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Joe PikePolitics investigations correspondent
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Jim Murphy was Secretary of State for Scotland between 2008 and 2010
A lobbying firm run by an ex-Labour cabinet minister asked companies for £30,000 to sponsor an event, including a "photo opportunity" with a minister and access to a "VIP dinner" with "top advisers" to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves.
Arden Strategies, owned by MP turned lobbyist Jim Murphy, is hosting a "Future of Tech Summit" in London in July claiming attendees will be able to watch a "fireside chat" with Science Secretary Liz Kendall.
A government source said Kendall "was not aware of this invitation and she never agreed to attend this event".
Murphy's firm, one of the most prominent lobbyists of the Labour government, has apologised for what it described as "errors" and "clumsy language".
It is unclear if it is still offering the sponsorship package.
The BBC has obtained Arden's sponsorship document for the "tech summit" event.
It shows that for £30,000 a company would be able to sponsor a drinks reception and receive a range of benefits.
These include personal introductions to "stakeholders", a "photo opportunity with the minister" and one seat at a private "VIP dinner with top advisers to the prime minister, chancellor and other senior tech policymakers".
A member of Sir Keir Starmer's team said: "No Downing Street staff members have received a formal invitation to this dinner."
A Treasury source said they were not aware of any of Rachel Reeves's advisers being invited.
Arden Strategies said in a statement: "Information about an event unfortunately contained very clumsy language by mistake which should never have been used and hadn't been approved.
"It was stupid to do so and we apologise for this mistake. This included mentioning attendees who had not been confirmed. We are sorry for these errors."
Arden Strategies has apologised for 'clumsy language' in its promotional material
Murphy, a former minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, founded Arden Strategies shortly after losing his parliamentary seat in 2015.
It has lobbied Sir Keir's administration on behalf of arms manufacturers, oil companies and energy giants, according to the public register of consultant lobbyists.
The company is not listed as a member of trade body Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), which requires members to list all their public affairs clients.
The total amount Arden spent is not known because the individual sums appear to have fallen below the threshold for sponsorship to be declared by MPs.
Labour Party chair Anna Turley and business minister Blair McDougall used to work for the lobbying firm. Former Labour MP Holly Lynch is listed as a current employee.
There is no suggestion Turley, McDougall or Lynch were involved in any events offering access to government employees.
Murphy was a Labour MP for 18 years and held ministerial jobs in the New Labour years, including as Europe minister and Scottish secretary.
He was shadow defence secretary and shadow international development secretary under Ed Miliband's leadership before briefly leading Scottish Labour and then losing his East Renfrewshire seat at the 2015 general election.
