FRONT PAGE: Jittery Labour advisers turning to headhunters

Matt Cartmell 24-Apr-08

Hordes of senior Labour special advisers are said to be passing their CVs to headhunters and recruitment consultants amid concern that their stock is falling.

With Gordon Brown's poll ratings plummeting, many Labour aides are now understood to be enquiring about roles at PR consultancies and large companies. A September cabinet reshuffle is also on the cards.

JFL Recruitment managing director Ros Kindersley said: ‘The political climate is changing, and whenever there's a change in the political climate we get enquiries. More people are open to moving. It's been across the board, including people in the top ranks.'

A top target for a PR age­ncy or FTSE 100 company is the hugely respected Downing Street adviser on business Geoffrey Norris.

Alan Johnson's special adviser Mario Dunne is also said to be in demand, as is Des Brown's special a­dviser and former Number 10 dir­ector of political operations John McTernan.

John Hutton's special adv­isers John Williams and John Woodcock are also being eyed by PR consultancies.

While the stock of Lab­our special advisers is in peril, Tories are gaining value.

‘Private sector clients are now more interested in talking to candidates with Conservative interests than they have been,' said Kindersley.

Bell Pottinger Public Aff­airs chairman Peter Bingle said: ‘The irony is that as Lab­our advisers enter the market, people like me are looking for good Conservative advisers.'

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