A Labour thinktank has been offering sponsorship packages where businesses can meet and influence MPs and ministers, according to a report.
The Labour Infrastructure Forum (LIF) has been offering companies the chance to sponsor events at which they can meet “key policymakers” in private and “shape the discussion”, the Times said.
An LIF prospectus lists a set of sponsorship packages on offer for companies, including a £7,850 deal for a “private breakfast/dinner roundtable with an influential Labour figure”.
Other deals on offer include £11,750 for a “parliamentary panel event with key policymakers”, and between £21,500 and £30,000 for a “Westminster drinks reception”. The prices are not inclusive of VAT.
The Labour Infrastructure Forum describes itself on its website as “a thinktank focused on getting Britain building and growing again”. It states that it wants to “spark dialogue” between the party and “those working across the infrastructure sector”.
The thinktank was launched in September last year at an event with speeches from Darren Jones MP, the chief secretary to the Treasury, and Varun Chandra, a business adviser to Keir Starmer.
It is not part of the Labour party and is not a lobbying company, which means it does not need to abide by the rules or guidance for lobbying firms or political parties.
A spokesperson for the LIF told the Times that the group used sponsorship money to cover its costs and 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”. The group does not disclose its sponsors.
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The Labour party said it had no connection to LIF and does not endorse its activities. “Commercial partnerships at events are a longstanding practice and have no bearing on party or government policy. The party fully complies with all rules relating to the reporting of donations,” a party spokesperson said.
LIF states that its secretariat and work is supported by the lobbying company Bradshaw Advisory. The Times reported that a client of Bradshaw Advisory had been able to have a meeting last year with Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, at the Labour party conference, which has not been declared on transparency records.
A Labour party spokesperson said: “This was a meeting at party conference that was held in a political capacity. All meetings held in a ministerial capacity are declared in the proper way in full accordance with the rules.”
Labour came under fire last autumn for offering company bosses breakfast with Reynolds for up to £30,000. For £15,000 plus VAT, companies were told they would get an opportunity to give a keynote speech, photographs with the business secretary and others, and a dedicated member of Labour party staff to help make introductions. For £30,000 they would also get to help decide who would attend.
In the pitch, Labour’s commercial team called the offer a “unique opportunity to become a commercial partner at our business policy roundtable over breakfast”. The event ultimately did not go ahead and the party said Reynolds had been unaware of it.
The Guardian reported last month that Labour MPs were alarmed at the number of sponsored corporate receptions for backbenchers that have been arranged by the party, amid concerns about perceived conflicts of interest.
MPs said they had received invitations for networking receptions that include explicit advertisements for property developers or public affairs firms, sent directly from the parliamentary Labour party (PLP) office.