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.’
