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	<id>https://powerbase.info/api.php?action=feedcontributions&amp;feedformat=atom&amp;user=Kyle+McCallum</id>
	<title>Powerbase - User contributions [en]</title>
	<link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://powerbase.info/api.php?action=feedcontributions&amp;feedformat=atom&amp;user=Kyle+McCallum"/>
	<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php/Special:Contributions/Kyle_McCallum"/>
	<updated>2026-05-29T16:58:14Z</updated>
	<subtitle>User contributions</subtitle>
	<generator>MediaWiki 1.35.14</generator>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Philip_J._Spencer&amp;diff=133636</id>
		<title>Philip J. Spencer</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Philip_J._Spencer&amp;diff=133636"/>
		<updated>2010-10-04T16:46:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: Redirect&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;#REDIRECT [[Philip Spencer]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Cadbury_Schweppes_plc&amp;diff=128916</id>
		<title>Cadbury Schweppes plc</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Cadbury_Schweppes_plc&amp;diff=128916"/>
		<updated>2010-08-25T15:48:01Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Affiliations */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;==People==&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Roger Carr]] Chairman of Cadbury. Carr is also Chairman of energy company [[Centrica]] and is a Non-Executive Director to the Court of the [[Bank of England]]. Previously he was Chairman of [[Mitchells and Butlers]] plc (until June 2008)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Centrica [http://www.centrica.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=49 Management] Accessed 26th August 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. Carr is also a senior adviser to [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts &amp;amp; Co Ltd]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Centrica [http://www.centrica.co.uk/files/reports/2007ar/files/2007_annual_report.pdf Annual report 2007] Accessed 26th August 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliations==&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Social Issues Research Centre]], funder&lt;br /&gt;
*[[British Council]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Enviros]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[British Nutrition Foundation]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Food and Drink Federation]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mediasmart]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[International Chamber of Commerce]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Industry and Parliament Trust]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Forum for the Future]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Spiked]], partner/sponsor &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/about/article/340/ Spiked Partners and Sponsors], Spiked website, accessed 25 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
===PR and Lobbying agencies===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[GPC International]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fleishman-Hillard]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ergo Communications]]/[[Global Consulting Group]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadbury_Schweppes Cadbury Schweppes]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Food and Agriculture Industry]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=128657</id>
		<title>Spiked</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=128657"/>
		<updated>2010-08-24T11:52:06Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: Language: US English to Int. English&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Spiked''' is part of the libertarian anti-environmental [[LM network]]. It is an online magazine currently edited by [[Brendan O'Neill]] and previously by ''Times'' columnist [[Mick Hume]]. Spiked is a private company limited by shares with seven staff and an annual turnover of about £175,000.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House,Spiked Ltd. Financial Statement 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Its directors are [[Helene Guldberg]] (company secretary and managing editor, previously co-publisher of [[LM]]) and [[Frank Furedi]].  The great majority of the shares in the company Spiked Ltd, which has the same address as that of Spiked magazine and which runs Spiked magazine, are held by Frank Furedi and [[Jennie Bristow]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/326/ Support Spiked], Spiked, acc 29 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to Alexa, the web information company, Spiked is the 12,013th most popular website in the UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/spiked-online.com# spiked-online.com]&amp;quot;, Alexa website, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked was launched in 2000 after the magazine Hume edited, LM, was terminated after unsuccessfully defending a libel lawsuit. Helene Guldberg's co-publisher, [[Claire Fox]], launched Spiked's sister organisation, the [[Institute of Ideas]] (IoI) around the same time. The staff and many of Spiked's contributors are members of the same network of [[Living Marxism]]/[[Revolutionary Communist Party]] supporters.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thus very many of the personnel of other entities associated with the LM network have written for Spiked. Spiked has promoted the events and publications of the [[Institute of Ideas]] and its projects, the [[Battle of Ideas]] and [[Culture Wars]]. Many of Spiked's writers write for and appear at the events of these entities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has featured a number of pro-GM articles by [[Vivian Moses]] of [[CropGen]] and [[Thomas Deichmann]], the person at the centre of the ITN/LM libel case. Spiked has also published a number of articles downplaying the hazards of pesticide residues in food which suggest that there is nothing to worry about. It has also published articles attacking organic food by [[Dennis Avery]] and [[Alex Avery]] of the [[Hudson Institute]] and [[Center for Global Food Issues]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alex Avery and Dennis Avery, [http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/00000002D21D.htm Unearthing the truth about organic food], Spiked, 5 Sept 2001, acc 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on the environment==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has also run a series of online debates about the environment sponsored by the [[Natural Environment Research Council]] (NERC), a UK public funding body whose mission is to support independent scientific research in the environmental sciences. One of the series was a debate on GM called &amp;quot;The future of GM&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. It features the opinions of &amp;quot;five experts&amp;quot; ([[Les Firbank]], [[Tony Gilland]], [[Robin Grove-White]], [[Gregory Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]]) together with three &amp;quot;Commissioned responses&amp;quot; from other &amp;quot;experts&amp;quot; ([[Alan Gray]], [[John Conroy]], and the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]]). Of these eight experts only one has been known to take a critical attitude towards the technology, and it would seem incompatible with NERC's aim to obtain &amp;quot;independent&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;impartial&amp;quot; input.   However, when the history of those behind Spiked was brought to NERC's attention, Marion O'Sullivan, the Press Officer, replied that: &lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;NERC is satisfied that '''there is no evidence''' suggesting that, on environmental matters, Spiked have any particular agenda.&amp;quot; (emphasis added)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marion O'Sullivan in an email to GMWatch, September 2002, archived [http://ngin.tripod.com/180902a.htm here]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In fact, those involved in Spiked are pro-GM and ignore or attack environmental concerns in almost any form. Two of the contributors to this debate on GM ([[John Conroy]], [[Tony Gilland]]) are part of a group which includes Spiked, but their affiliation with the organisation was not made public. Gilland's contribution, &amp;quot;Let the Sowing Begin&amp;quot;, argued that: &lt;br /&gt;
:The [GM] farm-scale trials are an unnecessary obstacle to the introduction of this beneficial technology.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Tony Gillan, [http://web.archive.org/web/20040519215214/www.spiked-online.com/articles/00000006D9FF.htm Let the sowing begin], Spiked, 16 Sep 02, version placed in web archive 2004, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The other experts commissioned by Spiked included the biotech industry lobby group, the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] (ABC), and the pro-GM lobbyists [[Greg Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]], who have also previously written for Spiked.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A 2010 Spiked debate on After Copenhagen commenced with a manifesto from Spiked editor Brendan O’Neill, followed by contributions from Spiked staffers Brendan O’Neill, Rob Lyons and Nathalie Rothschild, LM associates [[Frank Furedi]] and [[Philip Hammond]] and critics of environmentalism [[Dominic Lawson]], [[Mike Hulme]], [[Ben Pile]], [[Tim Ridley]] and [[Peter Taylor]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/debates/copenhagen_homeAfter Copenhagen]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 10 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Contributions to the 2009 Spiked ‘debate’ on online poker comprised four from sponsor Poker Junkie and one each from a pro-poker society, a poker player and an anti-regulation Spiked intern.  Four readers commented. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members of the LM network are among those who post comments on Spiked &amp;quot;debates&amp;quot;, and these invariably support the party line but without revealing their affiliation. The same goes for other articles published by Spiked, many of which are penned by members of the LM network.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on mobile phones==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
