Labour-Linked Group Offered Private Access to Senior Figures for Sponsorship Fees, Times Investigation Reveals

 

A political storm is brewing around Labour’s ties to a lobbyist-run think tank after a Times investigation revealed that businesses have been offered the chance to pay nearly £9,500 to meet senior Labour figures in private.

 

The Labour Infrastructure Forum (LIF), a group set up to generate policy ideas to "get Britain building and growing again", has been offering sponsorship packages since last summer that include exclusive access to high-ranking Labour individuals. One such package, priced at £7,850 plus VAT, offered a "private breakfast/dinner roundtable with an influential Labour figure". Other deals included a £11,750 plus VAT “parliamentary panel event with key policymakers” and up to £30,000 plus VAT to sponsor a Westminster drinks reception.

 

 

The day-to-day operations of LIF are handled by lobbyists and guided by an advisory council including Labour MPs Kirsteen Sullivan, Bill Esterson and Mike Reader, former cabinet minister Ruth Kelly, and Lord McNicol, Labour’s former general secretary. It has also previously involved Baroness Blake of Leeds, a current government whip in the Lords. Though filled with Labour voices, the group is not officially affiliated with the party, meaning it is not bound by lobbying regulations or party transparency requirements.

 

 

The Times asked for a breakdown of sponsors, payment amounts, and Labour figures involved, but LIF declined to provide full details. A spokesperson stated that sponsorship funds were used to cover costs and claimed that “any LIF activity that is supported by sponsors will be made publicly available at the time and in our annual report, as is common across the industry.”

 

Despite the lack of formal ties, Labour was also found to have offered lobbyists a £15,000 plus VAT “commercial partnership” last winter, granting access to MPs at party receptions. Companies were told the payment wouldn’t need to be declared as it was “not a recordable donation.” Electoral Commission rules require parties to disclose any donations over £11,180, but Labour insists such commercial payments fall outside this requirement.

 

“Commercial partnerships at events are a longstanding practice and have no bearing on party or government policy,” a party spokesman said. “The party fully complies with all rules relating to the reporting of donations.”

 

LIF director Gerry McFall, who also works for lobbying firm Bradshaw Advisory, was recorded by undercover reporters discussing his strong connections with Labour ministers. He cited a meeting arranged for a Bradshaw client in the nuclear industry with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds during last year’s Labour Party conference. However, no such meeting appears in official records. While party conference meetings don’t always require disclosure, if conducted in a ministerial capacity, they should be declared. Reynolds declined to comment.

 

The Electoral Commission confirmed it is reviewing the evidence. Concerns about the influence of lobbying in Westminster remain high, with many urging tighter laws. While the UK’s Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists monitors external lobbyists, it doesn’t require disclosure of specific meetings or apply to in-house or think tank operations. The watchdog admitted there are “significant deficiencies” in current lobbying legislation and is considering the case.

 

Following inquiries by The Times, LIF’s website was updated with a sponsorship policy declaring it does not lobby on behalf of sponsors. A reference to the group as a “network including Labour policymakers” was replaced with “think tank.” A spokesman stressed that LIF is an “independent left-leaning think tank” and “not engaged in consultant lobbying,” saying it operates legally and transparently. “We’re trying to boost UK growth and create well-paying jobs around the country,” he added.

 

Bradshaw Advisory, meanwhile, said it had “complied with the law and disclosure rules at all times” and helped clients meet “politicians and senior civil servants” as part of routine public affairs work.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Source The Times  2025-08-07

 

 

Not what I was expecting when Labour started bragging about their success with breakfast clubs. 

 

They should probably consider changing the party name from Labour to Grifter at this point. 

Paying for access to political leaders and not having to report it as a donation.

 

It really doesn't get much more blatant than that. 

 

I wonder if the leaders of the LIF are buying up real estate for their own accounts like the BLM'ers.

 

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Not what I was expecting when Labour started bragging about their success with breakfast clubs. 

 

 

3 hours ago, impulse said:

Paying for access to political leaders and not having to report it as a donation.

 

It really doesn't get much more blatant than that. 

 

What could be more blatant 😀😀

 

Quote

The chairman of Starmer’s vaunted new Ethics and Integrity Commission has already hit out publicly at Labour. Going well then…

 

 

Quote

Labour says it’s designating “a new strategy and policy statement for the Electoral Commission.” Chalmers complains:

“It is inappropriate for the government of the day to seek to guide the work of the independent electoral commission… This is a matter we raised with the previous government and continue to believe is an important point of principle.”

 

https://order-order.com/2025/08/06/starmers-new-ethics-and-integrity-commission-chairman-launches-attack-on-labour-election-hypocrisy/

 

Starmer thought he was appointing a Yes man.

 

The yes man disagrees.

 

You will not set up the framework, that an independent commission will work under.

At least it has been found out. 

These "businessmen" are just lobbyists trying to corrupt politicians (further).

19 minutes ago, Purdey said:

At least it has been found out. 

These "businessmen" are just lobbyists trying to corrupt politicians (further).

 

I guess once the freebies from Lord Ali et al. had been exposed they had to find other sources of income.

 

Luxury apartments in the heart of London and designer clothes don't come cheap.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9d17ljlvro

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-freebies-lord-alli-b2620406.html

 

Worse than the Tories in every sense. 

Perhaps another gaffe on Rachel Reeves' C.V., she apparently omitted her previous experience with the Escort Agency business model