Good Week/Bad Week
Good Week
Tory Poll rating
Guido notes that the Government’s turmoil only grows with latest polls placing Labour on 23%; whilst the Tories climb higher on 47%...
“The latest polls have Labour at the lowest ever recorded since polling began in 1943. And Gordon Brown is the most unpopular PM in history, he is polling worse than even Neil Kinnock or Michael Foot! How must it feel to be the most hated Prime Minister of all time?”.
Direct Democracy
Adam Boulton comments on a story in PR Week which claims that the PM has taken to cold calling members of the public to shore-up support…
“Downing Street is dismissing as "garbage" a story in PR Week which claims that the Prime Minister has taken to "cold-calling" voters who have written him a letter or an email. According to the magazine, the idea is the brainchild of Downing Street strategy chief Stephen Carter, who selects a letter or email at random for the PM to respond to.”
“PR Week alleges the first call almost back-fired spectacularly when Mr. Brown, always an early riser, called a hapless voter at 6 o'clock in the morning. Fortunately, the recipient was a shift-worker.”
Bad Week
Labour Party finances
Guido comments on the perilous state of Labour Party finances…
“David Hencke has a round-up this morning of the debts coming due for the Labour Party taken from the Electoral Commission's updated records released yesterday. He also reveals that NEC members threatened to resign unless they were indemnified for their potential liabilities. City lawyers Slaughter & May have warned that NEC members could be jointly and several liable for the debts. That means Gordon Brown himself could be held legally liable for £24 million of party debt...
“The Co-operative Bank is calling in £2.61m in loans, Unity Trust Bank owned by the Co-op and the unions has a further £1.54 m due at the same time. In total £7.45m is due next month. Money that Labour simply does not have.”
Meanwhile Labour Home notes that Party members could keep the bailiff’s away from
39 Victoria Street…“Embattled Labour Party leader Gordon Brown today invited members to underwrite the Party's debts according to their means and pledged a major overhaul to re-establish a mass-membership organisation reaching out to every community in Britain to promote Labour values.”
..................................................................Connect has won the prestigious PR Week Award for Best Public Affairs Campaign.
The team was handed the prize by TV's Dara O'Briain at a glittering ceremony in London's Grovesnor House Hotel on 24th October 2007.
It was awarded for their work with the Campaign for Local Policing, a coalition of police authorities, which was successful in stopping the Government's proposed mergers of police forces throughout England and Wales.
Jan Hilary, PR manager at City of Durham Council, highlighted the campaign as 'a massive result - very powerful media and lobby tactics. Excellent.'
Speaking after the ceremony, Connect's Managing Director, Gill Morris, said, 'This is a fantastic achievement. Connect is driven by its success, and the most important thing is to get results. To be recognised for this by the entire communications industry is the icing on the cake.'
To find out more about how Connect can help your campaign, call 020 7222 3533, or email info@connectpa.co.uk
21 December 2007
Connect enjoys bumper year
Connect Public Affairs has enjoyed its best ever year in 2007, surpassing previous yearsí profits and income.
Connectís success was due to its continued growth in the local government and regeneration sectors, as well as securing major pharmaceutical clients such as Macopharma.
Managing Director Gill Morris said, ìLast year we beat all records, and Iím proud to announce that weíve done so again this year. Our work in regeneration and local government, together with a whole host of other sectors, mean that we are now the first port of call for anyone wanting one stop political communications.î
5 September 2007
Connect strengthens team
Connect has added to its already strong team with the appointment of Ian Geary as Account Manager this week. Ian joins from Green Issues Communications, and will play a leading role in some of the firmís key accounts, including the trade union UNISON and the National Association of Local Councils.
Ian brings over 10 years of political communications experience, having started his career at the Westminster office of Bruce George MP, the then chair of the Defence Select Committee. He went on to work for the trade union Amicus, lobbying the Government on issues such as employment and pensions, before joining Green Issues.
Gill Morris, Managing Director said:
ìI am delighted to welcome Ian to the Connect team. Last year was Connectís best ever, and with Ian on board, I am confident that we can go on to even greater success.î
