Lobbyist Sir Alan Parker has been trying to influence the decision to allow the hostile takeover of AstraZeneca by US giant Pfizer A lobbyist friend of David Cameron is at the heart of the hostile bid by American drugs giant Pfizer to take over British rival AstraZeneca, it emerged yesterday. Sir Alan Parker, who once holidayed with Mr Cameron and received a knighthood in the New Year honours list, is spearheading the UK lobbying operation for Pfizer’s controversial £63 billion bid. Mr Cameron has been accused of ‘cheerleading’ for the bid, despite concerns about the impact on British jobs and science.
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US drugs giant has made a £60billion+ bid for UK's AstraZeneca
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Ministers insist they are pushing in 'hard-nosed way' to protect jobs
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Lobbyist received a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List
‘@placeholder’s past acquisitions of major pharmaceutical companies have led to a substantial reduction in research and development activity, which we are concerned could be replicated in this instance,’ Sir William said.