A key lobbyist behind the campaign to pull the UK out of the European Union has joined an investment bank founded by a big donor to his cause to provide advice on the implications of Brexit for its corporate clients.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Vote Leave and its forerunner, Business for Britain, has joined Shore Capital as a part-time political adviser. He was hired personally by Howard Shore, the company’s multimillionaire founder.
Mr Shore, 57, backed Business for Britain and Vote Leave and recruited Mr Elliott, 39, after getting to know him in the years before the EU referendum campaign. He approached Mr Elliott in March to see whether he was interested in a job with his firm, which has its headquarters in Guernsey.
Two years ago they worked on a survey of small and medium-sized UK businesses about their views on the EU. Their report, commissioned by Shore Capital, said that nearly three quarters wanted Britain to “take back power to negotiate our own trade deals”.
At Shore Capital, Mr Elliott will advise the capital markets team on issues related to the Brexit negotiations and wider European and global political events. Included in his remit will be providing regular updates on trade negotiations between the UK and countries around the world.
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Simon Fine, chief executive of Shore Capital Markets, said that during a time of transformational changes “Matthew will provide a unique perspective for our capital markets business and our institutional and corporate clients”.
Mr Elliott said: “Business, the economy and investment are all now so interlinked with both domestic politics and international affairs that I am delighted to be joining Shore Capital to help their clients understand the changing political situation both in the UK and overseas.”
Mr Elliott will not have a fixed schedule but will be on call at all times to Mr Shore and his staff. His pay has not been disclosed and a spokesman for the company declined to provide details.
Mr Shore, who was educated at Cambridge, recently stepped down from the day-to-day running of Shore Capital to become its executive chairman, and has long been a player in Conservative Party politics as a substantial donor.
Away from business and politics, Mr Shore is known for his jet-set lifestyle, travelling the world on a private plane. Late last year, he was reported to have spent $39 million to buy a seven- bedroom, 11-bathroom Bel Air mansion, complete with a 90-foot infinity pool with views over downtown Los Angeles.
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The property he is said to have bought is close to the homes of some of the most famous people in the world, including the actors Clint Eastwood and Jennifer Aniston.