The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has called for the immediate release of full transparency information relating to Peter Mandelson’s lobbying firm and its role in securing government contracts for Palantir, warning that the current lobbying system is “failing the public”.
The call follows The Guardian reporting that Global Counsel, the firm co-founded by Mandelson, may have been involved in the awarding of public contracts to Palantir after helping to arrange a meeting between the company’s chief executive and the prime minister, Keir Starmer. Global Counsel is registered with the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL) and lists Palantir as a client.
The reports come amid renewed scrutiny of Mandelson following disclosures in the Epstein files. City AM has reported that hundreds of emails were sent by Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein from a Global Counsel email address, following earlier allegations that he shared market-sensitive information with Epstein while serving as a government minister.
This is yet another case where serious questions are being raised about a member of the House of Lords working in lobbying and appearing to leverage political access for commercial gain.
The public deserves full transparency about what Peter Mandelson shared with clients and contacts, both while in government and as a parliamentarian. The Lobbying Act promised to shine a light of transparency on lobbying, yet once again, it is clear that it is failing the public and only serves to hide the majority of lobbying activity in the shadows.
This is not just about one high-profile individual with questionable ethics. It is about a system that is designed to fail, that undermines public trust, and does not meet basic standards of accountability. We urgently need a wholesale reform of lobbying laws so that who is influencing government and on whose behalf is clear to everyone.
Alastair McCapra, CIPR Chief Executive
