Burnham chief of staff pick faces scrutiny over Thames Water advisory links

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Burnham chief of staff scrutiny

Highlights

Purnell resigned from Flint Global on Wednesday after accepting the chief of staff role and gave up his shares, with payments due by end of day.
Flint Global advises Thames Water junior bondholders, who are in a control battle with senior bondholders as government considers public ownership of utilities.
Flint's past clients include Glencore, ordered in 2022 by a London judge to pay £276 million for operating a bribery and corruption network in Africa.

Resignation and advisory background

As reported by Financial Times and Companies House filings, Purnell resigned from Flint Global on Wednesday after being offered the chief of staff role earlier this week by the UK’s presumptive prime minister.

A spokesperson for Purnell says he has left Flint and will have no ongoing financial interest in the company. He has given up his shares, while Flint is seeking to finalise some outstanding payments to him from 2025 by the end of Wednesday.

Before leaving, Purnell serves as chief executive of the public affairs company, whose client work includes advice linked to Thames Water, Glencore, Google and Amazon. He is a former cabinet minister under Gordon Brown.

Political and utility sector implications

His previous lobbying work raises questions about the revolving door between government and corporate interests, particularly because the chief of staff role would make him one of the most powerful figures in Downing Street.

Flint previously works for Thames Water and is currently giving strategic advice to a group of the utility’s class B junior bondholders, which is locked in a battle for control of the troubled company with rival class A senior bondholders.

The links are notable because Burnham has floated greater government control of Britain’s public utilities, including taking Thames Water back into public control. Flint does not disclose all of its clients, but some are listed on the EU lobbying register, including Glencore, which in 2022 is ordered by a London judge to pay 276 million pounds for running a bribery and corruption network to secure favourable access to oil across Africa.

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