Ex-Labour official offered to help secure minister visits for fee

A former senior Labour Party official offered to help secure visits for businesses from government ministers during this year’s party conference in exchange for a fee.

In an email seen by the BBC, Liam Didsbury, who until July was the party’s regional director in the North West, told prospective clients he knew how to arrange visits in a way that "appeals" to ministers and their advisors.

He said venues for the visits had to be within an hour’s commuting distance of Kings Dock in Liverpool, the location of the party’s annual conference in September.

The email was sent by Mr Didsbury through the IEI Group, a company set up in May which he joined as a director in July, after he stopped working for the party.

It is understood the Labour Party has not taken forward any such bid with the IEI Group.

Responding to BBC News, Mr Didsbury said: "An email was sent out offering support to draft visit bids.

"The purpose was to provide expertise to businesses in how to draft a bid. I have significant experience delivering successful events and visits."

The email to businesses was entitled: "Labour Party Annual Conference – Secure a visit from a Government minister."

It was sent on 16 August. Mr Didsbury stood down from his role as regional director in July.

In the email, he explains that in that role he oversaw all visits to the region made by the prime minister and secretaries of states and understood "what ministers and their advisors look for in a visit".

He says that ministers visiting Liverpool would be "keen to get out of the conference centre to do some fact-finding visits and generate headlines which line up with their announcements at conference".

Mr Didsbury says that he is in touch with the party via their "ministerial visits team" before adding: "I charge a fee for a bid and a fee if the visit is delivered."

The IEI Group bills itself as a communications, public affairs and PR firm.

Liam Didsbury has described his role as “supporting businesses to influence the public sphere” and says he has a “well established network across the country, in government and in Westminster”.

BBC News asked how many bids IEI Group made and how many visits were delivered.

Mr Didsbury replied that no visits were delivered.

It follows reports in the Sun newspaper that Mr Didsbury had circulated an invitation this week to businesses for breakfast with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds for £30,000.

A Labour party spokesperson said: "The business secretary isn’t involved in this, was completely unaware and isn’t attending."

Asked about the Sun story, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband suggested he was not comfortable with the offer.

"Don’t do it again is my message," he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

He added: "The answer is – whether it is me or Jonathan Reynolds – it is not about paying to have access. That is not what we are about, no."

In recent weeks, the government has faced a row over political donations, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other ministers criticised for accepting gifts, including clothing and free tickets.

Earlier this week, the PM confirmed he had paid back more than £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality.