Sir Tony Blair’s think-tank is offering corporate members opportunities to engage with politicians at major UK party conferences, according to documents obtained by investigative journalists. The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), established by the former prime minister following the closure of his lobbying firm in 2016, runs a membership program called the Global Network for Change, which charges $25,000 annually for access.

Companies such as BP, Uber, and Amazon are listed among the members participating in the program. Membership includes invitations to networking events aligned with TBI’s policy focus areas, as well as select programming at key political gatherings, including the Liberal Democrat, Conservative, and Labour party conferences throughout 2023.

At the upcoming Labour conference in Liverpool, where TBI is hosting 21 events, some panels will feature representatives from its corporate members alongside ministers responsible for regulating those sectors. For example, the president of ServiceNow, an AI cloud computing company awarded UK defense contracts, is scheduled to introduce a discussion with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. Uber’s UK policy director will join a panel on autonomous vehicles with Roads Minister Justin Madders, while an executive from investment firm General Catalyst will participate in a session on economic growth with City Minister Emma Reynolds.

While TBI notes that these events are supported by corporate sponsors, its public event listings do not disclose the companies’ membership status or financial contributions. This has prompted concerns about the potential for big business to gain influence through informal access at political conferences.

Ian Blackford, a former Scottish National Party MP and member of the Ethics and Integrity Commission, which advises Prime Minister Andy Burnham, criticized the arrangement, suggesting the think-tank is "finding ways to grant access for corporates to ministers and has been well rewarded as a consequence." The commission has called for increased transparency regarding informal meetings at party conferences.

In response, TBI stated its activities comply fully with relevant rules and that there is nothing improper about the engagement it facilitates. Requests for comment from ServiceNow, Uber, and General Catalyst were not immediately returned.