Douglas Alexander Met Mandelson-Linked Global Counsel for Trade Briefing Shortly After Becoming Minister

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander met with Peter Mandelson's lobbying firm Global Counsel within weeks of his appointment as trade minister on 6 July 2024. The meeting was added to public transparency logs on 25 March of this year after remaining undeclared for roughly 18 months. " The same day Mandelson sent an email introduction connecting Alexander to a Global Counsel colleague.

Mandelson followed up on 2 August to ask how the meeting had gone. The call marked Alexander's first recorded meeting with any external organisation after he took the trade portfolio. UK law requires ministers to report lobbyist contacts every three months.

The meeting was attended by civil servants and formally minuted. Papers released after MPs ordered publication of Mandelson's ministerial contacts on 4 February include exchanges in which Mandelson and ministers traded advice and news, along with criticism of the No10 operation, Labour MPs and the prime minister.

He resigned from its board in 2024 but retained shares. The firm collapsed earlier this year after losing contracts following disclosures about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, leaving millions of pounds owed to staff and tax authorities. Former clients included GSK, Shell, JPMorgan, OpenAI and the English Premier League.

Messages sent just after the 2024 general election show Alexander crediting Mandelson with support that helped him return to parliament as MP for Lothian East. Alexander and the Department for Business and Trade have been approached for comment.