Labour directorate

Arden is one of only two UK agencies led by a former Labour Cabinet Minister. Our unparalleled Labour Directorate brings together a wealth of experience of former Labour politicians, advisors and senior parliamentary staffers with real-life knowledge and understanding of the new Labour government.

We support UK and global corporate clients to navigate and engage with Labour’s policies and politics. We also combine our in-depth knowledge of corporate advisory work with our team’s detailed understanding of how the Labour government operates and thinks.

There are a range of specialised services that Arden offers to corporate and charity clients:

Provide unique insight into the Labour government’s people, policies, and priorities.
Design and deliver engagement strategies that have real impact when it matters most.
Share Arden’s expertise on how to successfully navigate the complexities of decision making across Whitehall.
Connect clients to the influencers, trade unions, and think-tanks who help shape Labour’s ideas on their Five Missions and other priorities.
Advice on how best to shape your narrative and ideas in a way that will appeal to your target political and media audiences.
AI enabled parliamentary and media monitoring as well as advice on appearances at parliamentary Select Committees.
Support packages for companies wishing to engage at Labour’s annual conference and other high-profile events.

Our Labour Directorate

Rt Hon. Jim Murphy
CEO and Founder

Jim is one of the UK’s most experienced government Ministers. He was a Labour MP for almost two decades and has held multiple ministerial portfolios including as a cabinet minister. He was leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Secretary of State for Scotland. Jim was a senior member of Labour’s election winning teams. Jim is also a member of His Majesty’s Privy Council.

Kieran Simpson
Associate Director

Kieran worked for Labour’s economic team under Gordon Brown, and has served as a Special Adviser in three government departments. He has extensive knowledge of Whitehall’s interactions with business and trade bodies. Kieran has built a career as a leading communications and strategic adviser helping clients build their corporate reputations. His knowledge extends across a range of sectors including the food & drink, agriculture, energy and health.

George McGregor
Associate Director

George was a Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Scotland in the last Labour Government and is a former member of the Labour Party National Policy Forum. He worked for almost two decades in public affairs providing senior counsel to many of the country's leading companies, delivering government relations strategies and campaigns to help them achieve their objectives. George's work has won him an array of awards including Best Public Affairs Campaign of the Year.

Ellie Miller
Managing Director External Affairs

Ellie has more than 15 years’ experience working in senior roles with Labour. Since Keir Starmer became Leader, she, more than any other senior staffer, has led the party’s engagement with corporate Britain. As Head of Labour’s Business Relations team, Ellie has helped Keir Starmer rebuild connections with business. She has also worked as an advisor to a Labour Minister as well as the Deputy Speaker of the Commons. Ellie joined Arden from Make UK (one of the ‘Big 5’ business groups) where she was Head of Stakeholder Engagement.

Toni Sword
Director of Digital

Toni has a wealth of experience in digital campaigning and communications. She previously led the Labour Party’s digital and social media activity in Scotland, and has brought her knowledge and understanding to successful political campaigns around the world. Toni has worked with senior political figures, including former PM Gordon Brown, and many high-profile companies, delivering innovative and creative campaigns to help them achieve their objectives.

Katarina Stawska-Hughes
Head of External Affairs

Kat has over ten years of expertise in political and business engagement, executing a number of high profile advocacy projects and providing counsel to clients in the financial services and tech sectors. Prior to this, Katarina worked at the Labour Party, building the Party’s network of business supporters and pioneering engagement with BAME business leaders and endorsers. Before starting her career in politics, Katarina was a small business owner. She graduated in Law with Business at the University of Portsmouth.

Adam Scott
Account Director

During his eight years in Westminster, Adam briefed and advised more than 20 Labour Shadow Secretaries of State across a range of policy roles. For six years, he played a pivotal role in the Labour policy unit, overseeing a diverse portfolio of domestic policies including transport, housing, culture, and energy. His contributions directly influenced the development of the last two Labour general election manifestos. Adam will serve Arden’s growing corporate client base, as well as contribute to finding and winning new contracts.

Alec James
Account Director

Alec has worked with and for some of the most senior figures in the Labour Party including the then Deputy Leader, Tom Watson. He also worked at the heart of Labour’s HQ in the General Secretary’s office giving him a ring-side seat on all major developments in Labour politics in recent years.
Alec has policy expertise in energy, finance and technology policy.

Marie Birchall
Account Director

Marie has a decade of experience in senior roles at the Labour Party, working as a political advisor for Ministers and Shadow Ministers, including Yvette Cooper. Marie has worked across a broad range of policy areas in both Westminster and Holyrood. As Head of Policy for Scottish Labour, she steered the Party’s policy-making process. She also has experience in education research and working for INGOs and her particular policy expertise includes equality, education, justice and international development.

Davide Sands
Account Manager

Davide has experience advising senior Labour politicians at Shadow Cabinet and Select Committee level. He has unique insight into Labour’s political processes and since Keir Starmer became Labour leader, he has advised a Shadow Cabinet Member across two portfolios which placed him at the heart of current Labour policy development, campaigns, and media management. His policy expertise and interests include transport, food security, foreign affairs, and environment.