Gliding around the extravagant cocktail party, Lord Mandelson, known for his political spin and previous influential role in Tony Blair’s inner circle, couldn’t help but smile. Confident and self-satisfied, Mandelson was pleased with the attention and admiration he received from the future government officials of the Labour party. The event, held at Liverpool’s Alchemist restaurant during the party’s conference, saw the attendance of several shadow ministers, peers, MPs, and advisers to leader Sir Keir Starmer. Many of them had just left another lavish party organized by the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), where alcohol had freely flowed for three hours.

The reception at the Alchemist was funded by Mandelson’s lobbying firm, Global Counsel, which has advised wealthy individuals and countries such as Russia and China. This marked the first time his company had a prominent presence at a Labour conference. Mandelson, who had spent a decade in political exile since Gordon Brown’s departure from Downing Street in 2010, was relishing his return to the spotlight.

Just before the party, Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor, delivered her keynote speech at the conference, confidently claiming that she would become Britain’s first female chancellor. As the cameras panned across the delegates, they captured Mandelson sitting in the front row, proudly establishing his presence. This move, characteristic of Mandelson, served as a not-so-subtle message that he was once again at the heart of the Labour party’s operations.

This audacious act didn’t sit well with most shadow ministers, with one senior Labour figure exclaiming, “Who does he think he is?” However, Mandelson remained unapologetic, claiming that he was invited and was there to support Johnny Reynolds and Rachel Reeves. He mentioned being seated next to Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, and compared themselves to bookends. Although Mandelson initially went unnoticed when he slipped into his front-row seat for Reynolds’ speech, he refused to leave when the full Shadow Cabinet arrived to hear Reeves’ speech. Instead, he wedged himself between Jo Stevens, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, and Jonathan Ashworth, who later attended his party.

Mandelson’s presumptuousness caused an uproar within Starmer’s camp. Senior Labour staff were concerned that his presence contradicted the image they were trying to project to the country, especially to the “Red Wall” voters in traditionally Labour-supporting areas who helped Boris Johnson win the previous election. Mandelson’s involvement in the doomed “People’s Vote” campaign for a second Brexit referendum and his connections to unpopular figures like Tony Blair made him a liability in the eyes of many Labour party members and voters.

While Mandelson was told to stay away from Starmer’s speech and subsequently vanished, his presence alongside Starmer’s top team had already sent a clear message to potential clients that he and his firm would regain their influential position if Labour took office. Lobbying companies like Mandelson’s thrived in the Corbyn era, as evidenced by the sold-out tickets for the party’s “business forum,” which attracted hundreds of attendees and sponsorship from prominent companies such as Barclays, Airbus, Siemens, and Amazon.

Global Counsel, Mandelson’s lobbying firm, claims to assist corporations in recognizing political opportunities and navigating regulations. Mandelson’s proximity to power, as demonstrated by his frequent contact with Starmer, grants him better access than most lobbyists. However, he remains secretive about his clients and avoids publicizing his firm’s domestic work, which sets him apart from other lobbying companies.

While MPs are required to disclose their outside earnings, this obligation does not apply to the House of Lords, where Mandelson sits. The lack of transparency in declaring his clients and fees is a significant loophole. Global Counsel’s latest financial reports show healthy profits, but the company’s scope extends beyond Britain. With an office in Brussels and membership in the EU lobbying register, Mandelson’s firm advises clients on European political and industrial strategies.

Last year, Mandelson even opened an office in Qatar, despite the country’s controversial treatment of migrant workers and human rights issues. Mandelson’s choice of associations includes Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska and his involvement in advising international clients on navigating Russian politics. Additionally, Mandelson has made statements supporting China and its human rights record, which hasn’t endeared him to some critics.

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