Westbourne Communications

This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

Westbourne Communications is a lobbying firm co-founded and run by James Bethell, the 5th Baron Bethell. It describes itself as a "small specialist agency that offers clients a fresh approach", placing strong emphasis on the need to change public opinion as a way of influencing decision-makers.

The traditional ways of conducting your communications are growing out of date. The economics of digital media have broken old monopolies on information. Scandals created suspicion about back-room decisions. Consumers expect choices.

At Westbourne, we believe that decision-makers will be influenced less by secretive lobbying and more by changing opinion about your issues. Headlines and contacts are important but, increasingly, not enough. Nowadays it might be just as important to mobilise public supporters. Or else giving a voice to relevant specialist groups – experts, officials, professionals, locals, parents.

That’s why you need a new combination of skills. Researching opinion. Presenting your case. Adapting to feedback. Direct communications, often over the internet. Mobilising support. Rebutting opposition.

Westbourne Comms, London, 17 Carlton House Terrace - on the same road as the Royal Academy of Engineering

People

• James Bethell - founder
• Luke Johnson - chairman since June 2015
• Simon Barrow - 'people director' since September 2012.
• Maurice Cousins
• Lucy James
• Jennifer Powers
• Duncan Sedgewick - energy practice chair, joined in 2012
• Jacqui Smith, chair of public affairs practice, former Labour minister, joined 2015
• Campbell Storey
• Ashish Prashar - head of communications from 1 July 2013, previously head of media relations at Ipsos MORI

December 2014-February 2015

James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Tom Conroy | Maurice Cousins | Tom Evans | James Garland | Ben Garratt | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Jack Lewis | Alex Linden | Rebecca Lury | Paul Mills | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Jacqui Smith | Doniya Soni | Campbell Storey | Christiaan Weiland | James Wickett Whyte | Amy Yiannitsarou

September 2014-November 2014

Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Tom Conroy | Maurice Cousins | Tom Evans | James Garland | Ben Garratt | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Rebecca Lury | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Doniya Soni | Campbell Storey | Alex White | James Wicket Whyte | Amy Yiannitsarou

June 2014-August 2014

Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Tom Conroy | Maurice Cousins | Tom Evans | James Garland | Ben Garratt | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Rebecca Lury | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Campbell Storey | Alex White | James Wicket Whyte | Amy Yiannitsarou

March 2014-May 2014

Ben Abbotts | Joseph Ampah | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clark | Maurice Cousins | Mark Evans | Helena Frisby | Ben Garratt | Hannah Hatt | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Rebecca Lury | Richard Martyn Hemphill | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Campbell Storey | Portia Swales | James Wicket Whyte | Chloe Williams Wynne | Amy Yiannitsarou

December 2013-February 2014

Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clark | Maurice Cousins | Mark Evans | Helena Frisby | Ben Garratt | Dominic Haldane | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Annabel Roycroft | Duncan Sedgwick | Campbell Storey | Portia Swales | Mark Thompson | James Wicket Whyte | Danny Wilkinson | Amy Yiannitsarou

September 2013-November 2013

Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Nicola Minford | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Adrian Shooter | Campbell Storey | Portia Swales

June 2013-August 2013

Portia Swales | Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | Maurice Cousins | Milly Doolan | Emily Hamilton | Lucy James | Dan Large | Alex Linden | Duncan Menzies | Nichola Minford | Jenniifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Adrian Shooter | Campbell Storey

March 2013-May 2013

Portia Swales | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | Maurice Cousins | Milly Doolan | Emily Hamilton | Lucy James | Dan Large | Alex Linden | Duncan Menzies | Nichola Minford | Jenniifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Thomas Ricketts | Duncan Sedgwick | Adrian Shooter | Campbell Storey

December 2012-February 2013

Portia Swales | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | Maurice Cousins | Milly Doolan | Emily Hamilton | Lucy James | Dan Large | Alex Linden | Duncan Menzies | Nichola Minford | Jenniifer Powers | Thomas Ricketts | Duncan Sedgwick | Adrian Shooter | Campbell Storey

Infrastructure practice

• Adrian Shooter, former chairman of Chiltern Railways, was made chairman of the practice in May 2012
• Paul Chapman, former MD of High Speed 1, was also made associate partner in May 2012

Former staff

• James Frayne was a partner at Westbourne until he left to join the Department for Education as Director of Communications in March 2011
• James Wickett-Whyte, worked on the Yes to High Speed Rail campaign, no longer listed as Westbourne staff on the APPC register as of April 2013, now a consultant at Curtin & Co on the community consultation team
• Harry Spencer - was an intern and researcher at Westbourne, is now an account executive at Edelman
• Emily Hamilton - head of press from April 2011 – July 2013. Now corporate communications manager at Bupa, held since August 2013.
• Nicola Minford- worked as account executive and senior account executive between April 2012 and November 2013 - worked on the Campaign for High Speed Rail and Siemens accounts. Is now. Is now Public Affairs Officer at Thames Tideway Tunnel, November 2013-present.
• Thomas Ricketts - former senior account executive from February 2012 to August 2013. Then appointed government affairs adviser and now media relations adviser at the British Bankers Association.
• Duncan Menzies
• Portia Swales - Associate Development Director between December 2012 and April 2014.
• Dan Large - Campaign director for the Campaign for High-Speed Rail between May 2011 and January 2012. He was formerly top aide to Conservative MP Edward Timpson MP, first working with him on his high-profile Crewe & Nantwich by-election victory in 2008. Then held roles as campaign director of Freedom To Marry UK (October 2012 – February 2013) and senior associate of Crest Advisory (June 2012 – January 2014). Is currently director of By&Large Campaign Strategy, August 2010 – Present.
• Milly Doolan - Account manager, March 2013 was formerly business development manager since June 2012.

