The connection between Tim Allan, Tom Baldwin and Strand Companions has led to accusations of a notion that one in all Downing Road’s most senior figures has a battle of curiosity – a possible breach of the particular adviser code.
Tom Baldwin is a advisor for Strand Companions, a lobbying agency partly owned by Mr Allan, the federal government’s govt director of communications.
Picture:Tim Allan at a Strand Companions occasion in July 2024, earlier than he took a job in authorities. Pic: Strand Companions
As a part of his position for Strand Companions, he has spoken at non-public briefings for Strand’s company shoppers concerning the internal workings of presidency.
There isn’t any suggestion that Mr Baldwin – who will not be a lobbyist – or Strand Companions have completed something incorrect.
The revelations about Mr Allan have led to cross-party requires an investigation and a member of Labour’s ruling Nationwide Govt Committee to demand he provides up his 10% shareholding in Strand Companions.
Mr Allen is sure by the code of particular advisers that claims: “Special advisers must ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their official duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise.”
The code additionally says: “Special advisers must not misuse their official position or information acquired in the course of their official duties to further their private interests or those of others.”
Picture:Tom Baldwin, Journalist and Strategic Adviser at Strand Companions, talking at an organization dinner at Labour Social gathering Convention in September 2025. Pic: Strand Companions.
Mr Baldwin and Mr Allan are understood to not talk about Strand Companions enterprise. Mr Allan has undertaken to not take dividends or get entangled within the working of the corporate whereas he’s in authorities, and resigned as chairman on his appointment to Quantity 10 initially of September.
However different lobbyists advised me they’re jealous of this stage of entry, giving rise to the notion of a battle of curiosity.
Opposition events are looking for an investigation. Lisa Sensible, a Liberal Democrat frontbencher, stated: “I’ve written to the cupboard secretary at present as a result of this seems to be a transparent battle of curiosity proper on the coronary heart of presidency.
“It cannot be the case that the executive director of communications for the government has shareholdings in a lobbying firm and is continuing to have conversations with senior consultants at that firm.”
Picture:Tim Allan (left, behind the flag) sitting in on a Cupboard assembly, in September. Pic: Quantity 10/Flickr
Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Social gathering chairman, stated: “[There] should be a full Cabinet Office investigation. I think the public need to see there are no conflicts of interest and no perceived conflicts of interests, and that’s not where we are right now.”
The member of Labour’s Nationwide Govt Committee stated: “This is a massive conflict of interest when we promised integrity to the British public. The first thing he has to do is give up his shareholding.”
A Labour spokesperson stated: “The allegation that Tim Allan has completed something to profit Strand while in Quantity 10 is categorically false.
A Cupboard Workplace spokesperson stated: “There’s a rigorous course of to seize any potential conflicts of curiosity, and guarantee applicable mitigations are in place to mirror particular circumstances. Forward of his appointment, Tim Allan absolutely complied with this course of.
“This is set out in the Special Adviser Code of Conduct and lists of special adviser interests are published annually.”
A Strand Companions spokesman stated: “Tom Baldwin is a journalist and the biographer of the prime minister. He doesn’t interact in authorities relations for Strand and this isn’t a part of his phrases of engagement with us.
“Tim Allan sought advice on his interests from the Cabinet Office and followed every element of the advice received. He receives no financial benefit from Strand and is not involved in our operations.”
