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A former minister has admitted he lobbied in government for the UK to join a controversial Chinese investment bank he now heads.

Sir Danny Alexander was chief secretary to the Treasury in David Cameron’s coalition government while a Highland MP for the Lib Dems.

After losing his seat in the 2015 general election, he became vice-president and corporate secretary at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

The China-led organisation use money from member countries, including the UK, to invest in large-scale building projects around the world.

(Image: Sunday Mail)

At the time of Alexander’s appointment, Cameron’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACBA) waived the ban on former ministers lobbying the Government on the grounds that “the UK Government actively supports the AIIB”.

But in a TV interview to be broadcast tomorrow, Alexander, 46, has admitted he was the one “championing” that support while working as a minister.

During the BBC programme on Scots with new lives in China, he said: “One of the things about this job is that, having been very involved in the British decision to join, it was one of the last things that the government I was part of did.

“I was one of the champions of that decision.

“To then actually come and be part of setting it up and making sure it operates in the right way and that the standards are high is, for me, fascinating.”

It is not known how much Alexander earns in his new job.

(Image: Getty Images)

He grew up in the Outer Hebrides and was given a Knighthood by Cameron in 2015.

After stepping down as Prime Minister, Cameron has also formed strong business links with China as vice-chairman of the £1billion UK China Fund.

While in government, Cameron and former chancellor George Osborne – who is reported to receive £650,000 a year from investment managers Blackrock – promoted stronger ties to Beijing.

They were criticised for clearing a £2billion investment from the secretive communist dictatorship in the UK’s Hinkley Point nuclear power station.

Jon Trickett, Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Office Minster, slammed the “revolving door” between big business and politicians.

He said: “Since being kicked out of Parliament by voters, Danny Alexander has been rewarded with a knighthood and becoming head of a Chinese investment bank, while others who lost their jobs are still paying the price for austerity policies he concocted.

“This confirms we have a system in which the privileged few profit while hard working people struggle to get by.

“Labour will act immediately to stop the revolving door between big business and political elites.”

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

A spokesman for the SNP added: “Danny Alexander spent five years helping the Tories as they inflicted austerity on our public services – so it’s little surprise if they wanted to thank him with a top job after he was ejected by the electorate.”

The AIIB wanted a candidate with at least 20 years’ experience in international finance for Alexander’s job in 2016.

In the end, they opted for a man whose finance experience was five years working as Osborne’s deputy in the coalition.

The AIIB have been highly controversial on the global stage.

The US refused to join amid fears they will become a secretive Chinese controlled rival to the US-led World Bank.

ACBA approved Alexander’s post on the condition he did not exploit “privileged information” he picked up in Government.

At the time, a spokesman said they “took into account that the UK Government actively supports the AIIB, is a shareholder and was one of their founding members”.

They added: “Bearing this in mind, the committee believe the usual lobbying ban for former ministers should be waived.”