Yoon Jim Murphy helped make Labour highly unpopular in Scotland. Then he became a lobbyist for arms companies and other unsavoury characters via Arden Strategies. And now, he would very much like it to be easier for funds to invest money in the arms industry.
Fortunately, when Sky invited Murphy on TV to share his point of view on the matter, journalist Taj Ali was there to point out the lobbyist’s interests.
.@Taj_Ali1 was invited to debate with Jim Murphy on the subject of loosening the guidance around what is considered ethical investments to make it easier for funds to invest in the arms industry, & the first thing he did was point out Murphy is a lobbyist for arms companies 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/KDXsqxxdQD
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 20, 2025
Ali stressed that Murphy:
is a lobbyist for weapons manufacturers through his firm Arden Strategies. And I think it’s really important to note this. Because Ardern Strategies has actually funded one in ten Labour MPs. And they have this lobbying operation underway to change what we consider ‘ethical’ investment. I think there’s nothing ethical about arms manufacturers who profit from death, destruction and genocide overseas
Ardern Strategies and private profiteering from destruction
In 2024, Murphy said Keir Starmer’s Labour government would lead “the first truly private sector Labour government”. And as openDemocracy pointed out:
In the same interview, Murphy revealed that he and his team at Arden speak regularly with Starmer and other Labour frontbenchers and that the firm is likely the party’s biggest commercial sponsor.
Ardern, it explained:
has solidified its access to the party at all levels, from the current leadership to the prospective MPs who may make up the frontbenches of the future.
Though “little is known about the clients it represents”, the outlet explained, it could reveal that some with connections to Arden were energy firms and “the CEO for the UK, Europe and Middle East operations of Northrop Grumman, a world-leading manufacturer of machines that kill people, and a major exporter of said machines to Israel”.
Labour government in bed with arms dealers and other deathmongers
Just as the extent of cronyism in Keir Starmer’s Labour Party came out last year, openDemocracy also revealed how the party had quietly received “£4m from tax haven-based hedge fund with shares in oil and arms”. And it reported that the Labour donation from Quadrature Capital “stood to profit” from Israel’s genocide in Gaza, having “held $121m worth of shares in a range of arms, tech and logistics firms which have all supported the ongoing military campaign”.
With the closeness of Murphy and Ardern to Starmer’s corrupt machine, meanwhile, it’s perhaps clearer than ever that there’s nothing ethical about what’s going on behind the scenes (or on the stage for that matter) with this Labour government.
Featured image via screengrab