BT subsidiary O2 sponsored five Spiked Debates on mobile phones during 2005, 2006 and 2007&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/onlinedebates/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 7 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; while another was sponsored by Orange.  The Mobile Operators Association is also on record as having funded Spiked. The debates explored public concerns about the perceived effects of mobile phones on health, child protection and the environment. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Campaigns 2010==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked campaigns in 2010 included:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ All Spiked Issues], Spiked, accessed 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* Challenging China-bashing&lt;br /&gt;
* Drink and drugs&lt;br /&gt;
* Environment&lt;br /&gt;
* For Europe, Against the EU&lt;br /&gt;
* Genetics&lt;br /&gt;
* GM food&lt;br /&gt;
* Hands off the human footprint - Climate Change&lt;br /&gt;
* Mad cow panic and BSE&lt;br /&gt;
* Open the Borders - Anti-immigration control&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Seminars==&lt;br /&gt;
Besides its website, Spiked also organises seminars which draw well-known figures to events carefully designed to promote its own agenda. In March 2003, Spiked co-sponsored with [[International Policy Network]] (IPN) a seminar held at the London headquarters of PR firm Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton entitled: &amp;quot;'GM food: should labeling be mandatory?&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This seminar, in common with other Spiked seminars, was held at [[Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton]], an influential public relations company.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Principals==&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mick Hume]] &amp;amp;ndash; founder and editor-at-large&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Brendan O'Neill]] &amp;amp;ndash; editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] &amp;amp;ndash; managing editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Lyons]] &amp;amp;ndash; deputy editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Nathalie Rothschild]] &amp;amp;ndash; commissioning editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tim Black]] &amp;amp;ndash; senior writer&lt;br /&gt;
===Contributors===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tracey Brown]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Greg Conko]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Conroy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Fox]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Thomas Deichmann]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Bill Durodie]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michael Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tony Gilland]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Gillott]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Luik]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Vivian Moses]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Channapatna S. Prakash]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellen Raphael]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christopher Snowdon]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Juliet Tizzard]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
In October 2009, Spiked appealed to its readers for funds to help it keep going.  Spiked state&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/340 Spiked partners and sponsors]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 3 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; that current and former partners and sponsors include: &lt;br /&gt;
* Arts Council England&lt;br /&gt;
* Bloomberg &lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Association for the Advancement of Science]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[BT]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Cadbury Schweppes]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Cambridge University Press&lt;br /&gt;
* Cheltenham Science Festival&lt;br /&gt;
* Colubris Networks&lt;br /&gt;
* City of London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Clarke Mulder Purdie]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Continuum International Publishing Group&lt;br /&gt;
* Dana Centre&lt;br /&gt;
* European Commission research project RightsWatch&lt;br /&gt;
* [[EuroScience]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Hill and Knowlton]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[IBM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[INFORM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute for the International Education of Students&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute of Psychiatry&lt;br /&gt;
* [[International Policy Network]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Luther Pendragon]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Medical Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Mobile Operators Association]]&lt;br /&gt;
* National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Natural Environment Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Orange]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[O2]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Pfizer]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Royal Institution]] of Great Britain&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Social Issues Research Centre]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Society of Chemical Industry]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Tech Central Station]]&lt;br /&gt;
* University of East London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Wellcome Trust]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Officers and shareholders of Spiked Ltd==&lt;br /&gt;
According to Spiked Ltd's Annual Return 2010:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Officers===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]] - company director&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] - company director and company secretary&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Shareholders===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ben Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Geraldine Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Belt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Colin Berry]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Best]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jennie Bristow]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Cassidy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Cleary]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dave Clements]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ceri Dingle]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dieter Hamblock]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Stuart Hibbin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ged Hession]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Holbrook]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ashley Johnstone]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Joe Kaplinsky]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Killick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Knight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rose Landthaller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michele Ledda]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellie Lee]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith McCabe]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jonathan Meads]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Alan Miller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Matt Ridley]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Reeves]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Hilary Salt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Marco Santucci]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helen Searls]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Sowerby]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith Teare]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mark Tyson]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Wight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[James Woudhuysen]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources, references and contact==&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked, [http://spinprofiles.org/images/7/7a/BrandManagersPack.pdf Brand Managers Pack]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:Website: [http://www.spiked.org/ www.spiked.org]  (Accessed 21 August 2007)&lt;br /&gt;
:Address: spiked, Signet House, 49-51 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3JP &lt;br /&gt;
:Tel: +44 (0)207 40 40 470&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: general-enquiries@spiked-online.com&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:LM network]][[Category:GM]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=128656</id>
		<title>Spiked</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=128656"/>
