Uber secretly lobbied ministers to influence London’s transport policy, it has been reported.
Leaked documents show lobbyists for the ride-sharing app company met then-chancellor George Osborne and other ministers, according to the BBC.
The “undeclared” meetings took place after Boris Johnson, as mayor of London, had promised to launch a review that could have limited Uber’s expansion in the capital.
A spokesman for Mr Osborne said “all business meetings where policy affecting individual companies was discussed were properly declared”.
The meeting with Uber took place at a private dinner in the US state of California, where the company is based.
An internal Uber email stated that this was better than a meeting in London because “this is a much more private affair with no hanger-on officials or staffers”, the BBC reported.
Other meetings were held between Uber lobbyists and current or former ministers including Priti Patel, Sajid Javid, Matt Hancock and Michael Gove, according to the corporation.
Mr Johnson ultimately abandoned his review, and Uber was able to increase its number of drivers in London.
Read More: Uber secretly lobbied ministers to influence London’s transport policy – report
