Companies are focusing their attention on figures such as Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary

Leading business figures and lobbyists are urgently trying to forge links with Labour amid fears that political uncertainty could put Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street.

With Labour still ahead in the polls, companies are focusing their attention on figures such as Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, and Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, in an effort to understand the party they see as deeply hostile to their interests.

They are largely swerving Mr Corbyn and John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, and looking for ways to work around them.

The most recent Labour manifesto sought to nationalise almost all of the privatised utilities, impose sector-by-sector wage bargaining and dramatically increase the minimum wage.

A big boost in attendance is expected at this year’s Labour