		<updated>2010-08-24T11:47:46Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Contributors */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Spiked''' is part of the libertarian anti-environmental [[LM network]]. It is an online magazine currently edited by [[Brendan O'Neill]] and previously by ''Times'' columnist [[Mick Hume]]. Spiked is a private company limited by shares with seven staff and an annual turnover of about £175,000.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House,Spiked Ltd. Financial Statement 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Its directors are [[Helene Guldberg]] (company secretary and managing editor, previously co-publisher of [[LM]]) and [[Frank Furedi]].  The great majority of the shares in the company Spiked Ltd, which has the same address as that of Spiked magazine and which runs Spiked magazine, are held by Frank Furedi and [[Jennie Bristow]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/326/ Support Spiked], Spiked, acc 29 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to Alexa, the web information company, Spiked is the 12,013th most popular website in the UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/spiked-online.com# spiked-online.com]&amp;quot;, Alexa website, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked was launched in 2000 after the magazine Hume edited, LM, was terminated after unsuccessfully defending a libel lawsuit. Helene Guldberg's co-publisher, [[Claire Fox]], launched Spiked's sister organisation, the [[Institute of Ideas]] (IoI) around the same time. The staff and many of Spiked's contributors are members of the same network of [[Living Marxism]]/[[Revolutionary Communist Party]] supporters.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thus very many of the personnel of other entities associated with the LM network have written for Spiked. Spiked has promoted the events and publications of the [[Institute of Ideas]] and its projects, the [[Battle of Ideas]] and [[Culture Wars]]. Many of Spiked's writers write for and appear at the events of these entities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has featured a number of pro-GM articles by [[Vivian Moses]] of [[CropGen]] and [[Thomas Deichmann]], the person at the center of the ITN/LM libel case. Spiked has also published a number of articles downplaying the hazards of pesticide residues in food which suggest that there is nothing to worry about.  It has also published articles attacking organic food by [[Dennis Avery]] and [[Alex Avery]] of the [[Hudson Institute]] and [[Center for Global Food Issues]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alex Avery and Dennis Avery, [http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/00000002D21D.htm Unearthing the truth about organic food], Spiked, 5 Sept 2001, acc 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on the environment==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has also run a series of online debates about the environment sponsored by the [[Natural Environment Research Council]] (NERC), a UK public funding body whose mission is to support independent scientific research in the environmental sciences. One of the series was a debate on GM called &amp;quot;The future of GM&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. It features the opinions of &amp;quot;five experts&amp;quot; ([[Les Firbank]], [[Tony Gilland]], [[Robin Grove-White]], [[Gregory Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]]) together with three &amp;quot;Commissioned responses&amp;quot; from other &amp;quot;experts&amp;quot; ([[Alan Gray]], [[John Conroy]], and the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]]). Of these eight experts only one has been known to take a critical attitude towards the technology, and it would seem incompatible with NERC's aim to obtain &amp;quot;independent&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;impartial&amp;quot; input.   However, when the history of those behind Spiked was brought to NERC's attention, Marion O'Sullivan, the Press Officer, replied that: &lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;NERC is satisfied that '''there is no evidence''' suggesting that, on environmental matters, Spiked have any particular agenda.&amp;quot; (emphasis added)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marion O'Sullivan in an email to GMWatch, September 2002, archived [http://ngin.tripod.com/180902a.htm here]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In fact, those involved in Spiked are pro-GM and ignore or attack environmental concerns in almost any form. Two of the contributors to this debate on GM ([[John Conroy]], [[Tony Gilland]]) are part of a group which includes Spiked, but their affiliation with the organisation was not made public. Gilland's contribution, &amp;quot;Let the Sowing Begin&amp;quot;, argued that: &lt;br /&gt;
:The [GM] farm-scale trials are an unnecessary obstacle to the introduction of this beneficial technology.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Tony Gillan, [http://web.archive.org/web/20040519215214/www.spiked-online.com/articles/00000006D9FF.htm Let the sowing begin], Spiked, 16 Sep 02, version placed in web archive 2004, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The other experts commissioned by Spiked included the biotech industry lobby group, the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] (ABC), and the pro-GM lobbyists [[Greg Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]], who have also previously written for Spiked.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A 2010 Spiked debate on After Copenhagen commenced with a manifesto from Spiked editor Brendan O’Neill, followed by contributions from Spiked staffers Brendan O’Neill, Rob Lyons and Nathalie Rothschild, LM associates [[Frank Furedi]] and [[Philip Hammond]] and critics of environmentalism [[Dominic Lawson]], [[Mike Hulme]], [[Ben Pile]], [[Tim Ridley]] and [[Peter Taylor]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/debates/copenhagen_homeAfter Copenhagen]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 10 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Contributions to the 2009 Spiked ‘debate’ on online poker comprised four from sponsor Poker Junkie and one each from a pro-poker society, a poker player and an anti-regulation Spiked intern.  Four readers commented. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members of the LM network are among those who post comments on Spiked &amp;quot;debates&amp;quot;, and these invariably support the party line but without revealing their affiliation. The same goes for other articles published by Spiked, many of which are penned by members of the LM network.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on mobile phones==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
BT subsidiary O2 sponsored five Spiked Debates on mobile phones during 2005, 2006 and 2007&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/onlinedebates/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 7 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; while another was sponsored by Orange.  The Mobile Operators Association is also on record as having funded Spiked. The debates explored public concerns about the perceived effects of mobile phones on health, child protection and the environment. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Campaigns 2010==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked campaigns in 2010 included:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ All Spiked Issues], Spiked, accessed 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* Challenging China-bashing&lt;br /&gt;
* Drink and drugs&lt;br /&gt;
* Environment&lt;br /&gt;
* For Europe, Against the EU&lt;br /&gt;
* Genetics&lt;br /&gt;
* GM food&lt;br /&gt;
* Hands off the human footprint - Climate Change&lt;br /&gt;
* Mad cow panic and BSE&lt;br /&gt;
* Open the Borders - Anti-immigration control&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Seminars==&lt;br /&gt;
Besides its website, Spiked also organises seminars which draw well-known figures to events carefully designed to promote its own agenda. In March 2003, Spiked co-sponsored with [[International Policy Network]] (IPN) a seminar held at the London headquarters of PR firm Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton entitled: &amp;quot;'GM food: should labeling be mandatory?&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This seminar, in common with other Spiked seminars, was held at [[Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton]], an influential public relations company.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Principals==&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mick Hume]] &amp;amp;ndash; founder and editor-at-large&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Brendan O'Neill]] &amp;amp;ndash; editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] &amp;amp;ndash; managing editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Lyons]] &amp;amp;ndash; deputy editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Nathalie Rothschild]] &amp;amp;ndash; commissioning editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tim Black]] &amp;amp;ndash; senior writer&lt;br /&gt;
===Contributors===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tracey Brown]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Greg Conko]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Conroy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Fox]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Thomas Deichmann]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Bill Durodie]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michael Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tony Gilland]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Gillott]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Luik]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Vivian Moses]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Channapatna S. Prakash]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellen Raphael]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christopher Snowdon]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Juliet Tizzard]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
In October 2009, Spiked appealed to its readers for funds to help it keep going.  Spiked state&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/340 Spiked partners and sponsors]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 3 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; that current and former partners and sponsors include: &lt;br /&gt;
* Arts Council England&lt;br /&gt;
* Bloomberg &lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Association for the Advancement of Science]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[BT]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Cadbury Schweppes]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Cambridge University Press&lt;br /&gt;
* Cheltenham Science Festival&lt;br /&gt;
* Colubris Networks&lt;br /&gt;
* City of London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Clarke Mulder Purdie]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Continuum International Publishing Group&lt;br /&gt;
* Dana Centre&lt;br /&gt;
* European Commission research project RightsWatch&lt;br /&gt;
* [[EuroScience]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Hill and Knowlton]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[IBM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[INFORM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute for the International Education of Students&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute of Psychiatry&lt;br /&gt;
