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The latest public affairs and politics news, opinion and features.
Got a story? Contact Ian Griggs on 020 8267 4893 or ian.griggs@haymarket.com.
News and news analysis
Exclusive: WA wins Sanofi government affairs brief
Public affairs specialist WA Communications has been chosen to handle government affairs in the UK for Sanofi Genzyme’s work on rare diseases, the agency announced today.
Newgate partner returns to in-house government relations in transport
George Robinson has left Newgate Communications, where he was an associate partner, to take up the role of head of UK government relations at travel platform Trainline.
‘Head boy or class clown?’: PA pros compare the Chancellor and Prime Minister’s approach to crisis comms
Before going into self-isolation late last week, Boris Johnson looked uncomfortable delivering anything other than good news during the daily press briefings, while Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been praised for a confident, empathetic style that seems to be cutting through.
Labour strategy chief Carl Shoben joins polling firm
Former senior Labour and NHS comms figure Carl Shoben has left his role as the party's director of strategy to join polling and research firm Survation to lead its strategic communications division.
Richard Edelman tells global staff: 'No job losses due to coronavirus'
Edelman has guaranteed to protect the jobs of his global agency's 6,000-strong workforce during the coronavirus outbreak, PRWeek has learned.
Exclusive: Luther Pendragon and Linstock form enhanced reputation management agency
Linstock has merged into Luther Pendragon to create a reputation management consultancy specialising in public affairs, crisis comms and behavioural science.
Downing Street calls in its election gurus to overhaul coronavirus comms
Isaac Levido, the Australian architect of the Conservative victory in the general election, has been drafted in by Downing Street, along with others, to enhance the Government’s coronavirus comms campaign, following repeated attacks by critics over mixed messaging.
Exclusive: Promotions as Hanover Health combines health and public affairs in London
Hanover Health has announced a new London Health Team, combining health comms and public affairs, under the leadership of senior directors Alex Davies and Emma Gorton.
Engine MHP wins corp and public affairs brief for major fintech account
Swedish ecommerce giant Klarna has appointed Engine MHP to provide corporate reputation, b2b, consumer and public affairs support in the UK.
Labour Party calls on PR agencies to donate work to help stem panic-buying
Party suggests agencies and advertisers share ideas 'freely and without copyright'.
‘Be honest about how bad it might get’: Alastair Campbell’s 20 crisis comms tips for the PM
Former No. 10 comms director Alastair Campbell has told Boris Johnson to resist the use of “smart-arse language” and express genuine sadness and regret at deaths in the UK from the coronavirus during his press conferences, as part of 20 crisis comms suggestions for the Prime Minister during the pandemic.
Michelle Giuda rejoins Weber Shandwick as EVP of geopolitical strategy, risk
Giuda worked at the State Department between stints at the IPG agency.
Downing Street comms chief calls truce with the media
Lee Cain, the prime minister’s director of communications, has called for a fresh start with journalists after weeks of tensions.
Specialist agency hires former council leader to lead northern expansion
The former leader of Trafford Council, Sean Anstee, has been appointed executive director for advisory, public affairs and PR at local government specialist Cratus Communications.
The comms and public affairs professionals on the 'Women in Westminster Top 100’ list
Women working in comms and public affairs are among the most inspirational and influential female figures in the corridors of power, according to a report released this week.
Exclusive: PRCA probe into Portland over possible breaches of lobbying code
The PRCA has criticised Portland after it emerged that the agency has not met the standards of the Public Affairs Board’s code and may have breached it on more than one occasion.
Havas Group acquires majority stake in Cicero
Global holding company Havas Group has acquired public affairs and corporate comms consultancy Cicero Group.
Opinion and features
Ignoring the result of the Labour leadership election is a mistake for public affairs professionals
It is difficult for opposition parties to get attention – from the media, from the public, from business – at the best of times; now, at the worst of times, Labour’s new leader could look less relevant than ever.
