The broadcaster has pulled its six-figure public affairs account out of Portland, which is headed by Tony Blair’s former deputy director of comms Tim Allan. It has turned instead to Hanover Communications, led by John Major’s former press secretary Charles Lewington.
The agency fought off five rival firms for the business.
One senior agency source suggested Hanover had triumphed because it had stronger Conservative credentials. ‘It seems indicative of the way the political wind is blowing,’ said the source.
Portland recently lost arguably its best-connected Tory consultant James Bethell.
