Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham is set to promote James Purnell, former Chief Executive of major lobbying firm Flint Global, to be his Chief of Staff. However, this appointment is already raising red flags – not just about Purnell, but Westminster’s opaque lobbying laws more generally.  

New analysis reveals Flint’s staff met with officials from at least nine government departments on 38 occasions since Labour took office – the 38 figure is likely to fall short of the actual number of meetings that took place, as records of meetings are only published several months after they take place. These meetings comprised breakfasts, lunches, dinners and roundtables, and attendees included cabinet ministers Jonathan Reynolds, Douglas Alexander and Nick Thomas-Symonds. During this period, Flint met ministers and officials from the Department of Business and Trade at least 13 times.  The appointment of Purnell was described by one Labour MP as a ‘very bad sign’. 

“The appointment of Purnell was described by one Labour MP as a ‘very bad sign’.”

Flint Global has opted not to reveal its client list in the UK. However, EU transparency disclosures reveal it has lobbied politicians in Brussels on behalf of Microsoft, Apple, BP and Uber. The firm is also known to have advised Thames Water – which is the utility that Burnham has said “should be” nationalised. Other known clients include Jaguar Land Rover and Amazon. The organisation is owned through a holding company based in Jersey, making its structure opaque. 

Purnell, who is a former Blair-era cabinet minister, is poised to be one of the UK’s most powerful unelected officials. However, these findings raise questions about Purnell’s interests. In light of recent tensions between the UK government and technology firms over the social media ban, Purnell’s recent work representing major technology companies in Europe raises questions about potential conflicts of interest.

“Purnell’s recent work representing major technology companies in Europe raises questions about potential conflicts of interest”

This creates a degree of political déjà vu, as Keir Starmer faced similar controversy for appointing lobbying figures such as Peter Mandelson, who held a significant stake in Global Counsel, a firm that represented social media companies including TikTok.

Despite Flint’s regular access to government officials, the organisation’s quarterly entries to the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists have only ever declared lobbying for two clients – the British Standards Institute, and tech firm Hellen Systems. There are no suggestions that Flint has broken any rules, as the lack of a record mainly reflects the major flaws in Westminster’s lobbying transparency rules. However, for the public this means there is no available record of clients to indicate whether the decisions that Purnell makes in No. 10 could benefit his former business associates. 

“The lack of a record mainly reflects the major flaws in Westminster’s lobbying transparency rules”

This is because the 2014 Lobbying Act requires consultant lobbyists to register only direct communications with ministers or permanent secretaries made on a client’s behalf – not meetings with advisors, director generals, senior officials nor roundtables or briefings. They also do not have to disclose strategic advice they give to clients about who to speak to in government and what to say. As a result, hugely influential firms like Flint Global can maintain a regular presence across Whitehall without declaring they were lobbying.  

Duncan Hames, senior director of policy at Transparency International UK, said: “A lobbying company can have dozens of meetings across government with so little public information about the purpose of these engagements shows how opaque Westminster remains.  

“If the next prime minister wants change from the broken politics-as-usual, they should recognise that keeping things behind closed doors and poorly managing conflicts of interest are recipes for disaster.  

“Government should create a firewall between any new appointments and their past interests in the private sector, as well as legislating to bring lobbying out of the shadows.” 

Following Purnell’s resignation, Flint Global said Purnell, “has recused himself from all client activity and has no ongoing financial interest in the company of any kind.” They also said any future conflicts of interest would be appropriately managed. 

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has also called for the publication of Flint’s clients if Purnell takes up the key role in Number 10.