A London-based lobbying firm closely associated with the Labour Party is facing mounting scrutiny after details emerged suggesting it is offering corporate sponsors privileged access to senior government figures in exchange for payments running into tens of thousands of pounds.

According to documents reviewed by openDemocracy, businesses willing to pay up to £30,000 are being offered direct engagement with ministers, MPs, and senior advisers to Prime Minister Keir Starmer as part of a high-profile technology policy event scheduled to take place in Westminster this summer. The revelations have reignited long-standing concerns about “cash-for-access” politics and the growing influence of wealthy corporate interests over public policymaking in the UK.

The event at the centre of the controversy is the Future of Tech Summit, due to be held in July at County Hall, one of the most prestigious conference venues in central London. The half-day gathering is being coordinated by Arden Strategies, a lobbying and advisory firm founded by former Labour cabinet minister Jim Murphy, in partnership with the Startup Coalition, a tech industry lobbying group.

Promotional material circulated privately to lobbying agencies and in-house public affairs teams describes the summit as a platform that will “bring together the brightest minds in policy, business and technology” to help shape a long-term strategy for the UK’s role in the global technology sector. The agenda includes panel discussions, private roundtables, a “fireside chat” with the government’s technology secretary, and a drinks reception.

However, critics argue that the substance of the event matters less than the way access to political decision-makers is being structured, packaged, and priced.

At the heart of the controversy is atiered sponsorship model outlined in the brochure. Companies are invited to choose between several sponsorship levels, each offering escalating degrees of proximity to policymakers.

For £7,500, a sponsor can co-host a closed-door roundtable lasting up to 90 minutes with what is described as a “VIP guest.” Based on similar events held last year, these guests are likely to be MPs with........

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