Cameron cronies ‘covered up attempts to lobby for Uber’ before BoJo’s failed crackdown on cab firm
Calls are now being made for an inquiry over the government's link to the US taxi firm
DAVID Cameron’s government is accused of a cover-up over failed plans to crack down on Uber.
The ex-PM and his chancellor George Osborne got aides to lobby then London Mayor Boris Johnson against curbs on the taxi giant, it is said.
But it has emerged No10 failed to give details under Freedom of Information laws last year, report.
Calls are now being made for an inquiry over the alleged cover-up and the government's link to the US taxi firm.
Opposition politicians pointed out that Rachel Whetstone, a senior vice-president at Uber, is a personal friend of Cameron and Osborne.
Labour MP Wes Streeting said: "It is pretty clear that, in contrast to the openness and transparency of Transport for London, that Downing Street under David Cameron tried to cover up its cosy relationship with Uber.
"Under David Cameron, Downing Street was clearly acting as the lobbying arm for Uber which is extraordinary."
Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem chairwoman of the London Assembly’s transport committee, said: “This blatant cover-up by 10 Downing Street must now lead to a formal inquiry.”
In September 2015, Johnson threatened to curtail the activities of Uber over fears it was putting traditional taxis out of business.
The then Mayor of London wanted all drivers to pass a written English test and force all private hire firms to wait at least five minutes before accepting a booking and picking up a customer.
Just hours later, the mayor and his senior aides received messages from Downing Street.
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Even Cameron and Osborne are understood to have messaged the former mayor.
Christopher Morris, a political aide working for the Liberal Democrats in the London Assembly, heard the pair oversaw a secret lobbying campaign to stop Johnson from tightening regulations.
Daniel Korski, the deputy head of Cameron's policy unit, was assigned to ensure that Johnson "did nothing whatsoever to upset the Californian web company."
He offered alternative suggestions on how to deal with congestion and pollution. In January 2016, the mayor climbed down from his earlier proposals.
Mr Morris was told the move came after Johnson was summoned to meetings with Mr Korski, where he was ordered to lay off Uber.
The Lib Dem aide requested all correspondence since January 2015 between Mr Korski and the mayor or TFL.
He received this curt response from Nicholas Howard, assistant private secretary to Cameron: "We do not hold information in relation to your request."
However, several emails were sent from Mr Korski's government email to senior figures working for both Johnson and TFL during that period.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "Any suggestion of a cover-up is categorically untrue. Anyone who is dissatisfied with an FoI response is advised that they have the right to request an internal review about its handling."
The taxi firm yesterday took its fleet of self-driving cars off the road after an accident in the US left one on its side.