Andy Burnham’s choice of chief of staff is already raising eyebrows over lobbying concerns. James Purnell, the latest New Labour zombie lined up to run Number 10 in a few weeks, previously headed Flint Global. A consultancy that once counted the Chinese firm Huawei among its clients…
Huawei is now banned from British infrastructure. Flint was brought in around 2020 to provide “policy advice” as the telecoms giant fought (and failed) to stay inside Britain’s networks. In 2022 the government barred them, citing security risks after US sanctions hit its supply chain. Flint’s Huawei work reportedly ended the same year.
Purnell insists he has now severed all ties, having resigned from Flint and – according to a Flint spokesman – given up his shares with no remaining financial interest. Always good to kick off a new administration with a headache over lobbying… not to mention the fact he’s a ‘long-standing friend‘ of Peter Mandelson.
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”