* [[International Policy Network]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Luther Pendragon]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Medical Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Mobile Operators Association]]&lt;br /&gt;
* National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Natural Environment Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Orange]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[O2]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Pfizer]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Royal Institution]] of Great Britain&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Social Issues Research Centre]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Society of Chemical Industry]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Tech Central Station]]&lt;br /&gt;
* University of East London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Wellcome Trust]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Officers and shareholders of Spiked Ltd==&lt;br /&gt;
According to Spiked Ltd's Annual Return 2010:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Officers===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]] - company director&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] - company director and company secretary&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Shareholders===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ben Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Geraldine Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Belt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Colin Berry]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Best]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jennie Bristow]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Cassidy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Cleary]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dave Clements]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ceri Dingle]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dieter Hamblock]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Stuart Hibbin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ged Hession]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Holbrook]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ashley Johnstone]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Joe Kaplinsky]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Killick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Knight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rose Landthaller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michele Ledda]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellie Lee]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith McCabe]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jonathan Meads]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Alan Miller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Matt Ridley]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Reeves]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Hilary Salt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Marco Santucci]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helen Searls]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Sowerby]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith Teare]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mark Tyson]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Wight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[James Woudhuysen]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources, references and contact==&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked, [http://spinprofiles.org/images/7/7a/BrandManagersPack.pdf Brand Managers Pack]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:Website: [http://www.spiked.org/ www.spiked.org]  (Accessed 21 August 2007)&lt;br /&gt;
:Address: spiked, Signet House, 49-51 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3JP &lt;br /&gt;
:Tel: +44 (0)207 40 40 470&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: general-enquiries@spiked-online.com&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:LM network]][[Category:GM]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Suzy_Dean&amp;diff=127132</id>
		<title>Suzy Dean</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Suzy_Dean&amp;diff=127132"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T16:24:07Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: Add Free Society connection&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Suzy Dean]] is associated with the libertarian anti-environmental [[LM network]] in that she co-founded the [[Modern Movement]] and played a role in the [[Manifesto Club]] &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.opendemocracy.net/blog/suzy_dean Suzy Dean’s blog]&amp;quot; Open Democracy website, accessed 31 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;, is a member of the [[Battle of Ideas]] Committee and co-organiser of the [[Institute of Ideas]] Current Affairs Forum and writes for [[Spiked]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.battleofideas.org.uk/index.php/site/speaker_detail/348/ Speaker detail]&amp;quot;, Battle of Ideas website, accessed 31 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and [[The Free Society]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.thefreesociety.org/About-Us/Who-Are-We Who Are We?], The Free Society website, accessed 5 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:LM network|Dean, Suzy]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127106</id>
		<title>Democracy Institute</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127106"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T14:05:16Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: Correcting typing mistakes&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Image:Democracy_Institute.jpg|thumb|350px|Democracy Institute Logo]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Democracy Institute is a think tank with links to the [[Cato Institute]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.cato.org/people/patrick-basham Adjunct Scholar], The Cato Institute, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and [[Spiked]] online&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;All Articles, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/author/Basham%20and%20Luik/ Articles by Basham &amp;amp; Luik], ''Spiked'', accessed 30 March 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. The main focus of its attention is on public health initiatives that are likely to interfere with the marketing activities of the tobacco&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.tobacco.org/news/298796.html NYC: The City that Never Smokes], The Democracy Institute, 26 October 2009, accessed 30 March 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;, alcohol&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=38687 A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research], The Democracy Institute, 2-February-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and food&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=37564 The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami'], ''Democracy Institute'', 19-January-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; industries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute is regularly consulted by the media as a body of experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] frequently appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006 and 2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute's director [[Patrick Basham]] is a former tobacco industry lobbyist and publishes most of the research on the Institute's website along with [[John Luik]] who is also a former tobacco industry lobbyist&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Telefax, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/5/56/Srvk49e00.pdf Tflb CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED], CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED, 22-June-1993&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Gori GB, Luik JC. Passive smoke: the EPA’s betrayal of science and policy. Vancouver, Canada: Fraser Institute, 1999&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marsden, W., &amp;quot;Big tobacco's shell game with the truth,&amp;quot; Montreal Gazette, June 21, 2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Montreal Gazette, Blowing smoke, Cornwall Standard Freeholder (Ontario), 2-July-2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/f/f3/Sqac53a99.pdf Letter to Adrain Payne at British American Tobacco], 28-July-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Letter to Martin Broughton], 28-January-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Press Release, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/c/ce/Sarh97d00.pdf Media Release], The Fraser Institute, 9-April-1999, Accessed Through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute describes itself as &amp;quot;a politically independent public policy research organization based in Washington and London&amp;quot;. The think tank was founded in 2006. Its stated aims are:&lt;br /&gt;
