Summary of investigation – Lord Dannatt
Published on: Thursday 8th May 2025
March – May 2025
Organisation or person investigated
The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC (“Lord Dannatt”)
Matter(s) investigated
Whether Lord Dannatt conducted unregistered consultant lobbying
Registrar’s decision
Based on information and assurances provided, Lord Dannatt has not conducted unregistered consultant lobbying in relation to the matter under investigation.
Summary of rationale for decision
Based on substantive and unequivocal written information provided, Lord Dannatt did not receive payment for the meeting on 27 June 2022, whether as an individual or through a company. He has therefore not conducted unregistered consultant lobbying in relation to the matter under investigation.
Under the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (“the Act”), a registrable communication is made by a VAT registered company or individual communicating with a Minister, Permanent Secretary (or equivalent) on behalf of a paying client.
Chronology
| Date | Action |
| 14 March | Article in The Guardian regarding Lord Dannatt. |
| 19 March | Formal letter from the Registrar to Lord Dannatt giving background on the requirement for registering and asking if activities, whether individually or through a company, fall within the criteria to be registered with particular reference to, but not limited to, two communications. |
| 29 March | Email from Lord Dannatt to the Registrar stating that the first communication pre-dates the Act and giving further information regarding a meeting with a Departments of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy minister on 27 June 2022. Lord Dannatt stated that both communications were unpaid. |
| 8 April | Letter from the Registrar to Lord Dannatt requesting further information about his or his company’s arrangements with Law Fertilisers. |
| 11 April | Email from Lord Dannatt giving further detail including that paid work started subsequent to completion of government engagement. |
| 15 April | Letter from the Registrar to Lord Dannatt requesting further information regarding the contract or terms under which Lord Dannatt’s company, Mill House Partners, was paid. |
| 23 April | Email from Lord Dannatt to the Registrar providing detailed information on his relationship with Law Fertilisers and with UK Nitrogen. |
| 29 April | Letter from the Registrar to Lord Dannatt requesting details of invoice dates and the periods and services that they covered. |
| 2 May | Email from Lord Dannatt to the Registrar providing invoice details. |
| 8 May | Letter from the Registrar concluding his investigation. |
8 May 2025
Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists