Exclusive: Watchdog probing Starmer aide’s secret lobbying of Tory ministers

openDemocracy findings on Varun Chandra’s activities at Hakluyt prompted official watchdog to launch investigation

Jul 17 • 

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The City’s big investment in Starmer’s Labour is about to pay dividends

Reeves’ Mansion House speech shows the corporate takeover of Labour is complete

Jul 16 • 

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June 2025

Revealed: What goes on in No 10’s mass lobbying calls?

Not much at all, it turns out. But the growing stench of desperation is palpable, even over Microsoft Teams

Jun 17 • 

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May 2025

Revealed: Banking giant threatened to leave UK over mooted tax increase

JP Morgan Chase wrote to Rachel Reeves to lobby against rumoured banking surcharge rise ahead of autumn budget

May 22 • 

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March 2025

Aristo-fraudster who raised millions for Farage sets up opaque new company

Secretive new political firm set up by ‘posh’ George Cottrell raises ‘real red flags’, anti-corruption expert warns

Mar 19 • 

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February 2025

The veteran Tory and City lobbyist advising Starmer’s business team

Iain Anderson’s newfound love for Labour has raised eyebrows across Westminster and worried some in the party

Feb 21 • 

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December 2024

Dark Arts Dispatch: Westminster is a ‘safe space’ for lobbyists

Plus, how Peter Mandelson might find common ground with Trump in rumoured new role as UK ambassador to Washington

Dec 10, 2024 • 

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November 2024

The BlackRock letters: inside Labour's 'close partnership'

The business secretary told the head of a major global investment banker that he looked forward to working together to “change the face of our United…

Nov 22, 2024 • 

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Dark Arts Dispatch: Westminster’s revolving door just keeps spinning

Failed MPs and outgoing spads turn to lobbying, plus the new shadow science minister’s links to arms firms and tech giants

Nov 21, 2024 • 

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Dark Arts Dispatch: New lobbyist in town, a wind-powered party and FOI fears

A new lobby shop has close links to Starmer and his top team, while another firm is wooing junior journalists

Nov 8, 2024 • 

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October 2024

Dark Arts Dispatch: Corporate capture, utilisation and storage

Plus, a Labour donor wins big on government contracts, a would-be MP fails upwards and the smoking lobby returns

Oct 28, 2024 • 

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Dark Arts Dispatch: Rogue investors, lobbyist cricket and visitors at No 10

Firms fined for breaching environmental, labour and consumer protection rules are stars of Labour’s investment summit

Oct 17, 2024 • 

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