Russian-linked think tank held monthly meetings with leading Brexit minister A controversial think tank that argued for a hard Brexit and been linked with Russian intelligence had monthly meetings with […]

A controversial think tank that argued for a hard Brexit and been linked with Russian intelligence had monthly meetings with a leading Brexit minister.

Department for International Trade minister Greg Hands MP arranged monthly meetings with Shanker Singham, then head of the Legatum Institute’s trade commission.

The meetings were scheduled for months in advance, an investigation by the news website openDemocracy – which campaigns for greater democratic transparency – claims.

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‘Coffee catch-ups’

The Brexit department refused to confirm that any notes were taken of these meetings but no minutes were taken at similar ‘coffee catch-ups’ between Legatum and cabinet officials.

A former Labour minister said these “extraordinary” revelations suggest the existence of “a secret kitchen cabinet charting the course of a hard Brexit”.

Legatum emerged as one of the most influential voices in Westminster in the wake of the Brexit vote. The think tank, which is a registered charity, raised eyebrows with its ability to get a hearing from leading cabinet ministers.

Singham, Legatum’s chief trade advisor, was mentioned in a letter sent late last year by Michael Gove and Boris Johnson urging Theresa May to take a harder stance on Brexit.

An object of interest?

Legatum was set up Christopher Chandler, a New Zealand-born tycoon who was once a major shareholder in the Russian state energy firm Gazprom. Earlier this week, a Conservative MP used parliamentary privilege to name Chandler as ‘an object of interest’ to French intelligence services in 2002. Isle of Wight MP Bob Seeley claimed Chandler was suspected of working for the Russian secret service.

The extent of Legatum’s access to the key Brexit trade department was revealed in emails released following a Freedom of Information request.

In October, Brexit minister Hands suggests he and Singham “meet frequently and monthly is a good objective”. Meetings took place in the House of Commons, the Brexit trade department, and at Legatum’s upmarket Mayfair offices, according to the emails.

What are the consequences?

Former cabinet office minister Liam Byrne said that the “extraordinary emails lay bare a secret kitchen cabinet charting the course for a hard Brexit, off the books, behind closed doors”.

“It’s frankly alarming given what’s now emerged about the Russia links of the Legatum founders that their former staff are organising secretive meetings with profound consequences for Britain’s future. We now need ministers to tell us immediately just what was discussed – and what was agreed,” the Labour MP said.

A spokesperson for Legatum Institute said that the charity was no longer conducting research info Brexit and was not aware of the monthly meeting between Singham and Hands. The Department for International Trade refused to confirm whether the monthly meetings between Hands and Singham had ceased.

“The department regularly engages think tanks and campaign bodies on all sides of the political spectrum,” a spokesperson said.