The PR firm managing the leadership campaign of Boris Johnson, Crosby Textor, says it has not been lobbying government on behalf of its ground rent fund clients.
Or, at any rate, since autumn 2017.
Crosby Textor, founded by election guru Sir Lynton Crosby, has the £1.6 billion Long Harbour fund as a client.
Its chief executive is Will (William Waldorf) Astor, the half-brother of Samantha Cameron and heir to the viscountcy.
Adrian Flook, a former Tory MP and current councillor at Wandsworth, tells LKP:
“CT Group has not made representations to anyone in Government on behalf of the ground rent sector about leaseholds since the Autumn of 2017.
“This work looks to have been carried out by another company, which is totally independent of us, and is not directed by us, even indirectly.
“I understand that particular company is properly registered as giving public affairs consultancy advice to such companies.
“I am sure therefore someone has been involved, but it is not us.”
This other lobbying company is Pagefield, which managed to persuade Kate Osamor, the controversial Labour MP for Edmonton to ask parliamentary questions on behalf of Long Harbour.
Kate Osamor MP asks parliamentary questions for Long Harbour on ground rents, says Daily Telegraph
This ruse was reported by the Daily Telegraph.
Also this week Global Witness reported the extent of Long Harbour’s offshore and unknowable ownership of its residential freehold funds.
It focussed on Adriatic Land and Abacus.
Offshore freeholders use “legalised extortion” against UK homeowners | Global Witness
Keith isn’t alone. When Katie bought her house in Cheshire through the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, she thought it would be her “forever home”. Like Keith, she was told she would have the opportunity to buy the freehold. “The management company wouldn’t give me a quote to buy my freehold until I’d paid them £108.
Related posts:
Will Astor ‘tried to nobble reform of ground rents’, Daily Mail claims
Kate Osamor MP asks parliamentary questions for Long Harbour on ground rents, says Daily Telegraph
‘Get leasehold done’? Boris Johnson’s Conservatives repeat 2017 pledges in manifesto, Harry Scoffin,
Government to ban leasehold houses and set ground rents ‘as low as’ zero
Ground rents to be allowed in retirement housing, says government
Is this the best news for leasehold serfs since 1066? Quite possibly …
Well, If they are lobbying, they are not doing a very good job?
Is this the Kate Osamur MP who employed he son Ishmael as her “Head of Communications” despite having three convictions for drug offences?
Is this the same Kate Osamor who denied knowing anything about her son’s convictions when employing him?
Is this the same Kate Osamor who resigned from the shadow cabinet after letters written to a Judge by her on parliamentary stationary pleading for mitigation on her son’s behalf emerged?
Is this the same Kate Osamor who was twice accused of plagiarising speeches?
It’s a different one Micky
4 ovens Brokenshire supporting clown Boris. Vested interests in continuing an unfair society with feudal leasehold law