Clients

December 2014-February 2015

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | ComplyServe | Cuadrilla Bowland | G Plus Europe | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | Uber

September 2014-November 2014

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Crest Nicholson | Cuadrilla Bowland | G Plus Europe | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | Manchester City Council | Marsh Insurance | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | The Wolfson Prize | Uber | UKOOG

June 2014-August 2014

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Crest Nicholson | Cuadrilla Bowland | ERSA | G Plus Europe | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | IBI Group | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | Manchester City Council | Marsh Insurance | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | The Wolfson Prize | Uber | UKOOG

March 2014-May 2014

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Crest Nicholson | Cuadrilla Bowland | ERSA | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | IBI Group | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | Marketing Birmingham | The Freight Alliance | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | The Wolfson Prize | Uber |

December 2013-February 2014

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Crest Nicholson | Cuadrilla Bowland | ERSA | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Marketing Birmingham | The Dearman Engine Company | The Freight Alliance | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | The Wolfson Prize | Utilita

September 2013-November 2013

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | The Dearman Engine Company | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | Utilita

June 2013-August 2013

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Siemens | The Dearman Engine Company | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd

March 2013-May 2013

All Party Parliamentary Group on High Speed Rail | Birmingham Airport | Campaign for High Speed Rail | GB Railfreight | Healthlogistics | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Shelter | Siemens | The Dearman Engine Company

December 2012-February 2013

APPG for High Speed Rail | Birmingham Airport | Campaign for High Speed Rail | Core Cities | Euston Estate Limited | GB Railfreight | Healthlogistics | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Siemens | The Society of Chief Librarians

March - May 2012

• 50p Tax Campaign | Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy | Atkins Global | Birmingham Airport | Birmingham City Council | Campaign for High Speed Rail | Cheviot Asset Management Limited | Electralink Limited | First Group PLC | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Policy Exchange - (The Wolfson Economics Prize) | Railway Industry Association | Siemens PLC | Stagecoach Group | Sydney & London Properties Ltd | Systra UK

Former clients

Westbourne's website displays the following companies' logos on its 'about Westbourne' page:

• New Schools Network
• Private Equity Foundation
• Ministry of Sound nightclub - Westbourne founder James Bethell was previously MD of the club
• TheCityUK
• Bain Capital
• Sino-Bridge
• Abellio
• Stagecoach Group
• Network Rail
• Deloitte
• Yingli Solar
• Cheviot Asset Management

Astroturfing

Fracking

This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

Westbourne have been forced to deny they set up an 'astroturf' group in favour of fracking, to benefit their clients - Centrica and Cuadrilla. In June 2015, press releases, featured in the mainstream media, showed eight students holding a banner saying 'Students for Shale' on the steps of Lancashire Country Council, in anticipation of the councils' up and coming debate on whether to allow fracking in the area.

Journalists Solomon Hughes and Lamiat Sabin in the Morning Star claim the pro-shale students have vested interests in fracking as they are studying geology and hoping to get jobs in the industry - including one student who attends Blackpool and Fylde College, which was designated as the national training centre for the onshore gas sector in 2014. Centrica and Cuadrilla have 'supported' the college and also fund the North West Energy Task Force led by Westbourne.

Westbourne account director, Maurice Cousins, denied deliberately using Lancashire geology students to coerce positive public opinion of fracking. He said 'We are in no way misrepresenting how students regard fracking. I do not understand what the issue is. We are transparent and not misleading. The students are within their rights to their opinions.' The Morning Star contacted Blackpool and Fylde College and soon after Cousins demanded they only got information from him. Cousins also accused the newspaper of 'harassing' students and said they were 'students, not activists'.

Transport

In a report for Spinwatch by journalist Anna Minton, Westbourne were accused of astroturfing to spin a campaign for high-speed rail to intimidate local opposition, or in the words of Westbourne managing director James Bethell, 'shit them up'.

Affiliations

• Nothing British - Westbourne's founder Bethell set up this campaign against the BNP, drawing upon support from powerful British military figures
• Doctors for Reform - launched this campaign which represented 1000 medical practitioners backing government plans to overhaul the NHS and which was supported by Reform, the free-market thinktank that has received funding from private healthcare companies.

Contact, Resources and Notes

Westbourne Comms Company was incorporated as a private limited company (No. 06936185) on 17 June 2009. Its registered address is 17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH. Founder James Bethell is the sole company director.

Contact

Address:17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH

Email:jennifer.powers@westbournecoms.com

Website: www.changeopinion.com

Previously:

55 Tufton Street

London SW1P 3QL

Tel: 02033970100

Email: campbell.storey@westbournecoms.com

Resources

See: Fracking lobbying firms

See: Fracking Spads

• Melissa Jones and Andy Rowell, Access all areas: Westminster's (vast) fracking lobby exposed, 29 April 2015.
• Jamie Doward, High-speed rail opponents 'portrayed as posh nimbys' by Tory peer's lobbying firm: PR agency accused of scare tactics and invoking the class divide in a 'coldly calculated' campaign to push coalition's case for HS2 network The Observer (England), April 7, 2013, OBSERVER HOME NEWS PAGES; Pg. 3, 957 words.
• Anna Minton, New report: Scaring the living daylights out of people, Spinwatch, 27 March 2013.
• Anna Minton Anna Minton on Westbourne's response to Spinwatch local lobbying and planning abuses report, Spinwatch, 08 April 2013.