The charities that want you to bet on sports AND lose

1. Charities are raising funds by working with a sports betting firm that says it donates a proportion, undisclosed, of its profits to good causes. Not only are the charities encouraging gambling on sports. But it’s in the charities’ best interest for punters to lose – betting operators only make money when their customers lose.
2. Scottish football legend Sir Kenny Dalglish is ambassador for FansBet, whose partner charities include the Marina Dalglish Appeal, a cancer charity where Sir Kenny and wife Marina are founding trustees (screen shot in Figure 1).

Figure 1. The Marina Dalglish Appeal is a charity partner of FansBet

3. Upon opening a FansBet account, a bettor selects the charity he or she wants to support (screen shot in Figure 2).

Figure 2. Opening a FansBet account

4. It is unclear how much of the profits made by FansBet actually reaches the charities: the operator simply says it is “a percentage” (screen shot in Figure 3). This is not good enough. Here there should be transparency.

Figure 3. FansBet donates “a percentage of our profits” to charity partners

5. On 27 January 2021, FansBet announced Sir Kenny’s appointment as ambassador, a role for which he is presumably paid (screen shot in Figure 4). What a pity Sir Kenny has chosen to promote a betting operator – and one so opaque.

Figure 4. FansBet announces Sir Kenny Dalglish as ambassador

6. Meanwhile, the latest accounts for the Marina Dalglish Appeal, made up to 31 July 2021, fail to mention the tie-up between the charity and FansBet. What’s more, the gambling firm isn’t identified as a related party – and nor are the relevant related-party transactions (the alleged donations) disclosed, either. Perhaps the Marina Dalglish Appeal only started working with the betting operator after 31 July 2021.
7. The latest accounts for the Marina Dalglish Appeal show the trustees are unpaid, as is the case for most charities. However, if Sir Kenny is paid to be FansBet ambassador, he is receiving personal benefit from a related party that is fundraising for his charity.
8. It is important to be clear what is going on here. The charities are directly involved in the business model of FansBet. The arrangement differs from a gambling firm making donations to independent charities after the event, without involving the recipient charities in the business model.
9. One consequence is that the charities are permitting FansBet to use their brands to promote gambling on sports. Yes, betting is legal – but it risks addiction and other harms. Do charities really want to be associated with gambling harms? And should charities really want punters to lose money as well?
10. In fact, the direct involvement of charities in the business model could increase the risk of problem gambling. Punters might be less concerned about their losses than they should be, reassuring themselves that their unsuccessful betting is at least contributing to their chosen charity.
11. FansBet and the Marina Dalglish Appeal didn’t respond to requests for comment. Among other questions, I asked both organisations in emails whether Sir Kenny is paid to be FansBet ambassador.

The Mail on Sunday reports my Brandon Lewis MP exposé

1. On 24 July 2022, The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported my Brandon Lewis MP exposé (see previous post) (screen shot in Figure 1: right-hand column).

Figure 1. The Mail on Sunday (24 July 2022)

Cabinet minister accepts donations from company in liquidation

1. Last month, a cabinet minister accepted donations from a company in liquidation.
2. On 15 June 2022, Brandon Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth, accepted a donation of £5k from Bestway (Holdings) Ltd (“the company”), according to the latest register of MPs’ financial interests (as at 11 July 2022).
3. Two days later, Mr Lewis, who was at the time Northern Ireland secretary, then accepted “two tickets with hospitality for Royal Ascot, value £1.38k” from the company.
4. Lord Choudrey, a major Tory donor, is a director of the company.
5. However, Companies House records show the company is in a members’ voluntary liquidation. The joint liquidators, Caroline Rifkind and Emma Cray, both of PwC, were appointed on 17 August 2021.
6. As soon as a liquidator(s) is appointed, they take control of the business. This means as of 17 August 2021 Ms Rifkind and Ms Cray have controlled the company.
7. When asked for comment, Ms Rifkind said in an email: “I can confirm that Bestway (Holdings) Limited – in members’ voluntary liquidation, has not made any donation or provided any hospitality tickets to Brandon Lewis MP since our appointment as liquidators on 17 August 2021.”
8. Ms Rifkind finished: “We have made our client contact at Bestway aware of this and they have made a request for the Register of Members’ Interests to be corrected.”
9. When asked for comment, Mr Lewis, a former chair of the Tory party, said in an email: “An administrative error was made by my office when declaring this donation, which was received from Bestway Wholesale Ltd. I have informed the House of Commons Registrar and asked that my Register of Members Interests be amended as necessary.”
10. On 7 July 2022, Mr Lewis announced his resignation as Northern Ireland secretary – two days after the stepping down of his PPS, Jonathan Gullis MP (see 6 July 2022 post).

