David Cameron ‘put genitals in dead pig’s mouth’, book claims

DOWNING Street has been forced to dismiss claims that David Cameron participated in a bizarre student prank as a bitter row with a major Conservative party donor Lord Ashcroft erupted.
Prime Minister David Cameron is the subject of the new book. Picture: PAPrime Minister David Cameron is the subject of the new book. Picture: PA
Prime Minister David Cameron is the subject of the new book. Picture: PA

Lord Ashcroft, who donated millions to the party before falling out with Mr Cameron, has co-written Call Me Dave, an unauthorised biography including allegations of the Prime Minister’s supposed youthful excesses.

In a book co-authored with the journalist Isabel Oakeshott, the peer claimed Mr Cameron was present at events where drugs were taken and was part of a decadent Oxford University dining society.

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In extracts published yesterday, Lord Ashcroft also alleged Mr Cameron was aware he had not given up his controversial “non dom” tax status when he joined the House of Lords earlier than was previously admitted.

Lord Ashcroft co-authored the book with journalist Isabel Oakeshott. Picture: PALord Ashcroft co-authored the book with journalist Isabel Oakeshott. Picture: PA
Lord Ashcroft co-authored the book with journalist Isabel Oakeshott. Picture: PA

Officially, No 10 Downing Street refused to comment on the claims, with a spokeswoman stating the Prime Minister would not “dignify” them with a response.

However, sources close to the Prime Minister said they “did not recognise” the accusations, while friends insisted he was never a member of the dining society. Lord Ashcroft – who donated £8 million to the Conservatives – acknowledged in writing the book that he had a personal “beef” with the Prime Minister after his failure to offer him a significant job in his administration following the formation of the coalition government in 2010.

He claimed Mr Cameron initially blamed his Liberal Democrat coalition partners for blocking his appointment, before offering him a junior role at the Foreign Office.

The most extraordinary claim is that Mr Cameron took part in an initiation ritual for the notorious Piers Gaveston club –named after the supposed lover of Edward II – which involved him inserting “a private part of his anatomy” in the mouth of a dead pig.

Lord Ashcroft said he was told about the incident by an Oxford contemporary of Mr Cameron who is now an MP and who claimed to have seen a photograph of the event.

The authors said they attempted to contact the owner of the alleged photograph but received no response.

The book also claims that as early as 2009, Lord Ashcroft discussed with Mr Cameron how they could delay revealing his “non-dom” tax status – which allowed him to avoid tax on overseas earnings – until after the following year’s general election.

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This contradicts a Conservative assertion at the time when the controversial status became known in 2010 that Mr Cameron had been told only a month previously.

Lord Ashcroft – who had given a commitment to become resident in the UK for tax purposes when he was made a life peer by William Hague in 2000 – subsequently gave up his non-dom status to retain his place on the Conservative benches in the Lords.

The Prime Minister’s official spokeswoman said: “I am not intending to dignify this book by offering any comment.

“He [Lord Ashcroft] has set out his reasons for writing it. The Prime Minister is focused on getting on with the job of running the country.”