Hi ,

When it comes to investigating meetings, access and conversations between big business and the government, there’s one major challenge. 

You are looking for information that those businesses and the government don’t want you to find. Huge gaps in transparency law mean that often, you are searching in the dark.

That was the barrier when I started investigating Keir Starmer’s top business adviser Varun Chandra’s previous role as managing partner of Hakluyt, a London-based global strategic consultancy. Despite extensive holes in the government’s records of its meetings with the firm, I managed to uncover that Chandra and Hakluyt may have breached lobbying laws – leading to the UK’s lobbying watchdog launching an investigation into the firm. 

Our exclusive investigation was made possible thanks to the generosity of people like you – people who believe in the importance of investigative journalism to hold power to account. Will you back more independent, hard-hitting journalism? Will you donate £10 today? 

Reporting like this takes months of hard work. I sent dozens of FOI requests, consulted multiple sources, scoured through lists of ministerial meetings, and joined the dots between Hakluyt’s meetings with ministers from successive UK administrations. 

It was not easy. At times, it was nerve-racking. Hakluyt is a powerful company that recruits from former spy agencies. We are a small, not-for-profit media platform. 

That’s why it meant so much to know you were standing with me. After all, you believe in the power of investigative journalism to make a difference. Your support meant that I had the resources to keep going. Now I hope you will support me and the whole team again as we continue to do the reporting that matters to you. 

Will you help me continue to investigate the dark arts of political lobbying and funding and donate £10 today?

You and I know the importance of this kind of work. Because the relationships and interests I uncovered tell us a lot about this government's relationship to the global financial industry – and how the powerful maintain their influence, regardless of which party is in power. 

I’m determined to keep doing that – and it’s great to know you are with me. 

Thanks for supporting openDemocracy. 

- Ethan Shone

UK investigations reporter

openDemocracy, 18 Ashwin Street London, E8 3DL United Kingdom

Unsubscribe