The Dark Lord: Michael Ashcroft’s history of muck-spreading

With his new book on Carrie Symonds set to cause a Westminster storm, Harry Shukman investigates the motives of the billionaire Tory tax exile who sparked David Cameron's 'Piggate' rumours

Words by: Harry Shukman

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The Dark Lord: Michael Ashcroft’s history of muck-spreading

With his new book on Carrie Symonds set to cause a Westminster storm, Harry Shukman investigates the motives of the billionaire Tory tax exile who sparked David Cameron's 'Piggate' rumours

Words by: Harry Shukman

It only took four paragraphs to forever change David Cameron in the eyes of the Great British Public. They didn’t even cover a page of the unauthorised biography, Call Me Dave, which came out in 2015. In them, an anonymous MP who had been at Oxford in the 1980s with the former prime minister made an astonishing claim. He said that at a Piers Gaveston party, where Oxford students live out their Brideshead-meets-Eyes-Wide-Shut fantasies, a young Cameron took part in a grisly initiation ceremony. This source claimed — having seen photographic evidence of the deed — that Cameron placed his penis into the mouth of a dead pig. Apparently the animal’s head was resting on the lap of a Piers Gav member when Cameron went to third base with it.

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Members - 20 September 2026

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Current Issue

Issue NO. 51 Winter Issue 26

The Dark Lord: Michael Ashcroft’s history of muck-spreading

Further reading

8 things you need to know about Vy Capital, the secretive VC behind Elon Musk

Meet Peter Dubens, the billionaire betting on Britain finally winning the America’s Cup

8 things you need to know about Chris Rokos, the UK’s third-largest taxpayer

The Dark Lord: Michael Ashcroft’s history of muck-spreading

Further reading

8 things you need to know about Vy Capital, the secretive VC behind Elon Musk

Meet Peter Dubens, the billionaire betting on Britain finally winning the America’s Cup

8 things you need to know about Chris Rokos, the UK’s third-largest taxpayer

The Dark Lord: Michael Ashcroft’s history of muck-spreading

Further reading

8 things you need to know about Vy Capital, the secretive VC behind Elon Musk

Meet Peter Dubens, the billionaire betting on Britain finally winning the America’s Cup

8 things you need to know about Chris Rokos, the UK’s third-largest taxpayer

Become a Subscriber

Become a Subscriber