Gambling firm owns racehorse AND sponsors trainer

1. A gambling firm owns a racehorse AND sponsors its trainer.
2. Old Gold Racing has recently been running ads in national newspapers to recruit members for a syndicate to own racehorse Fitz Perfectly. Gambling firm Fitzdares is the syndicator – the entity that manages and administers the syndicate. Here’s the ad that appeared in The Times on 27 May 2022, for example (“Own a share of the action”): https://dralexmay.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/the-times-27-may-2022.pdf.
3. Charlie Fellowes is the trainer of Fitz Perfectly. Meanwhile, it is a matter of public record that Fitzdares sponsors Mr Fellowes.
4. Thus there are two commercial relationships between Fitzdares and Mr Fellowes: owner-trainer and bookmaker-trainer.
5. An owner, by definition, has access to market-sensitive information from their trainer.
6. Yet a concern about bookmaker sponsorship of trainers and jockeys is the risk of the former having access to market-sensitive information from the latter.
7. This means there is a clear conflict of interest for Fitzdares between its role as an owner and that as a bookmaker. The two roles are incompatible.
8. The British Horseracing Authority (“BHA”), meanwhile, is happy with this arrangement, its Head of Racing Administration & Ownership, Harry Williams, confirmed in emails. For the avoidance of doubt, a gambling firm is permitted to own a racehorse.
9. BHA “must be notified” of all commercial arrangements between betting operators and trainers or jockeys. Mr Williams went on: “The BHA maintains a central register of all such arrangements and considers this an appropriate mechanism to deal with the associated risks.”
10. When asked whether the “central register” is publicly available on the BHA website, Mr Williams wrote: “So the list should be published, but is currently down for updating and we are looking at how best we can maintain it before it is uploaded again.” In the same email, he attached a document detailing commercial arrangements as at September 2021, adding it was “similar” to the document that “was housed on the BHA website”.

Figure 1. Tristan Wootton is “author” of BHA list of commercial arrangements: PDF metadata

11. The author of the document was Tristan Wootton, according to the PDF metadata (screen shot in Figure 1). Mr Wootton is “Director of Growth” at Fitzdares, his LinkedIn profile shows (screen shot in Figure 2). It’s a small world. When asked for comment, Mr Williams said in an email: “There isn’t really anything to say with regards Tristan; he was likely the first person to draw up that document in his time at the BHA hence why he is listed as the author.”

Figure 2. Tristan Wootton is “Director of Growth” at Fitzdares: LinkedIn profile at 30 June 2022

12. On Fitzdares’ possible access to market-sensitive information, Mr Williams wrote: “As such, any market sensitive information they are a party to, in either role [owner or sponsor], cannot be used to influence their book or set prices.”
13. While the prohibition message is clear, how can the public actually know whether betting operators are following both the letter and spirit of the rules in this regard? Mr Williams answered: “…ultimately participants need to trust the BHA and our ability to regulate the Rules. It’s also worth noting that the BHA betting analysts actively monitor the betting markets for any signs of unusual activity and they are aware of any relationships between participants, betting operators and sponsors so that element will form part of their analysis.”
14. Trainer Ralph Beckett, meanwhile, appears not to have confidence in the BHA’s ability to regulate these relationships. In January 2020, Mr Beckett told the Racing Post newspaper that no trainer or jockey should be sponsored by a betting operator (https://www.racingpost.com/news/ralph-beckett-no-trainer-or-jockey-should-be-sponsored-by-a-bookmaker/417084).
15. Companies House records show brothers Lord (Zac) Goldsmith and Ben Goldsmith (see 3 May 2022 post) are both shareholders in Fitzdares Holdings Ltd, the company that controls Fitzdares Ltd.
16. Fitzdares didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Has Jonathan Gullis MP acted as a paid advocate for James Starkie and his No Time To Wait campaign in the House?

