The office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan has awarded contracts worth approximately £3.5 million to companies connected to one of the Labour Party's most significant donors, David Sullivan, an investigation can reveal.
The contracts, spanning various mayoral departments including Transport for London (TFL), have been granted to firms within Mr. Sullivan's corporate empire. This development has ignited a fierce debate regarding the perceived proximity between major political donors and the awarding of lucrative public sector contracts.
Scrutiny on Donations and Deals
David Sullivan, a prominent property and media magnate, has donated nearly £1.5 million to the Labour Party since Sir Keir Starmer assumed leadership. His companies have simultaneously become substantial beneficiaries of City Hall's procurement budget.
According to the analysis of official data, the contracts include a significant £3.2 million agreement for advertising services with TFL, awarded to a publication within Sullivan's portfolio. Additional sizable contracts have been issued for services related to the Mayor's flagship youth programme.
City Hall's Defence
In response to the findings, a spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated that all procurement processes are conducted with "rigorous transparency" and are strictly "merit-based." They emphasised that commercial decisions are made entirely independently by professional officers in accordance with established legal frameworks.
The spokesperson further clarified that the Mayor has no direct involvement in the awarding of individual contracts, a measure designed to prevent any potential conflicts of interest.
A Pattern of Questions
This is not the first instance where Mr. Khan's administration has faced scrutiny over its contractual relationships. Previous reports have highlighted connections between other city advisers and contractors, suggesting a recurring theme that opposition politicians are quick to criticise.
Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate for Mayor, labelled the revelations "deeply concerning," arguing that it creates an impression of a "circle of favouritism" within the London administration. She has called for a complete and transparent review of all contract awards linked to political donors.
As the debate intensifies, the focus remains on the mechanisms ensuring that public money is awarded solely on the basis of value and quality, completely divorced from political financial support.
