Tests to resolve mystery Glastonbury death of David Cameron's friend Christopher Shale

Toxicology test results have been carried out which could shed light on how Christopher Shale, a close friend and political ally of David Cameron, died at the Glastonbury festival.

 David Cameron with Christopher Shale
Christopher Shale, right, a close political ally of David Cameron, died at Glastonbury in June. Credit: Photo: ANDREW PARSONS

He died shortly after receiving a call from Downing Street warning him that criticisms he had made of the Tory party were about to be made public.

Mr Shale, 56, was discovered dead in a portable lavatory in the festival’s VIP backstage area on Sunday morning after being missing for almost 24 hours.

Initially it was reported that the chairman of the West Oxfordshire Conservative Association had killed himself after the festival organiser, Michael Eavis, told journalists that it was a “suicide situation”.

But friends and police sources rejected the suggestion, saying that he had a “massive heart attack”. Somerset Police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious.

A police spokesman said: "The results of the post-mortem combined with the inquiries conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death indicate it is not suspicious.

"Therefore Avon and Somerset Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

"Further tests will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death."

Mr Cameron said he was “devastated” by the death of Mr Shale, who was the Conservative Party chairman in the Prime Minister’s constituency.

Mr Cameron described him as “a rock” and added: “He was a great friend and has been a huge support over the last decade in west Oxfordshire.

“A big rock in my life has suddenly been rolled away. Christopher was one of the most truly generous people I’ve ever met – he was always giving to others, his time, his help, his enthusiasm and above all his love of life.”

Mr Shale had been visiting the festival – which friends said he attended every year – with his wife Nikki, 55, their 20-year-old son Alby and two children from Mrs Shale’s previous marriage: Natalia, 30, and Edoardo, 27.

Mr Shale had received phone calls from Downing Street at midday on Saturday warning him that a highly critical memo he had written about the Conservative Party was due to be published in a Sunday newspaper.

In the memo, he had stated that there were “no reasons” to join the Conservative Party.

“Over the years we have come across as graceless, voracious, crass, always on the take,” he wrote. People do not want to join the party because they “think we’ll beg and steal from them. And they’re right,” the memo said.

Downing St yesterday disclosed that a Number 10 aide had left a message for Mr Shale on his mobile phone, warning him not to talk to journalists. It was not clear whether he had picked up that message.

Mr Cameron’s election agent, Barry Norton, also called and spoke to him, repeating Downing Street’s warning.

Mr Shale was seen visiting a portable lavatory in the VIP area of the festival shortly before 1pm, 45 minutes after the message was left by Downing Street. Friends said they believed he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was found dead in the lavatory by festival staff at 9am yesterday. News of his death spread round the festival site and tributes were paid from his friends in government.

Mr Cameron added: “Our love and prayers are with Nikki and the family. They’ve lost an amazing dad, west Oxfordshire has lost a big and wonderful man and, like so many others, Sam and I have lost a close and valued friend.”

Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary, knew Mr Shale from trips they had been on together in Rwanda as part of a project to help young Africans prepare for work.

He said: “He was a wonderful man whose zest for life and love of his family and friends coloured everything he did. For his close friends his company was like a freshly-opened bottle of champagne. I can hardly bear to accept that he will not be with us.”

Conservative party sources in Oxfordshire said that the fact Mr Shale’s memo had been leaked was unlikely to have caused him any undue concern.

Richard Langridge, deputy chairman of West Oxfordshire Conservative Association, said that while Mr Shale was disappointed the memo had been leaked he was happy with its content.

Mr Langridge added: “It is certainly not a question of him ruffling feathers or people being upset at what he said, and he wasn’t spoken to by anyone higher up in the party about its contents. The report was for members, it was a local initiative done with the full agreement of the national party.”

Mr Eavis later said that he had extended his “deepest sympathies” to Mr Shale’s family.

Inspector Chris Morgan, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “An investigation is continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding his death but police are not looking for anyone else. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. We are continuing with our enquiries to find out how Christopher died and are providing support to the family.”