1. After accepting a donation from the person leading a mental health campaign, a Tory MP who is a parliamentary private secretary (“PPS”) has supported the donor and his campaign several times when speaking in the House.
2. On 12 April 2022, Jonathan Gullis MP accepted a donation of £2k from individual James Starkie, according to the register of MPs’ financial interests.
3. Mr Starkie, an ex-special adviser (“SpAd”) to home secretary Priti Patel, is a founding partner at 5654 & Company Ltd, a consultant lobbyist. He leads No Time To Wait, a campaign for better access to mental health services (screen shot in Figure 1). The launch of No Time To Wait in February this year was reported by the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which is “media partner” for the campaign.

Figure 1. James Starkie leads No Time To Wait: campaign website

4. Hansard records show Mr Gullis, first elected in the 2019 General Election, hadn’t referred to No Time To Wait in any of his contributions in the Commons prior to accepting Mr Starkie’s donation. Following 12 April 2022, however, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North has at date of publication supported the campaign by name in four spoken contributions in the House: on 19 April, 11 May, 14 June and 27 June. In three of the four, Mr Gullis also named Mr Starkie.
5. On 27 June 2022, Mr Starkie thanked the MP in a tweet for “another mention of the No Time To Wait campaign in parliament” (screen shot in Figure 2). Mr Starkie was referring to Mr Gullis’ intervention of 14 June and included a video of the MP in the Commons chamber that day.

Figure 2. James Starkie tweet dated 27 June 2022

6. On each of the four occasions, Mr Gullis failed to declare his relevant financial interest: Mr Starkie’s donation. MPs are required to declare any relevant interest – including those registered – in proceedings of the House.
7. What’s more, the MPs’ Code of Conduct, para 12, states: “No Member shall act as a paid advocate in any proceeding of the House.”
8. Has Mr Gullis breached the MPs’ lobbying rules? As Mr Gullis hadn’t initiated any of the proceedings where he advocated No Time To Wait, his lobbying would be permitted under certain conditions. Without knowing all the facts, it’s not possible to answer definitively.
9. “Good friend” Mr Starkie isn’t the MP’s only link to lobbying firm 5654 & Company Ltd, the register of MPs’ financial interests shows.
10. On 7 March 2022, former teacher Mr Gullis accepted the following donation from property developer Quinn Estates Ltd: “The services of a public affairs company, 5654 & Company, between 7 March 2022 and 4 April 2022 for a national campaign on grammar schools, value £7.2k”.
11. Mr Gullis and Mr Starkie didn’t respond to requests for comment.
12. On 5 July 2022, Mr Gullis announced his resignation as PPS to the Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis.

