Bell Pottinger Public Affairs

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Bell Pottinger Public Affairs (BPPA) is one of the largest public relations companies in the United Kingdom.

"BPPA is one of fourteen companies operating within the public relations division of Chime Communications plc," it states on its website. The Public relations division is named Bell Pottinger Communications.

Its stated aim is to "work closely with clients to ensure that their case hits home with the people who matter most... We make sure that our clients know the politics, policies, people and process that drive decisions. We advise our clients on what to say, how to say to it, who to and when." [1]

Opposing transparency

BPPA is the largest of the lobbying firms refusing to disclose its client list. Giving evidence to MPs conducting the Parliamentary inquiry [2] into lobbying in March 2008, Peter Bingle, MD of BPPA, said "The public has no right to know who our clients are." [3] Bingle also voiced his resistance to closer scrutiny of the industry in an opinion piece in ''PR Week'' in September 2007. When the inquiry was announced, he wrote: “There is no point rehearsing in public the view that we welcome the inquiry. We don’t. I have yet to meet a member of the industry who does… The real issue is that the industry needs a public voice with the ability to make a convincing case and to disarm the doubters… Now is not the time for faint hearts.” [4]

Getting to know government

In early 2007, BPPA produced the Brown Book, essential, at around £5000, for “anyone with an interest in the interplay between politics and business”. It includes a 40 page chapter on “who to know” in Gordon Brown’s government. [5] The Independent on Sunday reported it had seen an email from a leading lobbyist bragging how it is cashing in on its "unrivalled expertise and links to the Brown camp". [6]

In September 2006, PR Week reported that "senior politicians including two Cabinet members pulled out of evening receptions organised by Bell Pottinger Public Affairs at the Labour conference this week ... following revelations that the firm was charging clients fixed fees to meet them." MD of BPPA, Peter Bingle admitted: “They didn't want to be linked to the idea of cash for access”. An email leaked to The Times indicated that clients would be charged some £5,000 for the opportunity to meet with Lord Falconer, Stephen Timms, Richard Caborn and Kevin Barron MP. [7]

History

In March 2004 BPPA won a $5.8m (£3.2m) four-month contract from the U.S. supported administration in Iraq to promote the establishment of democracy ahead of the handover of power to the interim Iraqi authority on 30 June. According to PR Week, the contract also includes promoting the election of an Iraqi government.

"B-PC will work with its Dubai operation Bates PanGulf, and Baghdad-based media services company Balloch & Roe. A small team will be sent to work with Balloch & Roe's Arabic writers who will advise on how best to cross the cultural divide," PR Week reported.

The project team, PR Week reports will be headed by Mark Turnbull and the head of BPPA's Dubai office Tom Mollo. The Independent (UK) reported that company founder Tim Bell described his role as "masterminding the campaign in London". [1]

Clients

Clients include

Staff

Contact information

Bell Pottinger Public Affairs
6th Floor, Holborn Gate
330 High Holborn
London WC1V 7QC
Phone 020 7861 2400
Fax: 020 7861 2401
http://www.bppa.co.uk/index.html

Resources

See David Hill

References

  1. Bell Pottinger Public Affairs website
  2. Public Administration Select Committee inquiry into lobbying 2007-08.
  3. Tamasin Cave, "The public has no right to know", Spinwatch, 18 March 2008.
  4. Peter Bingle, "Now is the time to pull together and salvage our reputation", PR Week, 06 September 2007.
  5. Bell Pottinger Public Affairs, Brown Book
  6. Francis Elliott, Independent on Sunday, "Revealed: How £5,000 buys the secrets of Brown's dream team", 18 February 2007.
  7. Ravi Chandiramani, "BPPA under fire over 'cash for access'," PR Week UK (sub req'd), 28 Sep 2006.

External links