A recent lobbyist for the US data-analytics company Palantir worked closely with Andy Burnham's team during the byelection that secured his return to parliament, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Martha Dalton's company Lodestone worked for Palantir in 2024 and 2025, according to the Guardian.
- Dalton campaigned for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield byelection that returned him to parliament.
- She worked closely with Burnham's team on strategic communications and rebuttals, the Guardian reported.
- Dalton was among supporters who clapped Burnham into Downing Street in July.
- The Guardian described Palantir as a controversial $450bn US tech company.
A recent lobbyist for the US technology company Palantir played a senior role in helping Andy Burnham become prime minister, according to an exclusive report by the Guardian.
Martha Dalton, whose company Lodestone worked for Palantir in 2024 and 2025, campaigned for Burnham in the Makerfield byelection that secured his return to parliament, the Guardian reported.
According to the outlet, Dalton worked closely with Burnham’s team on strategic communications and rebuttals during the campaign.
The Guardian said Dalton was among the supporters who clapped Burnham into Downing Street in July.
The Guardian described Palantir as a controversial $450bn US tech company. The report connects a recent lobbyist for the firm to the campaign that returned Burnham to parliament.
Honest Abe News has not independently verified the Guardian’s account. The report focuses on Dalton’s role in strategic communications and rebuttals for Burnham’s team, and her presence among supporters at Downing Street.
Why it matters
The reported connection between a recent lobbyist for a major US tech company and the campaign of the current prime minister touches on how commercial clients and political campaigns intersect at the top of government.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Martha Dalton?
According to the Guardian, Martha Dalton is a recent lobbyist whose company, Lodestone, worked for Palantir in 2024 and 2025, and who played a senior role in campaigning for Andy Burnham.
What role did she play in Burnham's campaign?
The Guardian reports she campaigned for Burnham in the Makerfield byelection and worked closely with his team on strategic communications and rebuttals.
What is Palantir?
The Guardian describes Palantir as a controversial $450bn US tech company; Dalton's firm Lodestone worked for it in 2024 and 2025.