"A lobbying firm run by an ex-Labour cabinet minister 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 Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. Arden Strategies, owned by MP turned lobbyist Jim Murphy, is hosting a "Future of Tech Summit" in London in July claiming attendees will be able to watch a "fireside chat" with Science Secretary Liz Kendall."
"The BBC has obtained Arden's sponsorship document for the "tech summit" event. 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"."
"Arden Strategies said in a statement: "Information about an event unfortunately contained very clumsy language by mistake which should never have been used and hadn't been approved. "It was stupid to do so and we apologise for this mistake. This included mentioning attendees who had not been confirmed. We are sorry for these errors.""
Arden Strategies, owned by former MP Jim Murphy, promoted a Future of Tech Summit in London in July promising attendees could watch a fireside chat with Science Secretary Liz Kendall. The firm offered a 30,000 sponsorship package including a drinks reception, introductions to stakeholders, a photo opportunity with a minister, and one seat at a private VIP dinner with top advisers to the prime minister, chancellor and senior tech policymakers. Government sources said Kendall had not agreed to attend and Downing Street and Treasury staff were unaware of invitations. Arden apologised, calling the language clumsy and confirming errors.
Read at www.bbc.com
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