British Business Secretary Peter Kyle is facing questions regarding the access granted to Jayden Watson, a 25-year-old American tech lobbyist and self-described friend of the minister. Watson reportedly gained entry to high-level government events and secured meetings within Kyle's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) for his consultancy's clients.
Watson, who runs the London-based political consultancy Antinous Advisory, boasted on his company's website that he was Kyle's "independent advisor" before the 2024 election and helped shape the government's technology policy. The website has since been taken down.
Records show that Antinous Advisory secured a meeting with the Director General of DSIT in September 2024, just two months after the company was officially incorporated and while Watson was still a university student. Other entities with meetings scheduled with the Director General at that time included Google, the Confederation of British Industry, and Lloyds Bank. Sources close to Kyle stated that his friendship with Watson was declared to the permanent secretary of DSIT, and that measures were put in place to mitigate any potential conflicts.
A week after this initial meeting, Antinous Advisory, along with one of its clients, Northern Data, a global technology company, met again with the DSIT Director General. Northern Data's major shareholders include German biotech tycoon Christian Angermayer, co-founder of the Enhanced Games, an event that promotes the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports. Angermayer also reportedly owns the London penthouse apartment where Antinous Advisory is registered.
Weeks following these meetings, Kyle commented to a House of Lords Select Committee on the importance of ensuring markets are healthy for companies like Northern Data to bid for government interaction.
Watson also attended exclusive government receptions as part of the UK International Investment Summit in November 2025, where Kyle was present. Despite being photographed with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Watson was reportedly not on the official guest list but attended as a guest of Northern Data, according to sources close to Kyle.
Watson, who studied at the University of Rochester and later at the London Business School, has also been pictured with OpenAI's Sam Altman. He and Kyle appear to have attended a gym session together in February 2024. Kyle also received a ticket as a guest to an exclusive concert hosted by Sky Arts in November 2025, an event valued at over £400.
Opposition MPs have described the findings as "deeply troubling" and called for an investigation by the independent adviser on ministerial standards. A spokesperson for Kyle stated that the Business Secretary was recused from any decisions related to departmental meetings with Watson, and that the Ministerial Code was fully observed.
Jayden Watson confirmed that Antinous Advisory was his previous business and that he has discontinued work through it, focusing on a new venture. He stated this was the reason the website was removed and denied any "unfounded insinuation." A government spokesman emphasized that ministers and officials meet with various stakeholders and that meetings with senior officials are publicly recorded for transparency.