Andy Burnham's appointment of James Purnell as his chief of staff has sparked unease within the Labour Party over Purnell's lobbying links. Purnell, a former cabinet minister and longtime friend of Burnham, was most recently chief executive of Flint Global, an advisory firm that counted BP, Amazon, Jaguar Land Rover, and Uber among its clients, according to transparency records.
Purnell severs ties with Flint Global
It is understood that Purnell has given up his shares, will have no further connection to the firm, and has no access to Flint emails or systems with immediate effect. A spokesperson for Burnham's team said: 'James has left Flint. He will have no ongoing financial interest in the company of any kind.' They added that any future conflicts of interest would be appropriately managed.
Flint Global's opaque client list
Flint Global does not publish a list of clients but is a registered lobbyist, with two entries in the past five years showing contact with government ministers or officials on behalf of companies. The firm advises international businesses on policy, politics, regulation, and competition. Until recently, Purnell held shares in the company, which is owned through a holding company based in Jersey, making its structure opaque. The firm is majority owned by private equity firm Cinven.
Despite not publishing UK clients, a list from last year registered on the EU transparency register includes Google, Microsoft, and mining firm Glencore. Apple appeared to be its largest client in Europe, paying more than €1 million in the last year for which data is available.
Concerns over Burnham's direction
One Burnham-supporting MP on the left described the appointment as a 'very bad sign that he is not thinking things through enough.' Another senior adviser expressed deep worry, stating: 'I am worried this does not look like change and it will lead to the same scandals that have hamstrung Keir. He is being convinced to dilute himself to placate the rightwing forces that will never support or agree with him.'
However, some in Labour have welcomed the appointment as a sign that Burnham will not turn away from business and intends to oversee a broad coalition within the party.
Green Party criticism
Zack Polanski, the Green party leader in England and Wales, questioned why the Labour government appeared 'so keen on bringing in corporate lobbyists into the heart of Downing Street.' He said: 'This is starting to feel like a bit of a Blair and Starmer tribute act, with Labour Together's Josh Simons also expected to have a senior role. So there can be no suspicion that James Purnell, a tireless campaigner for welfare cuts, is putting the interests of his clients above those of the people he's supposed to serve, a full list of Flint Global's clients must be published.'
Flint Global's response
A Flint spokesperson said Purnell had resigned and in the meantime had 'recused himself from all client activity and has no ongoing financial interest in the company of any kind.' They added: 'James's decision to join Burnham's team is entirely his own, and one we fully respect.'
In a message to staff, Purnell said: 'I am still finalising details with the Flint board but the story is basically correct and I am likely to be leaving shortly… We will make sure there is plenty of time for handover over the next few days and we will hold a team meeting as soon as possible. Flint is a wonderful organisation and culture. I've learned a huge amount and look forward to keeping in touch. I will miss you all and look forward to watching you continue to flourish.'
