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Why ministers paid £2m to influencers

Politico EU Wednesday 16 September 2026, 07:36 UTC By Anne McElvoy, Sam Coates 62 min read
Key Points

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at how political communication has changed – from Keir Starmer’s government paying influencers to promote its message, to Andy Burnham putting himself front and centre of the social media operation. Sam has a scoop on how much it all costs. Elsewhere, former Number 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeny is launching a new thinktank designed to shape Downing Street thinking, but with less scrutiny.

Listen on

Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy look at how political communication has changed – from Keir Starmer’s government paying influencers to promote its message, to Andy Burnham putting himself front and centre of the social media operation.

Sam has a scoop on how much it all costs.

Elsewhere, former Number 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeny is launching a new thinktank designed to shape Downing Street thinking, but with less scrutiny.

Plus, with energy bills forecast to rocket to near £450 in January, how worried is the government, and what can it do to help families?

Spotify Apple Music (ORG) Sam Coates (PERSON) Anne McElvoy (PERSON) &#8211 (ORG) Keir (PERSON) Andy Burnham (PERSON) Sam (PERSON) Morgan McSweeny (ORG) Downing Street (LOCATION)
Originally published by Politico EU Read original →

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