Hawthorn Advisors: ORCL passes the buck to PRCA on code of conduct

1. The Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists (“ORCL”) is passing the buck to trade body the Public Relations and Communications Association (“PRCA”) on code of conduct for consultant lobbyists – despite the fact PRCA has again shown itself to be ineffective and unaccountable.
2. Consultant lobbyists must register with ORCL and disclose their clients on the statutory Register of Consultant Lobbyists (“the Register”).
3. A consultant lobbyist can, if applicable, state on the Register that it complies with a relevant code of conduct. One such code of conduct is the Public Affairs Code, which is administered by external body the PRCA Public Affairs Board.
4. The PRCA Public Affairs Board maintains its own register, the Public Affairs Register, where members disclose their public affairs clients.
5. Consultant lobbyist Hawthorn Advisors Ltd (“Hawthorn Advisors”), while a member of PRCA, isn’t a member of the PRCA Public Affairs Board. As such the firm hides its public affairs clients.
6. Hawthorn Advisors was founded in 2013 by Ben Elliot, co-chair of the Conservative Party, and John Evans. I last wrote about the well-connected firm, where Mr Evans is chief executive, on 15 April 2022.
7. The Public Affairs Code makes clear it applies to members of the Public Affairs Board only. So I was surprised to see Hawthorn Advisors says on the Register that it abides by the Public Affairs Code (see 10 January 2022 post).
8. After I brought the matter to ORCL’s attention, it amended Hawthorn Advisors’ entry on the Register to show no relevant code of conduct, while it sought a clarification from PRCA – something I’d already done. Back then I received contradictory responses from PRCA, however (see 10 January 2022 post).
9. Here’s the current version of the Public Affairs Code, downloaded from the PRCA Public Affairs Board website on 27 June 2022: https://dralexmay.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/public-affairs-code-february-2021-23.2.2021.pdf.
10. Meanwhile, I recently noted Hawthorn Advisors again states on the Register that it complies with the Public Affairs Code (screen shot in Figure 1). Further, on 26 May 2022, ORCL said in an email: “Following a clarification from PRCA, all PRCA members are governed by the Public Affairs Code in their conduct of public affairs.”

Figure 1. Hawthorn Advisors Ltd: the Register of Consultant Lobbyists at 30 May 2022

11. Yet, as I say, the Public Affairs Code makes clear it applies to members of the Public Affairs Board only. How is it therefore possible for Hawthorn Advisors to subscribe to the Public Affairs Code?
12. I therefore emailed PRCA for comment in light of ORCL’s last email. Michael Collins, Head of Communications, didn’t respond to requests for comment.
13. I then told ORCL in an email I was surprised it is apparently happy with the latest information it received from PRCA. Why? Because the information is nonsensical in relation to the Public Affairs Code, which is published by the PRCA Public Affairs Board. There I also informed ORCL of PRCA’s non-response to my latest requests for comment, and offered to share the emails to PRCA.
14. By reply, ORCL wrote: “PRCA have provided assurance that all PRCA members are governed by the Public Affairs Code in their conduct of public affairs. If you have any further questions about the PRCA or the Public Affairs Board, you will need to direct them to the PRCA.”
15. A clear cop-out by ORCL. It is fully aware I’ve already communicated extensively with PRCA on this matter. As I’ve repeatedly made clear to ORCL, it – not PRCA – is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information on the statutory Register. That ORCL is apparently happy with the latest information it received from PRCA risks undermining the credibility of the Office.
16. Previously I’ve shown both the PRCA Public Affairs Board and its system of self-regulation for lobbyists lack credibility, given how it handled my complaint about the conduct of ex-lobbyist Paul Bristow MP (see 5 November 2020 post). Another case where the PRCA Public Affairs Board failed to deal appropriately with a complaint is that of former culture minister Ed Vaizey (Lord Vaizey) and lobbying firm FTI Consulting (see 10 September 2021 post).

Why did Paul Bristow MP remove interest from the register of MPs’ financial interests?

1. Ex-lobbyist Paul Bristow MP recently removed an interest from the register of MPs’ financial interests.
2. The register as at 19 April 2022 shows “two tickets with hospitality to Cheltenham Races, value £660” that the MP for Peterborough had recently received from Tracingboard Ltd, a company owned and run by Steve Dechan.
3. On 25 April 2022, I published a post about the new registered interest. There I revealed that the lobbying firm owned by the MP’s wife, Sara Bristow, continues to act for Platform-14, another of Mr Dechan’s firms. There is thus a demonstrable link between the MP’s activities and those of his wife’s lobbying firm.
4. Following publication of that post, Mr Bristow removed the registered interest from the register of MPs’ financial interests: it vanished in the next update (as at 3 May 2022). There is no record of the removal thereon.
5. I then asked the MP in emails why he’d removed the interest from the register. But answer, there came none. So much for transparency and accountability.
6. The conduct of Mr Bristow raises a general question. How many other MPs, if any, are also quietly deleting interests from the register, without explanation?
7. The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards told me MPs are not required to record the removal of an interest on the register. The interest simply vanishes, without explanation. Blink and you’ll miss it.

