Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying

PR Week UK, Friday, 07 November 2008, 12:00am,

The Audit Commission is considering hiring its first public affairs support. The body, which regulates the proper control of public finances by local authorities and the NHS, recently appointed ex-Guardian journalist David Walker as MD of communications. 'We're now considering our options,' said Audit Commission head of media Elly Button.

Portland PR is setting up a 'Responsibility Unit'. Agency boss Tim Allan said the unit would work with 'companies that have powerful stories to tell on the environment or social responsibility'. It will be launched on 11 December by shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth and chef Arthur Potts Dawson.

Bell Pottinger Public Affairs has produced what it describes as 'an indispensable analysis of the modern Conservative Party under David Cameron'. The agency is charging non-clients £200 plus VAT for the work, entitled Cameron's Conservatives.

APPC chair Robbie Macduff was set to debate with blogger Guido Fawkes and Guardian journalist David Hencke as PRWeek went to press. The debate organised by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency was due to take place on 5 November in the House of Commons.