Thames Water paid £1m-plus to corporate spooks firm part-owned by Starmer adviser

The Guardian
The Guardian
3M ago
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Thames Water has paid over £1 million to Hakluyt, a corporate intelligence firm partly owned by a key adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This relationship raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest as the firm provides strategic advice to help Thames avoid renationalisation. Varun Chandra, who leads the advisory efforts, still holds a significant stake in Hakluyt. The situation highlights the intertwining of business and politics, especially as Thames seeks private sector solutions amid financial struggles.
Thames Water paid £1m-plus to corporate spooks firm part-owned by Starmer adviser
A What happened
Thames Water has paid over £1 million to Hakluyt, a corporate intelligence firm partly owned by a key adviser to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This relationship raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest as the firm provides strategic advice to help Thames avoid renationalisation. Varun Chandra, who leads the advisory efforts, still holds a significant stake in Hakluyt. The situation highlights the intertwining of business and politics, especially as Thames seeks private sector solutions amid financial struggles.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Conflict of Interest Concerns: Chandra's ties to Hakluyt raise questions about impartiality in advising Thames Water.

  • 2

    Thames Water's Financial Struggles: The company faces significant debts and is seeking private sector solutions to avoid state ownership.

  • 3

    Political Connections: Hakluyt employs several politically connected individuals, enhancing its influence in corporate advisory.

Takeaways

The situation underscores the complex relationship between corporate interests and political advisory roles.

Topics

World & Politics International Affairs Governance Corruption & Accountability