Rachel Reeves embroiled in sleaze row over undeclared meeting with lobbying firm chairman Lord Mandelson

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing a sleaze row after newly-disclosed emails revealed an undeclared meeting with Lord Peter Mandelson, then chairman of a major lobbying firm, Global Counsel. This meeting, which the Treasury claims was not in a “ministerial capacity”, raises serious questions about transparency and influence within the Labour government.

Mandelson’s Influence and Undeclared Meetings

The bombshell files, unveiled as part of the Government’s response to the Humble Address, show that on November 18, 2024, Rachel Reeves was “keen to have a chat about trade” with Lord Mandelson. This was confirmed by her then-Treasury chief of staff, Baroness Martin, who asked if the Labour peer could “pop in” for advice before a meeting the following day, according to GB News.

At the time of this meeting, Lord Mandelson was the chairman of Global Counsel, a lobbying firm he founded. This firm represented major clients like JP Morgan, Shell, and Palantir, all of whom would have had a keen interest in influencing government policy. The ministerial code explicitly requires that “where a minister meets an external organisation or individual in an official capacity, details of these meetings must be declared.”

Treasury’s Defence and Conservative Accusations

No public record of the meeting with Rachel Reeves was disclosed, despite the clear requirements of the ministerial code. A Treasury source attempted to defend this by stating the meeting was not declared because it was not held in the Chancellor’s “ministerial capacity”, and suggested that as a peer, Lord Mandelson did not need to follow declaration rules, GB News reported.

However, the Conservatives have strongly criticised the Treasury, accusing it of “breaking its own transparency rules to allow ministers to receive advice from Mandelson while he was actively seeking to advance the interests of clients through Global Counsel.” Alex Burghart, the Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, highlighted these concerns, as reported by GB News.

• Rachel Reeves held an undeclared meeting with Lord Mandelson.
• Lord Mandelson was chairman of lobbying firm Global Counsel at the time.
• The ministerial code requires declaration of such meetings.
• Treasury claims the meeting was not in a “ministerial capacity”.
• Lord Mandelson also arranged undeclared meetings with Financial Secretary Lord Livermore.
• One meeting involved a Global Counsel employee and took place outside the Treasury.

What This Means for Britain

This incident raises significant concerns about transparency and accountability at the heart of the Labour government. Ordinary British people expect ministers to be open about who they meet, especially when those individuals represent powerful lobbying interests.

The failure to declare these meetings, particularly with someone chairing a lobbying firm, undermines public trust in the political process. It suggests a lack of commitment to the very transparency rules designed to prevent undue influence.

For your family and your money, this means decisions could be influenced by powerful, undeclared interests rather than solely by what’s best for the country. It creates an uneven playing field where well-connected lobbyists may gain privileged access.

The Labour government’s defence that these meetings were not in a “ministerial capacity” appears to be a convenient loophole. It allows ministers to receive advice from figures with clear commercial interests without public scrutiny.

This situation directly impacts the common-sense principle that politicians should be beyond reproach when it comes to potential conflicts of interest. It leaves the public wondering who truly has the ear of those in power.

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This article is a factual summary of reporting by GB News. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.

Source: GB News | Breaking Brexit News