A political lobbying firm has been secretly paying journalists to write favorable coverage for its clients, a Guardian investigation reveals. CT Group, co-founded by former Conservative strategist Lynton Crosby, offered cash incentives to a freelance reporter to place seemingly independent stories in British national newspapers. The practice creates a backdoor for private companies to influence public opinion while bypassing editorial safeguards.
How the Lobbying Firm Operated
Gavin Stollar, head of CT Group's real estate division and a Liberal Democrat activist awarded an OBE in 2024, approached a freelance journalist with a proposition. He offered payment to pitch a story about problems caused for the housebuilding industry by the Building Safety Regulator—set up after the Grenfell Tower fire. Stollar wanted the article to highlight the human consequences of the UK's housing shortage and suggest the regulator was exacerbating the situation. CT Group would provide research and human case studies, while the journalist would be paid by both the newspaper and the lobbying firm.
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Direct Offers of Cash for Editorial Control
Other CT Group staffers then proposed a similar arrangement for work benefiting a property guardianship company, Live-in Guardians. One staffer explained: “You can do it either way. We don’t have to pay you, and you just go off and do how you normally do. Or, we can pay you, but we get more control over it.” They offered “£100 for” each article, effectively buying influence over content while maintaining the appearance of independent journalism.
Comparison: Traditional Journalism vs. Pay-for-Coverage Model
| Aspect | Independent Journalism | Pay-for-Coverage Model |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Source | Newspaper/Publisher only | Publisher + Lobbying firm |
| Editorial Control | Editor and journalist | Lobbying firm has veto power |
| Disclosure | Full transparency | Hidden from readers |
| Public Trust | High | Eroded when exposed |
Key Takeaways
- Lobbying firms are using covert cash payments to sway news coverage.
- Journalists are offered side payments for stories that benefit corporate clients.
- The practice undermines press independence and misleads the public.
- Regulatory loopholes allow this to persist without transparency.
FAQ
What is the CT Group lobbying firm scandal?
The CT Group, founded by Lynton Crosby, was filmed offering a freelance journalist hundreds of pounds to write favorable newspaper stories for its property industry clients. The payments were made alongside standard newspaper fees, giving the firm editorial control without disclosing the arrangement to readers.
Is paying journalists for coverage illegal?
While not explicitly illegal in many jurisdictions, it violates journalistic ethics and may breach industry codes of conduct. It deceives the public by disguising paid promotions as independent reporting.
How can readers identify pay-for-coverage articles?
Look for stories that consistently favor one company or industry without balanced criticism, especially when the journalist has a history of covering that sector. However, undisclosed payments make detection very difficult without whistleblowers or investigative reporting.
This investigation highlights the need for stronger ethical guidelines and transparency requirements in the relationship between lobbying firms and the media. As public trust in news continues to decline, such practices only deepen skepticism about the independence of journalism.
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