Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Dead pig allegations are 'utter nonsense,' David Cameron tells friends

PM has refused to 'dignify' claims with a response in public but is understood to have told friends that he was never a member of elite dining group

Monday 21 September 2015 12:00 EDT
Comments
David Cameron is understood to have told friends that allegations that he put his genitals in a pig's mouth are 'utter nonsense' (Getty)
David Cameron is understood to have told friends that allegations that he put his genitals in a pig's mouth are 'utter nonsense' (Getty) (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

David Cameron is understood to have told friends that claims he once put his genitals in a dead pig’s mouth are “utter nonsense”.

The allegations are among a number included in a new biography of the Prime Minister by the former deputy Conservative party chairman Lord Ashcroft and journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who write in Call Me Dave that Mr Cameron was a member of the exclusive Piers Gaveston Society while studying at Oxford University, which is said to have involved “bizarre rituals and sexual excess”.

Publicly Mr Cameron has refused to “dignify” the allegations with a response, but he has told those close to him that he was never a member of the elite Piers Gaveston Society at Oxford University.

The allegations were made in a new biography of David Cameron co-authored by prolific Tory donor Lord Ashcroft
The allegations were made in a new biography of David Cameron co-authored by prolific Tory donor Lord Ashcroft (Getty)

The book, due to be published next month, quotes a “distinguished Oxford contemporary”, who is now an MP, recalled how Mr Cameron took part in an “outrageous” initiation

“His extraordinary suggestion is that the future PM inserted a private part of his anatomy into the animal’s mouth,” an excerpt published by the Daily Mail reported. However, the MP reportedly states that he had not seen any evidence himself and that it could be a case of mistaken identity.

Extracts from the inflammatory book also included claims that he smoked cannabis with friends, allowed cocaine in his London home and alleged that he misled the public over the non-dom status of Lord Ashcroft, a prolific Tory donor.

Lord Ashcroft and Mr Cameron fell out after the Tory leader failed to make good on an alleged promise to give Lord Ashcroft a top job once he became Prime Minister in 2010. The new biography is seen by some as an act of revenge after years of feuding between the pair.

Asked about allegations made in the book, the Prime Minister's spokeswoman said: “I’m not intending to dignify this book by offering any comment or any PM reaction to it."

She added that the author "has set out his reasons for writing it,” suggesting the Prime Minister views the book as an act of revenge for his refusal to offer Lord Ashcroft a top job when he entered Downing Street in 2010.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in