC political editor Glenn Campbell claimed to know nothing on the information surrounding the $10m earned by former Prime Minister David Cameron from his involvement in the finance company Greensill – news which had been previously broken by BBC’s Panorama.
As a guest on John Beattie’s drive time show on Radio Scotland, Campbell faced a fairly awkward encounter discussing Cameron’s involvement.
Beattie asked: “Obviously this David Cameron story is breaking – what do we know about that?”
To which a surprised Campbell responded: “You’re telling me something I don’t necessarily know.”
Beattie reminded Campbell that Cameron had “made $10m before the Greensill company collapsed".
Campbell said: “Well this is a huge area of controversy, as you say these lines are just breaking - I’ll take a look and come back to you later.”
As a political editor at one of the most prominent news outlets in the world, it would seem unusual for Campbell to have his finger off the pulse on such a breaking story involving a former PM.
The blunder was also noticed by MSM Monitor on Twitter, who branded it an "astonishing exchange".
Had it been the First Minister of Scotland who had received a $1m yearly salary as a part time adviser, a $700,000 bonus and received $4.5m after cashing in shares the story may have been of more interest to him.
Greensill Capital, which made its money by lending to businesses, went into administration in March leaving investors facing billions in losses.
The company collapsed after its insurer refused to renew cover for the loans it was making.
Loans Cameron had previously – and unsuccessfully – tried to persuade ministers to invest taxpayer money in.
MPs said the former prime minister showed a “significant lack of judgment” and Cameron has since been cleared of breaking any lobbying rules.
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