A FORMER veteran Tory has become a key adviser on Keir Starmer’s business team.
Iain Anderson, who was ranked as the fifth most powerful financial lobbyist in a 2012 ranking, spent decades associated with the Conservatives – including working on two of Ken Clarke’s leadership campaigns and being appointed the UK’s first-ever LGBTQ+ business champion under Boris Johnson.
He even backed Liz Truss during her leadership campaign (below).
“I’ve worked with Liz on economic reform and boosting opportunity, " he wrote on Twitter/X.
“She has fresh ideas and real energy. She does what she says and is strong and loyal. That’s why I’m backing #LizForLeader.”
I’ve been a Conservative for almost 4 decades - I’ve known @TrussLiz almost half that time. I’ve worked with Liz on economic reform and boosting opportunity. She has fresh ideas and real energy. She does what she says and is strong and loyal. Thats why I’m backing #LizForLeader pic.twitter.com/ZFnYrU66cz
— Iain Anderson (@iain_w_anderson) August 4, 2022
But now, according to OpenDemocracy, he has not only donated to the Labour Party but also led a major policy review and has even been given a job in government, as a non-executive director in the Department of Business and Trade.
H/Advisors Cicero, his lobbying firm, represents financial giants such as Blackrock, Santander and abrdn.
The 36-page report he produced for Labour – “A New Partnership” – proposed a new more close relationship with business, including suggesting that the “the least” the party could do “is treat our wealth creators with courtesy and respect”.
He also suggested “an annual Global Business Investment Summit” – which Labour held three months after taking office.
A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson told OpenDemocracy that the department does not comment on individual cases.
However, they did send over the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, which states: “You must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between your public duties and your private interests, financial or otherwise”.
A DBT spokesperson said: “Non-executive directors provide independent advice, support and scrutiny on the crucial work of the Department.
“They are required to register their interests and must abide by the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. This appointment followed a fair and open competition, and the department has robust processes to ensure that any outside interests are managed appropriately.”
Anderson, meanwhile, dismissed the “gossip” about his proximity to Labour.
He told openDemocracy: “My support for Labour at the general election was – as I said at the time – about the performance of the previous government and also the culture wars. I was a Conservative member for almost four decades but very openly and with some anguish left the party in 2023.”
