Labour faces questions over Starmer aide who holds shares in lobbying firm

No 10 is facing calls for an investigation into whether Keir Starmer’s communications chief should be allowed to hold shares in a lobbying firm and discuss politics with one of its consultants. Tim Allan, who is one of Starmer’s most senior aides, has a minority stake in Strand Partners, which critics claim could give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest. Allan does not gain any financial benefit from Strand while he is in No 10 but he has not sold his shares in the firm, whose clients include the British Horseracing Authority, energy companies such as Ovo Energy and Cadent Gas, and Netflix. He is also friends with Tom Baldwin, a journalist, biographer of Starmer and former Labour adviser, who is a senior consultant for Strand Partners. The relationship was first reported by Sky News, which said multiple sources told it that Allan and Baldwin have discussed politics since the communications chief joined No 10. Labour said the idea that Allan has done anything to benefit Strand while in his government job was “categorically false”. Baldwin is primarily a journalist and does not do lobbying or public affairs for Strand Partners, with his role limited to speaking as a talking head at events for its corporate clients. Sources said Baldwin and Allan do not discuss Strand Partners business and that Allan has undertaken to not receive dividends or get involved in the running of the company while he is in government. Allan resigned as chair on his appointment to No 10 at the start of September. However, the links between Strand Partners and Downing Street have led to cross-party calls for an investigation. Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, told Sky News: “I think it’s extraordinary that someone still has shares who’s at the heart of Downing Street … I think there’s lots of questions still to be asked, I think it’s important to know what these supposed appropriate mitigations are, what exactly are those and do they pass the public sniff test?” Lisa Smart, a Lib Dem frontbencher, said: “I’ve written to the cabinet secretary today because this appears to be a clear conflict of interest right at the heart of government. “It cannot be the case that the executive director of communications for the government has shareholdings in a lobbying firm and is continuing to have conversations with senior consultants at that firm.” Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative party chair, said: “[There] should be a full Cabinet Office investigation. I think the public need to see there are no conflicts of interest and no perceived conflicts of interests, and that’s not where we are right now.” A Labour spokesperson said: “The allegation that Tim Allan has done anything to benefit Strand whilst in No 10 is categorically false. “Tom Baldwin is an established journalist, author and commentator, who regularly appears on Sky News. Any interactions with him are in his capacity as a journalist and have not related to Strand, its business or its clients.” Related: New face, same problems: replacing Keir Starmer with Wes Streeting will do nothing to help Labour | Zoe Williams A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “There is a rigorous process to capture any potential conflicts of interest and ensure appropriate mitigations are in place to reflect specific circumstances. Ahead of his appointment, Tim Allan fully complied with this process. “This is set out in the special advisers’ code of conduct and lists of special adviser interests are published annually.” A Strand Partners spokesperson said: “Tom Baldwin is a journalist and the biographer of the prime minister. He does not engage in government relations for Strand and this is not part of his terms of engagement with us. “Tim Allan sought advice on his interests from the Cabinet Office and followed every element of the advice received. He receives no financial benefit from Strand and is not involved in our operations.”