The briefing for MPs and peers will be hosted on Monday in a hub sponsored by Anacta, which markets itself as a “Labour-specialist” agency providing “political intelligence” for organisations that want to understand the Government.
The firm is run by Teddy Ryan, the husband of Labour general secretary and Starmer ally Hollie Ridley, who himself worked in senior roles in the party for 14 years.
When asked by The i Paper if Anacta staff and clients would be present at the briefing of the PM’s speech, neither Anacta or Labour could rule it out. But it is understood that none of the company’s staff will speak at the event.
An invitation to MPs for the event, leaked to The i Paper, says it will be an opportunity “to be briefed on what we can expect to hear from the Prime Minister in his keynote speech to Conference”, as well as a drinks reception.
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations said the arrangements used by Labour and Anacta “blur the lines between influence and access” and create “two-tier democracy” with influence peddled in “shadowy corners”, while calling for a change in lobbying rules.
“Hosting an MPs briefing of the PM’s speech with a lobbying outfit which is owned by someone married to the Labour Party general secretary is stupid beyond belief and opens them up to all kinds of accusations around cronyism.”
Hollie Ridley, who the party has named as its Labour last September (The Labour Party/PA Wire) and her husband Teddy Ryan, Managing Director of AnactaCritics also said it undermines Labour’s promises to clean up politics, crack down on lobbying and move the country on from sleaze scandals which dogged the Conservatives in office.
Starmer and Cabinet ministers including Rachel Reeves have also been criticised for taking so-called “freebies” for events since Labour won the election, with The i Paper revealing in March that the Chancellor accepted free corporate tickets to see Sabrina Carpenter perform at the O2 arena.
Lobbying firms can pay thousands to sponsor areas
Lobbying companies often pay tens of thousands of pounds to sponsor their own area at the conference.
It is instead classed as a “commercial partnership” because any money given to the party is not directly used to meet its expenses. Unlike donations or sponsorship payments that have to be declared, commercial deals do not – an arrangement critics have described as a “loophole”.
A second industry insider said a briefing for MPs and peers was likely to be led by a senior figure like a Cabinet minister, such as chief secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones, or a very senior staff member from No 10.
“They [Anacta] wouldn’t really be doing their jobs if they didn’t pass it on, otherwise you would beg the question of why you have decided to use your hub for that if you are not going to get something in return.”
“There could be something in there on, for example, planning, which could be very significant to certain firms and you wake up the next morning and have a few hours to react in advance, which is always useful.
‘Britain’s lobbying rules are weak’
Alastair McCapra, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, said: “With the current Lobbying Act riddled with loopholes, cases like this only reinforce the urgent need for a robust, watertight lobbying code that leaves no technicalities to exploit. Only then can UK governments deliver the transparency that both the public and responsible lobbyists demand and deserve.
Peter Geoghegan, journalist and author of Democracy for Sale: Dark Money and Dirty Politics told The i Paper: “Britain’s lobbying rules are so weak that they only capture an estimated 4 per cent of all lobbying activity. In opposition, Labour often promised to end the cosy relationship between politicians and lobbyists. But in office, Labour has done precious little.
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A Labour Party spokesman said: “A wide range of events are taking place throughout annual conference, some of which, as is typical at party conferences, are supported by commercial partners.
“We comply with all rules with these arrangements.”
An Anacta spokesman said: “Anacta are proud to be hosting a range of interesting events, with a broad and varied range of partners.”
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