Truss’s chief of Staff still owns 10% of Crosby lobbying firm

Liz Truss’s chief of staff still owns a stake in Sir Lynton Crosby’s lobbying company despite his Downing Street role, meaning he could benefit financially from the firm’s work for corporate clients.

- Jim Waterson

Mark Fullbrook, who is in charge of the prime minister’s political operation, co-founded the British arm of the lobbying business CT Group with Crosby. Its clients have included the tobacco company Philip Morris, the Saudi Arabian government, and the mining firm Glencore.

Fullbrook left CT Group this year but continues to own 10% of its shares, a potential conflict of interest that has not been publicly disclosed since he joined Downing Street. His stake in the lobbying company could be worth millions of pounds in the event of a sale, while he would be entitled to a share of any dividends paid by the business as a result of its work for corporate clients.

He spent a decade working for the company, which was known for its close links to successive Conservative governments. During Fullbrook’s time as a director of CT Group it ran a global campaign to promote the burning of coal, paid for by Glencore. CT Group also took millions of pounds from the Saudi government for work in the UK, despite the country’s history of human rights abuses. Other clients included Russian oligarchs who wanted to improve their reputations in the west.

A spokesperson for CT Group said it was wrong to suggest that Truss’s chief of staff owning a stake in one of the UK’s most prominent lobbying businesses created a conflict of interest. While Mr Fullbrookisin his current position, he has no control, influence over nor indeed knowledge of the group’s business activities.”