:to further public education through the production and dissemination of accessible commentary and scholarship. The Democracy Institute aims to provide a balanced and thoughtful perspective on topical issues, promoting open and rational debate based on evidence rather than ideology&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute is regularly consulted by the media as experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] regularly appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006-2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.    &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Publications==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Partrick Basham, 2010, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/12/sri-lanka-trade-democracy Sri Lanka needs carrot, not stick], ''The Guardian'', 14-Feb-2010 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik, 2010, A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research, 3-February-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2010, President Obama’s Fork in the Road, 25-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami’, 22-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, In Defense of Santa, 21-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Butt Out! How Philip Morris Burned Ted Kennedy, the FDA &amp;amp; the Anti-Tobacco Movement, ''Democracy Institute''&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Are Public Smoking Bans Necessary?, 17-Dec-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Can the UK Avert a Smoking Irish Failure?, 29-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik 2009, The City That Never Smokes, 26-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Women keep drinking, 3-March-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*DI Report, 2009, Alcohol Advertising Bans – September 20-Sep-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The Senator and the Symbol, 28-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Afghanistan's Democratic Debacle, 21-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Displaying the truth about policymaking, 13-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A fat doctor in the White House?, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, on discrimination against fat African-American women, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Banning alcohol ads won’t cure alcoholism, 21-Jul-2009 Tuesday 21 July 2009 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Turning fat people into social outcasts, on turning fat people into social outcasts, 30-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Smoke gets in the government’s eyes, 23-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The unholy alliance between Philip Morris &amp;amp; the FDA in the Winston-Salem Journal, 06-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik’s, 2009, KICKING THE SODA CAN: HARD TRUTHS ABOUT A SOFT DRINK TAX, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Keep FDA away from tobacco Orange County Register, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A display of ignorance over youth smoking, 29 April 2009&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]] - Director&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Luik]] - Senior Fellow&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Basham and Luik, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/8869/ Five-a-day won’t keep the doctor away], ''Spiked'', 13 May 2010, accessed 5 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christopher Snowdon]] - Adjunct Scholar&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.velvetgloveironfist.com/index.php?page_id=4 About the Author], ''Velvet Glove Iron Fist'' website, accessed 4 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Council===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Nigel Ashford]] – Institute of Humane Studies | [[Juliette Baysham]] – Public Health Fellow | [[Jason Clemens]] – Pacific Research Institute | [[Veronique de Rugy]] – Mercatus Center | [[Jamie Dettmer]] – International Foundation for Electoral Systems | [[Chris Edwards]] – Cato Institute | [[Ivan Eland]] – Independent Institute | [[Jeremy Lott]] – Senior Fellow | [[Michael Mosbacher]] – Social Affairs Unit | [[Gerry Nicholls]] – Senior Fellow | [[Charles Pena]] – George Washington University | [[Christopher Preble]] – Cato Institute | [[Marian Tupy]] – Cato Institute | [[Martin Zelder]] – University of Chicago.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliations==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Spiked]] |  [[Institute of Humane Studies]] |  [[Pacific Research Institute]] |  [[Mercatus Center]] |  [[International Foundation for Electoral Systems]] |  [[Cato Institute]] |  [[Independent Institute]] |  [[Social Affairs Unit]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact Details==&lt;br /&gt;
===London===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2nd Floor&lt;br /&gt;
:145-157 St John Street&lt;br /&gt;
:London EC1V 4PY&lt;br /&gt;
:0845 310 4144&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org.uk&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Washington===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2001 M St NW&lt;br /&gt;
:Washington DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:301 390 3711&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Think Tanks]][[Category:Alcohol]][[Category:Tobacco Industry]][[Category:Foodspin]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127105</id>
		<title>Democracy Institute</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127105"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T14:04:23Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: Correcting typing mistakes&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Image:Democracy_Institute.jpg|thumb|350px|Democracy Institute Logo]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Democracy Institute is a think tank with links to the [[Cato Institute]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.cato.org/people/patrick-basham Adjunct Scholar], The Cato Institute, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and [[Spiked]] online&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;All Articles, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/author/Basham%20and%20Luik/ Articles by Basham &amp;amp; Luik], ''Spiked'', accessed 30 March 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. The main focus of its attention is on public health initiatives that are likely to interfere with the marketing activities of the tobacco&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.tobacco.org/news/298796.html NYC: The City that Never Smokes], The Democracy Institute, 26 October 2009, accessed 30 March 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;, alcohol&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=38687 A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research], The Democracy Institute, 2-February-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and food&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=37564 The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami'], ''Democracy Institute'', 19-January-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; industries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute is regularly consulted by the media as a body of experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] frequently appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006 and 2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute's director [[Patrick Basham]] is a former tobacco industry lobbyist and publishes most of the research on the Institute's website along with [[John Luik]] who is also a former tobacco industry lobbyist&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Telefax, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/5/56/Srvk49e00.pdf Tflb CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED], CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED, 22-June-1993&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Gori GB, Luik JC. Passive smoke: the EPA’s betrayal of science and policy. Vancouver, Canada: Fraser Institute, 1999&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marsden, W., &amp;quot;Big tobacco's shell game with the truth,&amp;quot; Montreal Gazette, June 21, 2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Montreal Gazette, Blowing smoke, Cornwall Standard Freeholder (Ontario), 2-July-2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/f/f3/Sqac53a99.pdf Letter to Adrain Payne at British American Tobacco], 28-July-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Letter to Martin Broughton], 28-January-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Press Release, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/c/ce/Sarh97d00.pdf Media Release], The Fraser Institute, 9-April-1999, Accessed Through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute describes itself as &amp;quot;a politically independent public policy research organization based in Washington and London&amp;quot;. The think tank was founded in 2006. Its stated aims are:&lt;br /&gt;
:to further public education through the production and dissemination of accessible commentary and scholarship. The Democracy Institute aims to provide a balanced and thoughtful perspective on topical issues, promoting open and rational debate based on evidence rather than ideology&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute are regularly consulted by the media as experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] regularly appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006-2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.    &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Publications==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Partrick Basham, 2010, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/12/sri-lanka-trade-democracy Sri Lanka needs carrot, not stick], ''The Guardian'', 14-Feb-2010 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik, 2010, A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research, 3-February-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2010, President Obama’s Fork in the Road, 25-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami’, 22-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, In Defense of Santa, 21-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Butt Out! How Philip Morris Burned Ted Kennedy, the FDA &amp;amp; the Anti-Tobacco Movement, ''Democracy Institute''&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Are Public Smoking Bans Necessary?, 17-Dec-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Can the UK Avert a Smoking Irish Failure?, 29-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik 2009, The City That Never Smokes, 26-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Women keep drinking, 3-March-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*DI Report, 2009, Alcohol Advertising Bans – September 20-Sep-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The Senator and the Symbol, 28-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Afghanistan's Democratic Debacle, 21-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Displaying the truth about policymaking, 13-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A fat doctor in the White House?, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, on discrimination against fat African-American women, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Banning alcohol ads won’t cure alcoholism, 21-Jul-2009 Tuesday 21 July 2009 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Turning fat people into social outcasts, on