Legatum backer was‘not aware’ of the secret Brexit letter sent to PM

The Legatum Institute Foundation last night confirmed that Shanker Singham is advising the Government – but denied any inappropriate interference in the Brexit process.

All questions directed at the Legatum Institute in Mayfair were referred on to the Legatum Group in Dubai – which then insisted the institute was an entirely separate, independent charity.

A spokesman said Mr Singham ‘provides advice to MPs, the Government, civil service and business because of his unparalleled expertise in economics and trade as a public service’. he said Christopher Chandler was ‘not aware’ of the Johnson/Gove letter. he added that Mr Chandler was ‘not involved in running the Legatum Institute’ – nor had he had any ‘role in appointing Mr Singham’ as Legatum Institute boss.

The spokesman said: ‘The Legatum Institute Foundation doesn’t advocate a “hard” or “soft” Brexit; it wants to help Britain achieve a good Brexit.’ he added: ‘To say the Chandlers established their fortune in post-Soviet Russia is wrong. Russia was just one chapter in a much longer story.

‘Sovereign Global sided with many minority foreign and domestic investors to improve the corporate governance of Gazprom by lobbying for better management. [It] did not have the power to place anyone in a position of authority at Gazprom. It was the Gazprom board that installed Alexey Miller. No one from Sovereign Global Investment ever personally met with President Putin, chose Miller for his role or even vetted him.’ he added that Mr Singham was ‘proud’ of his work helping former Soviet Union countries transition to market economies, resulting in millions being ‘lifted out of poverty’.

The spokesman stressed Mr Chandler’s British patriotism. ‘his father served in the Royal Navy in the Second World War and he lost two uncles who were Spitfire pilots defending Britain’s shores.’