Conservatives name regional appointments

The Tory Party has chosen its first three regional PR agencies and

one freelance consultant from a list of 20. This marks the Tories’ first

ever co-ordinated PR presence in the regions.

The party has hired Eastbourne-based Tim Cobb PR for the south-east,

Luton-based Barry Simmons PR for East Anglia and Somerset-based Ashley

Gray Associates for its south-western PR. Birmingham-based independent

PR consultant Graeme Aiken will handle the Midlands. Agencies are still

being sought for Wales and the north west.

The Party has retained its existing PR advisers for Yorkshire and the

north-east, Graham Robb PR. Its Scottish PR is handled by the Scottish

Conservative Party.

The selected agencies will handle all media inquiries in the regions and

promote the Tories’ new image as a modern political party. They will

report to newly promoted Conservative Central Office media director,

Gregor Mackay.

Tory Party campaigns unit head Alex Aiken, who was involved in the

selection process, said: ’This is a recognition of the vital importance

of the regional media and of the fact that there are local, Welsh

Assembly and European elections later this year.’