A senior government adviser close to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves held 16 undisclosed meetings with top executives from major US technology companies, according to records obtained by the Guardian.
Varun Chandra, who serves as the prime minister's chief business adviser and US trade envoy, discussed regulatory changes, artificial intelligence, and Donald Trump's second administration with representatives from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, Apple, and Meta between October 2024 and October 2025. In one instance, he offered to arrange a direct meeting between a senior executive and the prime minister.
These meetings took place as the government developed policies to attract investment from Silicon Valley, including multimillion-pound energy subsidies and preferential planning approval for datacentres in designated AI growth zones. The government has touted promises of £150bn in investment from US tech firms, though the Guardian previously reported that many of these were "phantom investments," with existing datacentres presented as new builds and a planned supercomputer site left undeveloped. OpenAI also paused a multibillion-pound datacentre project in North Tyneside, citing energy costs and regulation.
Chandra, who previously ran the corporate intelligence firm Hakluyt founded by former British spies, is largely unknown outside Westminster but holds significant influence in Downing Street. Unlike senior civil servants and ministers, political advisers are not required to declare interactions with private firms and lobbyists, though meetings are recorded by civil servants. It took 12 months to obtain confirmation of Chandra's engagements under freedom of information rules.
The meeting logs offer a rare glimpse into the schedule of a powerful political operative who can connect business leaders with the prime minister and chancellor, raising questions about what democracy campaigners describe as "lobbying behind closed doors." A Downing Street spokesperson defended Chandra's role, stating he helped secure a UK-US trade deal and record inward investment, adding: "Meeting businesses is a core and entirely expected part of the prime minister's business adviser's role."
Chandra met 13 senior executives, including Oracle's UK head Siobhan Wilson and Amazon's chief global affairs officer David Zapolsky. Redacted minutes suggest he agreed to help Wilson meet Starmer and prepared the ground for a meeting with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Regulatory reform was discussed in at least four meetings, with Meta vice-president Joel Kaplan providing feedback on the "UK regulatory landscape." In early 2025, Chandra discussed the government's "commitment to removing barriers for businesses" with three Apple executives, including Matt Browne.
On the same day as the Apple meeting, Chancellor Reeves ordered business watchdogs to reduce anti-growth regulations, a move reportedly inspired by Chandra. This led to the removal of Competition and Markets Authority chair Marcus Bokkerink, who was preparing to break up tech duopolies and monopolies. Reeves later said she received positive feedback since "she got rid" of Bokkerink.
Trump's presidency was discussed in two meetings with Microsoft vice-chair Brad Smith, including at the Davos summit. Chandra briefed Smith on Trump's unprecedented second state visit to the UK. Rose Zussman of Transparency International said the meetings should be treated as lobbying, adding: "Lobbying behind closed doors enables outside interests to influence our politics without public scrutiny."
Chandra is one of Labour's best-connected business advisers. He left Hakluyt, which does not disclose its client list, two years ago but still owns over 300,000 shares in the company, according to Companies House. Starmer hired him after the 2024 election to deepen ties with corporate executives and international investors. Chandra's stock rose after helping negotiate a trade deal with the Trump administration, and he was even interviewed for the US ambassador vacancy, though the role went to a career diplomat.
Chandra's corporate links have sparked controversy before, notably when he was involved in trying to find a private buyer for Thames Water while Hakluyt advised the company. The Cabinet Office refused to disclose all of Chandra's external meetings, deeming the request "vexatious." Zussman said it should not take multiple FoI requests to uncover influence on government decisions, calling for a comprehensive lobbying register that includes meetings with special advisers.
Chandra declined to comment, as did Google and Amazon. Other tech companies did not respond to requests for comment.
