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A lobbying company run by former Labour cabinet minister Jim Murphy has been inviting businesses to pay £30,000 to sponsor an event, which reportedly includes perks such as a photo opportunity with a government minister and access to a VIP dinner featuring senior advisers to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. Murphy, who previously served as Secretary of State for Scotland from 2008 to 2010, owns Arden Strategies, the firm organizing a “Future of Tech Summit” scheduled for July in London.
The summit’s promotional material suggests that participants will have the chance to attend a “fireside chat” with Science Secretary Liz Kendall. However, a government source clarified that Kendall “was not aware of this invitation and she never agreed to attend this event.” Arden Strategies later apologized for what they described as “clumsy language” in their materials and acknowledged errors, including the premature mention of attendees who had not been confirmed.
Documents obtained by the BBC reveal that the sponsorship package, priced at £30,000, offers companies a range of benefits. These include sponsoring a drinks reception, making personal introductions to key stakeholders, a photo opportunity with the minister, and one seat at an exclusive “VIP dinner” with top advisers to government figures such as the prime minister and chancellor. Despite these claims, representatives from Sir Keir Starmer’s team and the Treasury indicated that no formal invitations had been extended to their staff or advisers in connection to this event.
Jim Murphy founded Arden Strategies soon after losing his parliamentary seat in 2015, following an 18-year career in Labour politics during which he held several ministerial roles, including Europe minister and shadow defence secretary. Arden Strategies has engaged in lobbying on behalf of clients such as arms manufacturers, oil firms, and energy companies under the current Labour government. The firm is not listed as a member of the Public Relations and Communications Association, which mandates transparency regarding public affairs clients. Notably, several Labour figures, including party chair Anna Turley, business minister Blair McDougall, and former MP Holly Lynch, have been associated with the firm, though there is no indication they were involved in the sponsorship offers related to government access
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