Health secretary’s daughter works for consultant lobbyist engaging ministers and permanent secretaries on behalf of pharmaceutical companies

1. The daughter of Sajid Javid MP, the health secretary, works for a consultant lobbyist that is engaging ministers and permanent secretaries on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.
2. There is evidence Mr Javid was late registering an interest on the register of MPs’ financial interests.
3. On 31 May 2022, Mr Javid made the following disclosure under Category 10 (family members engaged in lobbying): “My daughter, Sophia Javid, is an Account Executive at Hanover Communications.”
4. However, Sophia Javid has been conducting public affairs activities for Hanover Communications since the quarter from 1 June 2021 until 31 August 2021, according to the PRCA Public Affairs Board register.
5. It therefore appears Mr Javid was late registering his daughter’s job with the lobbying firm.
6. Meanwhile, the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists defines consultant lobbying as lobbying of ministers and permanent secretaries on behalf of a third party, in return for payment.
7. Hanover Communications currently has six such clients, according to the latest update of the statutory register of consultant lobbyists (January to March 2022): American Pharmaceutical Group; Bristol Myers Squibb; Infection Management Coalition; Lilly; Northern Health Science Alliance; and Valero.
8. The first four are pharmaceutical companies or groups thereof. While the Northern Health Science Alliance, as its name suggests, is health-related: it is “a health and life sciences partnership between the leading NHS trusts, universities and Academic Health Science Networks in northern England”.
9. Valero, by contrast, is a US energy company. It is “the largest independent petroleum refiner in the world and the world’s second largest renewable fuels producer”.
10. Mr Javid as health secretary has a conflict of interest, actual, potential, or perceived, because his daughter works for a consultant lobbyist that is engaging ministers and permanent secretaries on behalf of both pharmaceutical companies and the North’s health sciences, which work closely with industry.
11. The Department of Health and Social Care didn’t respond to requests for comment.
12. A spokesperson for Hanover Communications said in an email: “Hanover abides by the PRCA Public Affairs Code, which covers disclosure of consultants and conflict of interest. Sophia does not work in our healthcare team, nor with any health and social care clients – to suggest otherwise is incorrect.”

Tom Tugendhat MP accepts £10k donation from China-focused company behind education bond for Chinese students in UK

1. On 14 April 2022, senior Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat accepted a £10k donation from InvestUK (Group) Ltd (“InvestUK”) “to pay for an extra member of staff to support my work as the chair of the foreign affairs committee”, according to the register of MPs’ financial interests.
2. Mr Tugendhat is also co-founder and co-chair of the China Research Group (“CRG”) of Tory MPs, which was established in April 2020 “to promote debate and fresh thinking about how Britain should respond to the rise of China”.
3. As both chair of the prominent Commons committee and co-chair of CRG, Mr Tugendhat has repeatedly warned about Chinese influence on both UK companies and universities, among other areas.
4. In September 2021, for instance, Mr Tugendhat wrote a strongly-worded article in The Times newspaper raising the alarm about Chinese influence on UK universities and research institutions (“British universities are too reliant on Chinese money”). Our universities are too dependent on Chinese students was one message.
5. InvestUK is a China-focused company founded by Rupert Gather, who is executive chair and sole “person with significant control”. It is “the UK’s leading foreign direct investment specialist”, boasts the website. Mr Gather states on his LinkedIn profile: “Clients [of InvestUK] come from all over the world but are strongly weighted to China.” (screen shot in Figure 1)

Figure 1. Rupert Gather: LinkedIn profile at 31 May 2022

6. The InvestUK website shows the firm is a member of both the China-Britain Business Council and the British Chamber of Commerce in China.
7. Among other products and services, InvestUK offered an education bond – “a £1 billion opportunity designed for Chinese students in the UK, aiming to combine the three key drivers of UK education, property investment and the ability to earn permanent residence into one simple, secure product” (Figure 1).
8. On 9 August 2018, InvestUK tweeted a photo of Mr Gather giving a speech in Hong Kong about the education bond (screen shot in Figure 2).

