David Cameron in talks to join DLA Piper, FT reports

David Cameron is reportedly in discussions to join DLA Piper as a consultant, according to the Financial Times, in a move that would see the former prime minister make another return to the private sector after his brief stint as foreign secretary under Rishi Sunak.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Financial Times reports that Cameron would advise firm leaders on geopolitical risk, though the role is not yet finalised.

If it goes ahead, it would mark another high-profile ex-government hire for DLA. The firm is known for its heavyweight government affairs team and has made a habit of bringing in political big-hitters in recent years, including former home secretary David Blunkett and cabinet minister David Lidington.

Although DLA is known for its lobbying, the Financial Times says that Cameron wouldn’t be doing any himself. Any appointment would still need to go through the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, the body that signs off new roles for former ministers.

Cameron led the UK from 2010 to 2016 before stepping down in the wake of the Brexit referendum. He spent several years out of politics before making a surprise comeback in 2023 as Sunak’s foreign secretary, a post he held until Labour’s general election win last summer.

His post-government career has included a number of advisory roles, but has not been without controversy.

In 2021, Cameron found himself at the centre of the Greensill Capital lobbying scandal after it emerged he’d contacted ministers and civil servants more than 50 times to help the now-collapsed finance firm access emergency government-backed Covid loan schemes.