The political consultant, who arranged a meeting attended by Network Railways and figures from senior workers currently in the government, has raised new questions about the validity of UK regulations banning lobbying, which has been paid nearly £1 million over four years by the railway operator.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Request submitted by the Financial Times, between 2021 and 2025, we paid Lexington £875,000 for services that include “stakeholder engagement” and “communication” advice.
Although the railroad operator was a client, Lexington also arranged a policy roundtable attendance with senior labor politicians, including Pat McFadden, before entering the government, said the two familiar with the event.
People added that Network Rail executives attended a roundtable that also featured executives from other companies and sectors.
State-owned organizations such as Network Rail are prohibited from using public funds to pay lobbyists to directly influence “Congress, government, or political parties,” but are permitted to pay consultants for other services, such as strategic advice or “stakeholder engagement.”
Network Rail said all of its actions are within current rules and are not engaged in lobbying.
Transparency campaigners have criticised the UK’s lobbying disclosure regime, but Labour MPs who lead the anti-corruption group in Parliament said the current rules, which mean that some meetings are not publicly recorded, “are no longer fit for purpose.”
“It’s rare to see a public agency that hires consultant lobbyist services,” said Rose Whiffen of Transparency International.
She added: “Public agencies need to be cautious about what they choose to use public funds and ensure value for taxpayers.”
Network Rail states: “We have never lobbyed or used agents for lobbying and are not fully compliant with Cabinet Office regulations.”
“Like many large organisations, we use strategic external agencies to support our work, in which case our agencies specifically support our obligations as public institutions.
Lexington did not respond to requests for comment. The agency was founded by a former labor advisor and maintains close relationships with the parties, claiming on its website that “we can help our clients shape the workforce tomorrow.”
Ben Nunn was appointed Director of Communications for Rachel Reeves in July 2024 and has previously played the same role for Ir Keel ancestor © George Cracknell Wright/LNP/Shutterstock
The former employees include Ben Nun, now Director of Communications for Prime Minister Rachel Reeves. Nunn worked for Lexington between October 2021 and July 2023.
In 2022, Lexington arranged a policy roundtable with then-Prime Minister Reeves for various industry groups, including those in the financial services and housing sector. According to those familiar with the issue, her then deputy McFadden, now a minister of the Cabinet Office, stood up for her at the last minute.
Network Rail’s Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Westlake took part in the Roundtable. There was also Mike Craven, a Lexington chair.
Network Rail said he does not class a Roundtable Policy Event as a meeting, saying, “We have never asked external agencies to set up or attend a political meeting.”
Pat McFadden, right, confronted Rachel Reeves at the policy roundtable for 2022 ©Bloomberg/PA
The company added that it has not been paid to attend the roundtable.
Susan Hawley, executive director of Spotlight On Corruption, said Network Rail has “legal” reasons to engage with ministers and shadow ministers, but “it’s not ridiculous for a roundtable organized by lobbying agencies to discuss policies.”
The Cabinet Office, which sets the rules for lobbying for public institutions, and the Ministry of Transport, which oversees the network rail, both declined to comment.
Susan Holy of the Corruption Spotlight said the idea that the roundtable is not a lobbying activity is “slip-dic.” ©Ben Stansall/AFP Getty Images
Under current rules, UK registered lobbyists must disclose their clients to the office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (ORCL) when they meet with the Minister or most senior civil servants, when they are acting on behalf of those clients.
However, even if you are on your behalf of a client, you do not need to disclose meetings with an aide, junior civil servant, MP, or shadow minister. Transparency experts who want to tighten rules say countries like Canada and Scotland have more strict controls.
Lexington has never reported network rails as clients to submit to Body. The Round Table was not disclosed in the Transparency Register either. The lack of disclosure is within the rules.
Joe Powell, chairman of the All-Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax, said the UK’s lobbying rules were “no longer suitable for purposes.” ©Gary Roberts/Shutterstock
Some politicians are seeking greater disclosures, 10 years after lobbying registrars passed the previous year in 2015.
Labour MP Joe Powell, chairman of the All-Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax, said the UK’s lobbying rules “no longer fit for purpose” and “we didn’t provide anything designed to do.”
He added: “We need a system that supports fair and transparent decision-making and takes the playing field to a level. By reviewing the rules, and providing public access to important information about how public policy is carried out.”