You’re not alone! Two survival guides to virtual pitching during the COVID-19 crisis
Anyone who takes part in client pitches is in new territory, now that social distancing and isolation measures are in place across the UK and beyond. So how can you do it virtually and still build chemistry?
Trust and authenticity are vital for comms and media during the pandemic
As much as the phrase ‘nothing has changed’ came to define the communications failure of Theresa May’s premiership, ‘everything has changed’ looms large over Boris Johnson’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
‘I will find it difficult’: an industry leader in his 80s discusses self-isolation
The new government regulations have meant that there's had to be a significant change in the way I, and many others, live and operate.
Coronavirus confusion: Pupils panic and teachers none the wiser after muddled message
Following the lead of Wales and Scotland, the Government finally issued the directive we all knew was coming, ordering schools to close from tomorrow (20 March). But that wasn't all.
Serious times demand governments with a serious tone: can the PM rise to this challenge?
This week the government scaled up its communications about the coronavirus crisis.
PRWeek UK Power Book 2020: Top 10 in political and public affairs comms
PRWeek's UK Power Book reveals the PR pros who lead the way in their respective areas. Today, we rank the big players in political and public affairs comms.
Plan, ask questions and switch focus: five good ways for comms professionals to work from home
At times of crisis, business leaders often turn to communications professionals to guide them.
Why pharma needs to be more LEGO to stay relevant
On a cold October morning last year, a Facebook post went viral around the office; it was a simple hand-held selfie video of an ecstatic and emotionally overwhelmed mum, Gemma, celebrating the deal that brought Orkambi to the NHS and to her daughter Ivy.
Coronavirus: It’s going to get worse for agencies before it gets better
Something that was initially considered to be a problem only in China and the Far East, COVID-19 has now spread to the rest of the world and it’s causing increasing concern, on both a public health and an economic level.
The problem with growth is that it’s a vicious circle
“I have a problem with growth.” Yes, lots of agency founders have said this before, but I don’t mean the problem you think.
Why Black Twitter matters for brands
Twitter is great and all, but have you ever heard of Black Twitter?
Lobbying must highlight its ‘purpose’ credentials to attract a new generation
Google ‘public affairs’ in the news and see what you get back. Now Google ‘lobbying’ in the news and compare the two.
The pharma sector must heed the NHS’s warning shot over patient group transparency
As the health sector seeks to navigate the competing interests of the industry, regulators, payors, patients and the groups that represent them, it must also balance these against the broader societal need to provide access to healthcare in the context of limited resources.
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Account Manager – Communications Consultancy – Salary £40K f1 Recruitment London (Central), London (Greater)
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Consultant / Senior Consultant – Corporate PR & Public Affairs JFL Search & Selection London (Central), London (Greater)
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Associate Director - public affairs/corporate reputation The Foundry - Original London (Central), London (Greater)
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Account Director - Energy The Foundry - Original London (Central), London (Greater)
Recent public/corporate affairs people moves
Movers & Shakers: WPP, M&C Saatchi, Edelman, WE, Gandhi and more
PRWeek's weekly roundup of industry hires, departures and promotions.
Movers & Shakers: MSL, Manifest, The Romans, Hanover Health, and BIT
PRWeek's weekly roundup of industry hires, departures and promotions.
Movers & Shakers: Weber, Ketchum, Brunswick, Teamspirit, Milk & Honey, Ranieri and more
PRWeek's weekly roundup of industry hires, departures and promotions.
Greenhouse PR appoints BCW's Jo Swift as MD
Specialist 'green agency' Greenhouse PR has hired BCW board director and chief integration officer Jo Swift to take up the new role of managing director.
Movers & Shakers: Edelman, PwC, Avenir Global, Weber Shandwick, Brands2Life, WE and more
PRWeek's weekly roundup of industry hires, departures and promotions.
Edelman’s global digital chair exits
Thomas Crampton, the global digital chair of Edelman who joined just over a year ago, will leave the consultancy at the end of the month.