Peter Mandelson’s company lobbied the Government on behalf of an American firm bidding to run the Home Office’s controversial new English language tests for migrants.
The disgraced peer’s now-defunct lobbying company Global Counsel was hired by Duolingo, the online education giant, in 2024, and Mandelson even appeared in person at events organised by the company.
The Home Office has since changed the terms of an £816million government contract – currently out to tender – to provide English language tests for foreign nationals applying for a UK visa.
It announced last year that requirements for the test would be altered to allow online testing – dropping the current need to sit an invigilated exam in person.
It prompted fears the new tests would be vulnerable to cheating, weakening Britain’s border controls and leading it to be dubbed a ‘fraudsters’ charter’.
Foreign applicants must show proficiency in English at A-level equivalent to secure a work visa.
But a consortium of leading British firms pulled out of bidding for the new contract last month, warning it ‘exposes the UK’s immigration system to weaker security’.
Duolingo, which offers online courses in English and more than 40 other languages, is thought to be in pole position to secure up the new contract.
Peter Mandelson, pictured this week, whose now-defunct lobbying firm Global Counsel was hired by Duolingo in 2024
Lord Mandelson, far right, appeared at a July 2024 event in London event sponsored by Duolingo discussing the ‘future of universities under Labour’, alongside former Labour education secretary Lord Blunkett, seated left, and crossbench peer Baroness Cavendish
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appeared in a video promoting Duolingo, alongside its owl mascot. The one-minute subtitled film was posted on social media by her department in February
The shift to online exams cleared the way for Duolingo to bid for the deal, industry insiders said.
The role of Mr Mandelson and Global Counsel in persuading ministers to allow online testing remains unclear.
The Home Office has refused to disclose whether any meetings took place with ministers and officials with the lobbyists on behalf of Duolingo.
It has also refused to reveal what, if any, correspondence took place between them and the government department.
Ministers have even posed with Duolingo’s cuddly owl mascot and government departments have posted videos promoting the company on their social media feeds.
Duolingo appointed Global Counsel, the firm co-founded by Mandelson, in the period July to September 2024, official lobbying registers reveal.
In July that year Mandelson appeared at a London event sponsored by Duolingo discussing the ‘future of universities under Labour’, alongside former Labour education secretary Lord Blunkett and crossbench peer Baroness Cavendish.
A year later business minister Lord Stockwood met Duolingo bosses to discuss ‘UK commercial opportunities’, government records show.
Last autumn, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appeared alongside Duolingo’s UK boss Michael Lynas at Labour Party conference event on the ‘future of education’ organised by the Tony Blair Institute.
In an online post, Mr Lynas said: ‘Bridget said she loved Duolingo, which is always good to hear!’
In February this year the Education Secretary appeared in a video promoting Duolingo alongside the company’s green owl mascot.
The one-minute film was even posted on the Department for Education’s official feed on X, formerly Twitter.
In December last year Duolingo’s Mr Lynas welcomed the Home Office’s decision to allow remote English testing for migrants, saying: ‘Digital models deliver greater accessibility, stronger security and higher accuracy – all at a fair cost.
‘It’s encouraging to see governments and universities increasingly recognising these benefits.’
Home Office minister Mike Tapp this week conceded for the first time that moving to online tests could carry a risk.
He said in a written ministerial answer to Conservative MP Blake Stephenson that ‘technological developments can present new challenges to test security in remote environments’.
He added that bidders would have to show they can address risks associated with online tests.
Mr Stephenson, who sits on the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee, said: ‘This is a total mess.
‘There are very legitimate questions about why the government is pursuing this and the role played by Peter Mandelson’s firm, Global Counsel, in lobbying the Home Office.
‘We have seen in recent days that Peter Mandelson gets exactly what he wants from this Prime Minister, and it seems this could be yet another example.
‘We should all be very concerned about whether political access and money has been prioritised by the Home Secretary over national security.’
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He added: ‘The Home Office decision to move away from in person English language testing before issuing visas is completely at odds with the Home Secretary’s promise to get a grip on immigration.’
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also voiced grave concerns.
‘Allowing remote language tests for immigrants will be a fraudsters’ charter. Cheating will be rife,’ he said.
‘This move will be a blow to our border security but Labour ministers don’t seem to care.
‘We need to know the full truth of what went on behind the scenes as Mandelson was in the pay of Duolingo.’
One insider from the language test sector said: ‘Duolingo spared no expense in lobbying, using Peter Mandelson’s company to influence ministers and civil servants.
‘Every serious expert on English testing is baffled why the Home Office would remove in-person security checks.
‘Criminal gangs will love this. Cheaters will be able to take tests for UK visas from any location they like.
‘Fully remote English tests prioritise US big tech’s commercial gain over Britain’s national security.’
Last month the Daily Mail reported how a UK-based consortium, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), had withdrawn from bidding for the contract to run the new tests.
IELTS warned that under the new proposals applicants could cheat by using impersonators or by obtaining help from an accomplice who was not visible on screen during the online test.
Rogue candidates could also use hidden devices or earpieces, it said, or could improve their results by using AI ‘chatbots’.
A spokesman for IELTS, which is run by Cambridge University Press and Assessment, the British Council and IDP, said at the time: ‘We will not compromise on quality given the importance of these tests to the UK.
The security of the tests was ‘particularly important, given the politically charged nature of the debate around migration and the need for more, not less, control and certainty over who is allowed to come to the UK’, he added.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘None of the examples given by the Daily Mail show any engagement with the Home Office or individuals who would have significant influence on the procurement of English language testing.
‘All government contracts are awarded through a fair, competitive and transparent process, and to suggest anything otherwise with this procurement process would be incorrect.’
A Duolingo spokesman said: ‘Duolingo, like many other companies, worked with Global Counsel.
‘Lord Mandelson played no part in that work. ‘We subsequently terminated our agreement with Global Counsel.
‘Any engagement that Duolingo has had with government has been entirely proper and transparent.’
Lord Mandelson was approached for comment.
