Lobbying firm CT Group faces calls to disclose journalist payments
13 reported3 unconfirmed
A political lobbying firm, CT Group, is facing demands to reveal full details of payments made to journalists for articles favorable to its clients, following a four-month Guardian investigation. The practice has been condemned by MPs, senior lobbyists, and transparency campaigners as an attack on democracy. Lobbyists for CT Group told an undercover reporter they had paid journalists to place apparently independent stories in newspapers and offered cash incentives for a property industry client, with increased editorial control in return. CT Group, co-founded by campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, has a £40m-a-year turnover and recent clients include Philip Morris and Manchester City’s owner. In a statement, CT Group said it does not comment publicly on client work and that the events had been “deliberately mischaracterised,” adding that the undercover journalist “chased us relentlessly over a period of more than six months.” The investigation also raised concerns about the vulnerability of freelance journalism in a tough media market.
What’s reported
CT Group is a lobbying firm co-founded by Lynton Crosby, an election guru previously hired by David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
The Guardian investigation lasted four months and involved an undercover reporter.
Lobbyists for CT Group told the undercover reporter they had paid journalists to place apparently independent stories and offered cash incentives for a property industry client.
CT Group said it does not comment publicly on client work and that the events were “deliberately mischaracterised.”
CT Group said the undercover journalist “chased us relentlessly over a period of more than six months.”
CT Group has a £40m-a-year turnover and recent clients include Philip Morris and Manchester City’s owner.
Alastair McCapra, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, called the practice “an attack on the ethics of journalism, public relations and, indeed, on democracy.”
Jemimah Steinfeld, chief executive of Index on Censorship, called on CT Group to launch an internal investigation.
Steve Goodrich of Transparency International UK said the investigation raises questions about how widespread such hidden arrangements are.
Luke Taylor, a Liberal Democrat MP, called for “full transparency on when money has changed hands.”
Sam Carling, a Labour MP, suggested the government consider giving the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists regulatory powers.
Rupa Huq, a Labour MP, said lobbying feels like “the wild west” due to lack of regulation.
The Guardian began investigating after CT Group approached a freelance journalist to pitch a piece about problems caused for the housebuilding industry by the Building Safety Regulator, set up after the Grenfell Tower fire.
Open questions
The full extent of payments made by CT Group to journalists.
Whether CT Group will comply with calls for an internal investigation or full transparency.
How widespread such arrangements are across the lobbying industry.
Key figures
Lynton Crosby, co-founder of CT Group
Alastair McCapra, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Jemimah Steinfeld, chief executive of Index on Censorship
Steve Goodrich, head of research and investigations at Transparency International UK
Luke Taylor, Liberal Democrat MP on the public administration and constitutional affairs committee
Sam Carling, Labour MP on the public administration and constitutional affairs committee
Rupa Huq, Labour MP on the Commons media select committee
Martin Bright, senior lecturer in journalism at the University of Essex
Sources: The Guardian
