When the former Labour cabinet minister was appointed US ambassador in February, it was reported he would sell his stake in Global Counsel, although no deadline was set.
It was understood the former minister in Tony Blair’s Cabinet agreed to sell his shareholding when he was appointed ambassador to the US by Sir Keir Starmer.
It has led to calls from anti-corruption campaigners for the Foreign Office to review how it handles his business interests.
“We urge the Foreign Office to review how it is managing potential conflicts of interest, including how it ensures the UK’s ambassador to the US does not present an inappropriate channel for influence.”
When Starmer went to Washington this February to meet Donald Trump, the Prime Minister also visited Palantir’s offices, a trip arranged by the UK embassy in Washington. Mandelson accompanied Starmer on the visit. There is no evidence to say Mandelson was directly involved in the trip’s arrangement of the trip.
square BEN KENTISH Keir Starmer has learnt nothing from the benefits row
Read More
Embassy sources at the time insisted this decision had not been made by Mandelson, that invitations to such receptions were not uncommon and that representatives from Global Counsel had been invited to embassy events on previous occasions.
Last year, the firm was valued at £30m when The Messina Group, the political consultancy founded by former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, bought a 20 per cent stake. This makes Mandelson’s shareholding worth an estimated £6m.
They added that Mandelson has no “operational involvement” with Global Counsel. The lobbying company was also approached for a comment but referred The i Paper back to the Foreign Office.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Mandelson in ‘conflict of interest’ row as he retains £6m stake in lobbying firm )
Also on site :