turning fat people into social outcasts, 30-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Smoke gets in the government’s eyes, 23-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The unholy alliance between Philip Morris &amp;amp; the FDA in the Winston-Salem Journal, 06-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik’s, 2009, KICKING THE SODA CAN: HARD TRUTHS ABOUT A SOFT DRINK TAX, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Keep FDA away from tobacco Orange County Register, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A display of ignorance over youth smoking, 29 April 2009&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]] - Director&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Luik]] - Senior Fellow&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Basham and Luik, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/8869/ Five-a-day won’t keep the doctor away], ''Spiked'', 13 May 2010, accessed 5 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christopher Snowdon]] - Adjunct Scholar&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.velvetgloveironfist.com/index.php?page_id=4 About the Author], ''Velvet Glove Iron Fist'' website, accessed 4 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Council===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Nigel Ashford]] – Institute of Humane Studies | [[Juliette Baysham]] – Public Health Fellow | [[Jason Clemens]] – Pacific Research Institute | [[Veronique de Rugy]] – Mercatus Center | [[Jamie Dettmer]] – International Foundation for Electoral Systems | [[Chris Edwards]] – Cato Institute | [[Ivan Eland]] – Independent Institute | [[Jeremy Lott]] – Senior Fellow | [[Michael Mosbacher]] – Social Affairs Unit | [[Gerry Nicholls]] – Senior Fellow | [[Charles Pena]] – George Washington University | [[Christopher Preble]] – Cato Institute | [[Marian Tupy]] – Cato Institute | [[Martin Zelder]] – University of Chicago.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliations==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Spiked]] |  [[Institute of Humane Studies]] |  [[Pacific Research Institute]] |  [[Mercatus Center]] |  [[International Foundation for Electoral Systems]] |  [[Cato Institute]] |  [[Independent Institute]] |  [[Social Affairs Unit]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact Details==&lt;br /&gt;
===London===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2nd Floor&lt;br /&gt;
:145-157 St John Street&lt;br /&gt;
:London EC1V 4PY&lt;br /&gt;
:0845 310 4144&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org.uk&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Washington===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2001 M St NW&lt;br /&gt;
:Washington DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:301 390 3711&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Think Tanks]][[Category:Alcohol]][[Category:Tobacco Industry]][[Category:Foodspin]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127100</id>
		<title>Democracy Institute</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127100"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T13:54:09Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Image:Democracy_Institute.jpg|thumb|350px|Democracy Institute Logo]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Democracy Institute is a think tank with links to the [[Cato Institute]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.cato.org/people/patrick-basham Adjunct Scholar], The Cato Institute, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and [[Spiked]] online&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;All Articles, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/author/Basham%20and%20Luik/ Articles by Basham &amp;amp; Luik], Spiked, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. The main focus of their attention is on public health initiatives that are likely to interfere with the marketing activities of the tobacco&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.tobacco.org/news/298796.html NYC: The City that Never Smokes], The Democracy Institute, 26-October-2009, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;, alcohol&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=38687 A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research], The Democracy Institute, 2-February-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and food&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=37564 The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami'], ''Democracy Institute'', 19-January-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; industries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute are regularly consulted by the media as experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] regularly appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006-2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The industries director [[Patrick Basham]] is a former tobacco industry lobbyist and publishes most of the research on the Institutes website along with [[John Luik]] who is also a former tobacco industry lobbyist&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Telefax, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/5/56/Srvk49e00.pdf Tflb CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED], CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED, 22-June-1993&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Gori GB, Luik JC. Passive smoke: the EPA’s betrayal of science and policy. Vancouver, Canada: Fraser Institute, 1999&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marsden, W., &amp;quot;Big tobacco's shell game with the truth,&amp;quot; Montreal Gazette, June 21, 2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Montreal Gazette, Blowing smoke, Cornwall Standard Freeholder (Ontario), 2-July-2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/f/f3/Sqac53a99.pdf Letter to Adrain Payne at British American Tobacco], 28-July-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Letter to Martin Broughton], 28-January-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Press Release, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/c/ce/Sarh97d00.pdf Media Release], The Fraser Institute, 9-April-1999, Accessed Through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute describe themselves as &amp;quot;a politically independent public policy research organization based in Washington and London&amp;quot;. The think tank was founded in 2006. Its stated aims are:&lt;br /&gt;
:to further public education through the production and dissemination of accessible commentary and scholarship. The Democracy Institute aims to provide a balanced and thoughtful perspective on topical issues, promoting open and rational debate based on evidence rather than ideology&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute are regularly consulted by the media as experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] regularly appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006-2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.    &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Publications==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Partrick Basham, 2010, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/12/sri-lanka-trade-democracy Sri Lanka needs carrot, not stick], ''The Guardian'', 14-Feb-2010 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik, 2010, A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research, 3-February-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2010, President Obama’s Fork in the Road, 25-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami’, 22-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, In Defense of Santa, 21-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Butt Out! How Philip Morris Burned Ted Kennedy, the FDA &amp;amp; the Anti-Tobacco Movement, ''Democracy Institute''&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Are Public Smoking Bans Necessary?, 17-Dec-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Can the UK Avert a Smoking Irish Failure?, 29-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik 2009, The City That Never Smokes, 26-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Women keep drinking, 3-March-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*DI Report, 2009, Alcohol Advertising Bans – September 20-Sep-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The Senator and the Symbol, 28-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Afghanistan's Democratic Debacle, 21-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Displaying the truth about policymaking, 13-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A fat doctor in the White House?, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, on discrimination against fat African-American women, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Banning alcohol ads won’t cure alcoholism, 21-Jul-2009 Tuesday 21 July 2009 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Turning fat people into social outcasts, on turning fat people into social outcasts, 30-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Smoke gets in the government’s eyes, 23-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The unholy alliance between Philip Morris &amp;amp; the FDA in the Winston-Salem Journal, 06-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik’s, 2009, KICKING THE SODA CAN: HARD TRUTHS ABOUT A SOFT DRINK TAX, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Keep FDA away from tobacco Orange County Register, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A display of ignorance over youth smoking, 29 April 2009&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]] - Director&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Luik]] - Senior Fellow&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Basham and Luik, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/8869/ Five-a-day won’t keep the doctor away], ''Spiked'', 13 May 2010, accessed 5 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christopher Snowdon]] - Adjunct Scholar&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.velvetgloveironfist.com/index.php?page_id=4 About the Author], ''Velvet Glove Iron Fist'' website, accessed 4 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Council===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Nigel Ashford]] – Institute of Humane Studies | [[Juliette Baysham]] – Public Health Fellow | [[Jason Clemens]] – Pacific Research Institute | [[Veronique de Rugy]] – Mercatus Center | [[Jamie Dettmer]] – International Foundation for Electoral Systems | [[Chris Edwards]] – Cato Institute | [[Ivan Eland]] – Independent Institute | [[Jeremy Lott]] – Senior Fellow | [[Michael Mosbacher]] – Social Affairs Unit | [[Gerry Nicholls]] – Senior Fellow | [[Charles Pena]] – George Washington University | [[Christopher Preble]] – Cato Institute | [[Marian Tupy]] – Cato Institute | [[Martin Zelder]] – University of Chicago.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliations==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Spiked]] |  [[Institute of Humane Studies]] |  [[Pacific Research Institute]] |  [[Mercatus Center]] |  [[International Foundation for Electoral Systems]] |  [[Cato Institute]] |  [[Independent Institute]] |  [[Social Affairs Unit]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact Details==&lt;br /&gt;
