Former MP offers to ‘shape policy’ for clients while accessing parliament

A former MP is promoting a consultancy that offers “direct access to key decision-makers” while using a parliamentary pass to meet senior shadow ministers, in an apparent breach of House of Commons rules.

Laurence Robertson, MP for Tewkesbury for 27 years until losing his seat last July, set up the Theoc Consultancy within a month of the general election.

Theoc’s website says Robertson helps businesses “engage key decision-makers early in the policy creation process” and empowers “businesses and organisations to thrive by shaping policy”.

Social media posts show Robertson attending events in parliament with shadow ministers as early as September.

Robertson told Tortoise he had carried out no lobbying since leaving parliament.

A joint investigation by Tortoise and BBC Radio 4’s The Naked Week found at least 87 former MPs have used their parliamentary pass since last year’s election while also working for a consultancy or lobbying firm.

In December, Theoc posted pictures of Robertson with the Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, along with the caption: “Wonderful to talk to these influential women last night and to talk about the opportunities for doing business in Africa. This is what Theoc Consultancy is set up to do.”

Robertson added that he would be “taking up” the conversation again in the new year.

The former MP, who was a trade envoy to Ethiopia, Angola and Zambia, also hosted a sponsored reception on the Commons terrace last September. It was attended by shadow international development minister Harriet Baldwin and “other businesses, politicians and charities”.

The House of Commons code of conduct stipulates that former MPs “must abide by the restrictions of the lobbying rules for six months after their departure from the House in respect of any approach they make to Ministers, other Members or public officials.”

The code also states: “Former Members may not use their privileged parliamentary pass for the purposes of lobbying on the parliamentary estate.”

Robertson said: “I can confirm that, since I left Parliament, I have carried out no lobbying of ministers, MPs or officials.”

Experts told Tortoise that Robertson’s actions warranted further investigation by parliamentary authorities.

Susan Hawley, executive director of campaign group Spotlight on Corruption, said: “It is crucial that parliamentary passes are not misused as a licence to lobby and there is proper scrutiny when former MPs with passes tout access to decision-makers as a way to win business.

“Given the questions raised in this case, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner should review carefully that passes are not being misused.”

The commissioner investigated Robertson in 2023 after he was accused of providing paid parliamentary advice to the Betting and Gaming Council.

The investigation concluded that there had been no breach of the rules.

This is the latest in a series of investigations by Tortoise and BBC Radio 4’s The Naked Week, which is hosted by Andrew Hunter Murray.

To hear the full investigation, listen to The Naked Week, produced for BBC Radio 4 by Unusual Productions, on air every Friday from 18.30 on BBC Radio 4 and then on BBC Sounds in the Friday Night Comedy podcast feed.

Additional reporting by Freya Shaw and Matt Brown.

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