David Lammy, the current Foreign Secretary, accepted a £10,000 donation from a public relations executive with Saudi connections prior to assuming his role. This financial support, provided by Muddassar Ahmed through his company Silk Road Consultancy, has raised questions about potential influence on Labour's foreign policy.
Ahmed, 41, is the managing partner of Unitas Communications, a PR firm with reported ties to Saudi-owned organizations. He has previously expressed admiration for Saudi Arabia's policies and criticized those who have spoken against the kingdom.
In 2016, Ahmed wrote an article defending Saudi Arabia's governance structure, questioning the appropriateness of expecting a parliamentary democracy in the custodian state of Islam's holiest sites. More recently, in July 2024, he participated in a London Stock Exchange panel discussion on enhancing the pilgrimage experience in Saudi Arabia.
The donation to Lammy is not an isolated incident. Shabana Mahmood, the Lord High Chancellor, also received £10,000 from Silk Road Consultancy before the general election. Additionally, Ahmed's Concordia Forum has hosted various Labour politicians, including party leader Sir Keir Starmer, for events and speaking engagements.
"I think that what is happening in Saudi in terms of the transformation, the economic political religious, social is actually incredible. I mean, that's something that I think is pretty interesting, the ramifications of the Muslim world are huge."
Ahmed's connections extend beyond the political sphere. He has met with international figures such as former Brazilian President Michel Temer and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In the UK, he has been listed among London's most influential individuals and has attended events at 10 Downing Street.
While Ahmed maintains that his donations were personal and not made from company funds, the situation has sparked discussions about transparency in political funding and potential conflicts of interest in foreign policy decisions.
The Labour Party has not commented on the matter, leaving questions unanswered about how these donations might influence their approach to Middle Eastern relations should they form the next government.