A Guardian investigation reports that CT Group, a lobbying firm co-founded by former Conservative campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, secretly pays journalists to write newspaper pieces favourable to its clients.
Key facts
- A Guardian investigation says lobbying firm CT Group secretly pays journalists to write client-friendly newspaper pieces.
- CT Group was co-founded by campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, a former electoral strategist for David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
- Lobbyists reportedly told an undercover reporter they had paid journalists to place apparently independent stories.
- The Guardian says the practice appears to create a backdoor for private companies to influence public opinion.
A political lobbying firm founded by a former electoral strategist for David Cameron and Boris Johnson secretly pays journalists to write pieces for British newspapers that are favourable to its clients, according to a Guardian investigation published on 22 July 2026.
The Guardian reports that lobbyists for CT Group, co-founded by campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, told an undercover reporter that they had paid journalists to place apparently independent stories in newspapers.
According to the Guardian, the practice appears to create a backdoor for private companies to influence public opinion, presenting paid-for content as independent journalism.
The outlet describes its findings as an exclusive investigation into what it characterises as a practice that seeks hidden influence over readers. The Guardian frames the arrangement as one in which stories favourable to clients could reach the public without disclosure of the payments behind them.
CT Group is identified by the Guardian as a lobbying firm co-founded by Crosby, who previously worked as an electoral strategist for two former UK prime ministers. The report centres on statements lobbyists made to an undercover reporter during the investigation.
The Guardian’s account focuses on the alleged payments to journalists and the placement of stories in national newspapers. Beyond these details, further specifics were not included in the source material available.
Why it matters
If accurate, the reported practice would blur the line between independent journalism and paid promotion, leaving readers unable to tell when coverage has been influenced by a paying client. That raises questions about transparency in both the press and the lobbying industry, which shape public opinion and political debate.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Guardian investigation find?
The Guardian reports that CT Group lobbyists told an undercover reporter they had paid journalists to place apparently independent stories favourable to clients in British newspapers.
Who founded CT Group?
According to the Guardian, CT Group was co-founded by campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, a former electoral strategist for David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
Why is the practice a concern?
The Guardian says the arrangement appears to create a backdoor for private companies to influence public opinion by presenting paid-for content as independent coverage.