Figure 2. InvestUK tweet dated 9 August 2018

9. There his company tagged The UK Education Bond (@edbonduk), whose Twitter biography proclaims: “This programme is a smart way for international students to finance a UK education by investing in the UK while qualifying for permanent residency.” (screen shot in Figure 3)

Figure 3. The UK Education Bond: Twitter biography at 31 May 2022

10. The @edbonduk Twitter biography also links to more information about the education bond, which is published on the Hilden Associates website (screen shot in Figure 4).

Figure 4. The UK Education Bond: information on Hilden Associates website at 31 May 2022

11. Hilden Associates, a “global independent financial services distribution/consultancy company” (screen shot in Figure 5), is, we are told, located in south-west England (Figure 3). Companies House records show Hong Kong resident Matt Denness is owner and sole director of Hilden Associates UK Ltd, whose registered office address is the trading address of a Dorset accounting firm. The phone number on the Hilden Associates website is a Hong Kong one, although this isn’t disclosed (screen shot in Figure 6).

Figure 5. About us page: Hilden Associates website at 1 June 2022

12. Hilden Associates UK Ltd was and continues to be an active company. Its Companies House filings are up to date.

Figure 6. Contact us page: Hilden Associates website at 1 June 2022

13. In the UK, nearly all financial service activities must be authorised by City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”). Hilden Associates UK Ltd is an unauthorised financial services firm: it isn’t listed on the FCA financial services register.
14. Following my first email to him, Mr Denness deleted both the @edbonduk Twitter account and the education bond page on the Hilden Associates website. He said in an email: “…we did not promote the product in the UK as we knew we were not regulated. We also had the required disclaimers in place. All my potential clients were and are overseas. No promotion was done in the UK.” As to the tweet by InvestUK dated 9 August 2018, Mr Denness wrote: “If Mr Gather wishes to tag us then so be it.”
15. Yet anyone in the UK could access the information about the education bond – the financial promotion – on the Hilden Associates website.
16. The “required disclaimers” are not sufficient. In other words, the information about the education bond on the Hilden Associates website was an unauthorised financial promotion.
17. The Hilden Associates website soon vanished; and at date of publication remains unavailable.
18. InvestUK (Group) Ltd doesn’t appear on the financial services register, either. Yet Mr Gather does as an individual, where it states: “regulatory approval no longer required”. The register shows he was connected to three firms: Anglo-Sino Capital Partners Ltd, Claridge Capital Partners LLP and InvestUK Ltd.
19. On 13 February 2022, I revealed that Mr Tugendhat is a shareholder of two independent tech companies where China-linked billionaire Nicolas Berggruen is a fellow investor.
20. Mr Tugendhat is right to be concerned about the rise of China, and UK universities’ over-dependence on Chinese students in particular. So it is surprising the MP is happy to accept funding from InvestUK, a China-focused firm whose products and services included an education bond for Chinese students in the UK. What’s more, InvestUK used an unauthorised financial services firm to promote its education bond.
21. When asked for comment, Simon Peacock, InvestUK Operations Director, said in an email: “There is little we can comment on other than to clarify that we were involved in developing a product that we named The Education Bond which we had enlisted the help of Hilden Associates to communicate this product to their network in Hong Kong back in 2018. The Education Bond briefing session shown in the tweet was not a sales pitch, it was simply information sharing as part of a wider communication strategy explaining the benefits of setting up a business and/or working in the United Kingdom. The Education Bond never formally went to market and in any event is now defunct.”
22. Mr Peacock added: “Unfortunately, I was unable to find the Hilden Associates (UK) website and the reference they have made to the Education Bond but we have written to the principal to remind them that it is no longer operative and must not be referred to in any marketing materials.”
23. Mr Tugendhat didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The Mail on Sunday picks up Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards’ verdict on the conduct of boxing APPG and its chair Chris Evans MP

1. On 12 June 2022, The Mail on Sunday newspaper picked up the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards’ verdict on the conduct of the boxing all-party parliamentary group (“APPG”) and its chair, Labour MP Chris Evans (see previous post) (screen shot in Figure 1).

Figure 1. The Mail on Sunday (12 June 2022)