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Courtesy The Guardian....
Lynton Crosby under pressure to reveal clients of lobbying firm
New details emerge of how Tory strategy guru combines role as political adviser with that of commercial
lobbyist
David Cameron is under pressure to force his chief election strategist, Lynton Crosby, to reveal the
identity of his business clients as new details emerge of the way the Australian combines roles
as the Tories' top political adviser with that of a commercial lobbyist. Crosby's position as the
Conservatives' election guru - at the same time as heading his own communications, polling and
lobbying firm, Crosby Textor, whose client list is not made public - is causing growing unease inside
the party and the coalition, as ministers prepare to introduce sweeping new transparency rules on the
role of lobbyists in public life.
Labour and Tory MPs, backed by pressure groups, insisted that Crosby - who is due to address
Conservatives in the House of Commons on party strategy - should have to reveal his clients under
the planned clean-up of lobbying rules triggered by recent scandals.
Since the Australian was appointed by the prime minister last November to mastermind Tory tactics
, having run Boris Johnson's successful campaign for re-election as London mayor last year, the
government has abruptly dropped policies on minimum pricing for alcohol and cigarette packaging.
It had also put on ice plans for a register of lobbyists. While Cameron insists Crosby does not advise
him on policy but only on political strategy, critics have raised questions about the impression of
potential conflicts of interest. Crosby Textor has represented tobacco and alcohol firms and was
involved with British American Tobacco when the company was opposing new rules on packaging in Australia.
Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, who was angered by the dropping of minimum alcohol pricing by the coalition
, said: "I think those lobbyists with roles at the heart of any party should have to reveal their major clients,
and that includes Lynton Crosby."
The extent of Crosby's links with the Tory high command are raising fresh questions. He was recently
invited by Boris Johnson on a five-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, and represented the UK arm of
his company, CTF Partners, as one of a group of entrepreneurs trying to drum up business for the capital.
Critics are asking why the London-based firm, which only employs about 15 people, was present when
other of the capital's far bigger employers would have jumped at the chance to pitch for lucrative UAE
contracts and meet some of the Gulf's richest entrepreneurs in the delegation.
The Observer has learned that Crosby hosted and funded a "networking dinner" during the visit to the
Gulf and paid for the mayor to fly back to London in the middle of the trip so Johnson could attend
Margaret Thatcher's funeral. The airline Emirates paid for him on the return leg back to the UAE.
Johnson initially failed to register the flights from Crosby and Emirates within the specified 28-day limit,
but did so later after questions were raised by Labour. . The mayor's office said the delay was an
"administrative error".
The leader of the Labour group on the London assembly, Len Duvall, said Crosby's presence on the
trade mission was a disgrace: "Boris's choice of travelling partner was bizarre. Taking Lynton Crosby
on this trip made no sense at all, it was blatant cronyism."
The mayor's official spokesman said: "All of the delegation paid their own way, each attended some
of the mayor's meetings and engagements and every member of the delegation, including CTF
Partners, was there to help promote trade and investment between London and the Gulf by
showcasing the expertise of London-based businesses, in order to drive jobs and growth in London."
While there is no suggestion that Crosby has broken any rules, his position poses serious problems
for Cameron whose government has, over the past fortnight, been forced to push forward new legislation
for a compulsory register of lobbyists.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg vowed to act after two Labour peers were suspended and another
quit the Ulster Unionist whip over claims they breached parliamentary rules on links with lobbyists
. The Tory MP Patrick Mercer also resigned the Tory whip over allegations he agreed to be paid £1,000
a day in return for using his position in parliament to get Fiji readmitted to the Commonwealth.
Last month Cameron defended Crosby's right to keep his clients secret. "He doesn't lobby me. He gives
political advice so his work, his lobbying, the lobbying business is a matter for the lobbying business,"
Cameron told reporters.
Tamasin Cave, director of the campaign group Spinwatch, said: "It's just not tenable that someone who
runs an international commercial lobbying business can be allowed to get so close to the heart of the
British government. Crosby embodies the problem with lobbying: unfettered access combined with
absolute secrecy. As a minimum, he must declare his clients."