===London===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2nd Floor&lt;br /&gt;
:145-157 St John Street&lt;br /&gt;
:London EC1V 4PY&lt;br /&gt;
:0845 310 4144&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org.uk&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Washington===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2001 M St NW&lt;br /&gt;
:Washington DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:301 390 3711&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Think Tanks]][[Category:Alcohol]][[Category:Tobacco Industry]][[Category:Foodspin]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127098</id>
		<title>Democracy Institute</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127098"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T13:52:52Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* People */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Image:Democracy_Institute.jpg|thumb|350px|Democracy Institute Logo]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Democracy Institute is a think tank with links to the [[Cato Institute]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Bashham, [http://www.cato.org/people/patrick-basham Adjunct Scholar], The Cato Institute, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and [[Spiked]] online&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;All Articles, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/author/Basham%20and%20Luik/ Articles by Basham &amp;amp; Luik], Spiked, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. The main focus of their attention is on public health initiatives that are likely to interfere with the marketing activities of the tobacco&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.tobacco.org/news/298796.html NYC: The City that Never Smokes], The Democracy Institute, 26-October-2009, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;, alcohol&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=38687 A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research], The Democracy Institute, 2-February-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and food&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=37564 The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami'], ''Democracy Institute'', 19-January-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; industries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute are regularly consulted by the media as experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] regularly appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006-2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The industries director [[Patrick Basham]] is a former tobacco industry lobbyist and publishes most of the research on the Institutes website along with [[John Luik]] who is also a former tobacco industry lobbyist&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Telefax, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/5/56/Srvk49e00.pdf Tflb CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED], CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED, 22-June-1993&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Gori GB, Luik JC. Passive smoke: the EPA’s betrayal of science and policy. Vancouver, Canada: Fraser Institute, 1999&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marsden, W., &amp;quot;Big tobacco's shell game with the truth,&amp;quot; Montreal Gazette, June 21, 2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Montreal Gazette, Blowing smoke, Cornwall Standard Freeholder (Ontario), 2-July-2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/f/f3/Sqac53a99.pdf Letter to Adrain Payne at British American Tobacco], 28-July-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Letter to Martin Broughton], 28-January-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Press Release, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/c/ce/Sarh97d00.pdf Media Release], The Fraser Institute, 9-April-1999, Accessed Through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute describe themselves as &amp;quot;a politically independent public policy research organization based in Washington and London&amp;quot;. The think tank was founded in 2006. Its stated aims are:&lt;br /&gt;
:to further public education through the production and dissemination of accessible commentary and scholarship. The Democracy Institute aims to provide a balanced and thoughtful perspective on topical issues, promoting open and rational debate based on evidence rather than ideology&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute are regularly consulted by the media as experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] regularly appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006-2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.    &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Publications==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Partrick Basham, 2010, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/12/sri-lanka-trade-democracy Sri Lanka needs carrot, not stick], ''The Guardian'', 14-Feb-2010 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik, 2010, A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research, 3-February-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2010, President Obama’s Fork in the Road, 25-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami’, 22-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, In Defense of Santa, 21-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Butt Out! How Philip Morris Burned Ted Kennedy, the FDA &amp;amp; the Anti-Tobacco Movement, ''Democracy Institute''&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Are Public Smoking Bans Necessary?, 17-Dec-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Can the UK Avert a Smoking Irish Failure?, 29-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik 2009, The City That Never Smokes, 26-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Women keep drinking, 3-March-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*DI Report, 2009, Alcohol Advertising Bans – September 20-Sep-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The Senator and the Symbol, 28-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Afghanistan's Democratic Debacle, 21-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Displaying the truth about policymaking, 13-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A fat doctor in the White House?, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, on discrimination against fat African-American women, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Banning alcohol ads won’t cure alcoholism, 21-Jul-2009 Tuesday 21 July 2009 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Turning fat people into social outcasts, on turning fat people into social outcasts, 30-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Smoke gets in the government’s eyes, 23-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The unholy alliance between Philip Morris &amp;amp; the FDA in the Winston-Salem Journal, 06-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik’s, 2009, KICKING THE SODA CAN: HARD TRUTHS ABOUT A SOFT DRINK TAX, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Keep FDA away from tobacco Orange County Register, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A display of ignorance over youth smoking, 29 April 2009&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]] - Director&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Luik]] - Senior Fellow&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Basham and Luik, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/8869/ Five-a-day won’t keep the doctor away], ''Spiked'', 13 May 2010, accessed 5 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christopher Snowdon]] - Adjunct Scholar&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.velvetgloveironfist.com/index.php?page_id=4 About the Author], ''Velvet Glove Iron Fist'' website, accessed 4 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Council===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Nigel Ashford]] – Institute of Humane Studies | [[Juliette Baysham]] – Public Health Fellow | [[Jason Clemens]] – Pacific Research Institute | [[Veronique de Rugy]] – Mercatus Center | [[Jamie Dettmer]] – International Foundation for Electoral Systems | [[Chris Edwards]] – Cato Institute | [[Ivan Eland]] – Independent Institute | [[Jeremy Lott]] – Senior Fellow | [[Michael Mosbacher]] – Social Affairs Unit | [[Gerry Nicholls]] – Senior Fellow | [[Charles Pena]] – George Washington University | [[Christopher Preble]] – Cato Institute | [[Marian Tupy]] – Cato Institute | [[Martin Zelder]] – University of Chicago.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliations==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Spiked]] |  [[Institute of Humane Studies]] |  [[Pacific Research Institute]] |  [[Mercatus Center]] |  [[International Foundation for Electoral Systems]] |  [[Cato Institute]] |  [[Independent Institute]] |  [[Social Affairs Unit]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact Details==&lt;br /&gt;
===London===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2nd Floor&lt;br /&gt;
:145-157 St John Street&lt;br /&gt;
:London EC1V 4PY&lt;br /&gt;
:0845 310 4144&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org.uk&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Washington===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2001 M St NW&lt;br /&gt;
