Lobbyists' trade body calls for urgent reform after Jim Murphy 'errors'

The trade body for lobbyists has called for "urgent reform" and "immediate regulatory action" after the BBC uncovered details of a company offering access to government officials for money.

Arden Strategies, which is run by ex-Labour cabinet minister Jim Murphy, asked companies for £30,000 to sponsor an event, including a "photo opportunity" with a minister and access to a "VIP dinner" with "top advisers" to Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves.

The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) said the government "must order a review of cash-for-access schemes" as "these are precisely the kinds of behaviour that seriously undermine public confidence in our industry".

Murphy's firm is not a member of the PRCA trade body which would require it to publicly list all of its clients.

It is, however, registered with the lobbying regulator which forces lobbyists to submit the names of clients for whom it has directly lobbied government ministers.

In a statement, Arden said: "A marketing leaflet unfortunately contained very clumsy language by mistake which should never have been used and hadn't been approved.

"We apologise for this mistake. This included mentioning attendees who had not been confirmed. We are sorry for these errors.

"Arden is guided by the highest ethical standards and operates within all regulatory requirements at all times.

"Very many firms are not members of the PRCA and Arden is registered with the Office of the Registrar for Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL), the statutory body. We rightly declare all lobbying activity with ORCL."

A member of Sir Keir Starmer's team said: "No Downing Street staff members have received a formal invitation to this dinner."

A Treasury source said they were not aware of any of Rachel Reeves's advisers being invited.

A government spokesperson said: "We continue to keep lobbying reform under review and are already increasing transparency and standards through establishing the Ethics and Integrity Commission, which will help public organisations develop and implement new codes of conduct.

"We have also published a new Ministerial Code and ministers now have to declare any gifts and hospitality they are given each month."

It comes after the BBC obtained a copy of a sponsorship document for an Arden "tech summit" event in London in July.

It shows that for £30,000 a company would be able to sponsor a drinks reception and receive a range of benefits.

These include personal introductions to "stakeholders", a "photo opportunity with the minister" and one seat at a private "VIP dinner with top advisers to the prime minister, chancellor and other senior tech policymakers".