Government gave lobbyists access to confidential coronavirus briefings

Former political editor of The Sun worked as an unpaid adviser to the government during pandemic

(Getty Images)

The government gave an influential lobbyist access to confidential briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, it has been revealed.

Former Sun political editor and current chairman of Portland Communications, George Pascoe-Watson, was quietly appointed as an "adviser" to the government in April.

He briefed paying clients on the government's thinking, including on upcoming lockdowns.

Mr Pascoe-Watson emailed clients on October 15, telling them he had been “privately advised” that new restrictions on London would last six months until the spring, the Sunday Times reported.

“Decision-makers have told me personally," he said.

He also pre-empted the second national lockdown, telling his clients that the prime minister would “announce next week that he is prepared to ‘sacrifice November to save December’”.

The relation is the latest in a string of claims about a supposed "chumocracy" at the heart of government, and about special access given to lobbyists and their ties to the government.

Mr Pascoe-Watson told the newspaper that he had “fully declared my role and responsibilities at Portland Communications to the Department of Health and Social Care”.

“The information shared with clients on October 15 and 29 was in no way connected to the test and trace calls, in which I was no longer a participant' he said.

He said in a statement that he had stepped down from his unpaid role with the Department of Health and Social Care by mutual agreement on October 7.

Speaking on Sunday, Environment Secretary George Eustice defended the appointment.

“The reality is that in dealing with this pandemic lots of people have come forward to offer their help,” he told Times Radio.

He said the lobbyist had volunteered to "assist government with what has been a very difficult situation, particularly around Test and Trace and the communications around that".