:Washington DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:301 390 3711&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Think Tanks]][[Category:Alcohol]][[Category:Tobacco Industry]][[Category:Foodspin]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127097</id>
		<title>Democracy Institute</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Democracy_Institute&amp;diff=127097"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T13:51:25Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Image:Democracy_Institute.jpg|thumb|350px|Democracy Institute Logo]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Democracy Institute is a think tank with links to the [[Cato Institute]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Bashham, [http://www.cato.org/people/patrick-basham Adjunct Scholar], The Cato Institute, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and [[Spiked]] online&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;All Articles, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/author/Basham%20and%20Luik/ Articles by Basham &amp;amp; Luik], Spiked, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. The main focus of their attention is on public health initiatives that are likely to interfere with the marketing activities of the tobacco&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.tobacco.org/news/298796.html NYC: The City that Never Smokes], The Democracy Institute, 26-October-2009, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;, alcohol&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=38687 A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research], The Democracy Institute, 2-February-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and food&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=37564 The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami'], ''Democracy Institute'', 19-January-2010, Accessed 30-March-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; industries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute are regularly consulted by the media as experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] regularly appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006-2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The industries director [[Patrick Basham]] is a former tobacco industry lobbyist and publishes most of the research on the Institutes website along with [[John Luik]] who is also a former tobacco industry lobbyist&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Telefax, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/5/56/Srvk49e00.pdf Tflb CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED], CONFEDERATION OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY CIGARETTE MANUFACTURER LIMITED, 22-June-1993&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Consultants, [http://www.ocat.org/opposition/consultants.html John Luik], ''Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Gori GB, Luik JC. Passive smoke: the EPA’s betrayal of science and policy. Vancouver, Canada: Fraser Institute, 1999&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marsden, W., &amp;quot;Big tobacco's shell game with the truth,&amp;quot; Montreal Gazette, June 21, 2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Montreal Gazette, Blowing smoke, Cornwall Standard Freeholder (Ontario), 2-July-2001&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/f/f3/Sqac53a99.pdf Letter to Adrain Payne at British American Tobacco], 28-July-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Sherry Stein, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Letter to Martin Broughton], 28-January-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Press Release, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/c/ce/Sarh97d00.pdf Media Release], The Fraser Institute, 9-April-1999, Accessed Through Tobacco Archives 18-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Patrick Basham, [http://www.spinprofiles.org/images/d/d0/Slbc53a99.pdf Public Policy Sources], The Fraser Institute, 1-August-2000, Accessed through Tobacco Archives 20-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute describe themselves as &amp;quot;a politically independent public policy research organization based in Washington and London&amp;quot;. The think tank was founded in 2006. Its stated aims are:&lt;br /&gt;
:to further public education through the production and dissemination of accessible commentary and scholarship. The Democracy Institute aims to provide a balanced and thoughtful perspective on topical issues, promoting open and rational debate based on evidence rather than ideology&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
The Institute are regularly consulted by the media as experts in public health issues with [[Patrick Basham]] and [[John Luik]] regularly appearing as media commentators, 33 worldwide newspaper articles between 2006-2009 cite Basham and Luik as experts on public health issues&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Nexis UK, Nexis Search Terms &amp;quot;John Luik&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Patrick Basham&amp;quot;, Nexis UK, 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.    &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Publications==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Partrick Basham, 2010, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/12/sri-lanka-trade-democracy Sri Lanka needs carrot, not stick], ''The Guardian'', 14-Feb-2010 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik, 2010, A bleary-eyed attitude to alcohol research, 3-February-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2010, President Obama’s Fork in the Road, 25-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, The myth of an ‘obesity tsunami’, 22-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2010, In Defense of Santa, 21-Jan-2010&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Butt Out! How Philip Morris Burned Ted Kennedy, the FDA &amp;amp; the Anti-Tobacco Movement, ''Democracy Institute''&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Are Public Smoking Bans Necessary?, 17-Dec-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Can the UK Avert a Smoking Irish Failure?, 29-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik 2009, The City That Never Smokes, 26-October-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Women keep drinking, 3-March-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*DI Report, 2009, Alcohol Advertising Bans – September 20-Sep-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The Senator and the Symbol, 28-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Afghanistan's Democratic Debacle, 21-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Displaying the truth about policymaking, 13-Aug-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A fat doctor in the White House?, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, on discrimination against fat African-American women, 29-Jul-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Banning alcohol ads won’t cure alcoholism, 21-Jul-2009 Tuesday 21 July 2009 &lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Turning fat people into social outcasts, on turning fat people into social outcasts, 30-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, Smoke gets in the government’s eyes, 23-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, The unholy alliance between Philip Morris &amp;amp; the FDA in the Winston-Salem Journal, 06-Jun-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham and John Luik’s, 2009, KICKING THE SODA CAN: HARD TRUTHS ABOUT A SOFT DRINK TAX, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham, 2009, Keep FDA away from tobacco Orange County Register, 3-June-2009&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick Basham &amp;amp; John Luik, 2009, A display of ignorance over youth smoking, 29 April 2009&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Patrick Basham]] - Director&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm About Us], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[John Luik]] - Senior Fellow&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Basham and Luik, [http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/8869/ Five-a-day won’t keep the doctor away], ''Spiked'', 13 May 2010, accessed 5 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
[[Christopher Snowdon]] - Adjunct Scholar&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.velvetgloveironfist.com/index.php?page_id=4 About the Author], ''Velvet Glove Iron Fist'' website, accessed 4 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Council===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Nigel Ashford]] – Institute of Humane Studies | [[Juliette Baysham]] – Public Health Fellow | [[Jason Clemens]] – Pacific Research Institute | [[Veronique de Rugy]] – Mercatus Center | [[Jamie Dettmer]] – International Foundation for Electoral Systems | [[Chris Edwards]] – Cato Institute | [[Ivan Eland]] – Independent Institute | [[Jeremy Lott]] – Senior Fellow | [[Michael Mosbacher]] – Social Affairs Unit | [[Gerry Nicholls]] – Senior Fellow | [[Charles Pena]] – George Washington University | [[Christopher Preble]] – Cato Institute | [[Marian Tupy]] – Cato Institute | [[Martin Zelder]] – University of Chicago.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', accessed 10 February 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliations==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Spiked]] |  [[Institute of Humane Studies]] |  [[Pacific Research Institute]] |  [[Mercatus Center]] |  [[International Foundation for Electoral Systems]] |  [[Cato Institute]] |  [[Independent Institute]] |  [[Social Affairs Unit]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, [http://www.democracyinstitute.org/AboutUs.htm Advisory Council], ''Democracy Institute'', Accessed 10-February-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact Details==&lt;br /&gt;
===London===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2nd Floor&lt;br /&gt;
:145-157 St John Street&lt;br /&gt;
:London EC1V 4PY&lt;br /&gt;
:0845 310 4144&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org.uk&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Washington===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Democracy Institute&lt;br /&gt;
:2001 M St NW&lt;br /&gt;
:Washington DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:301 390 3711&lt;br /&gt;
:www.democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@democracyinstitute.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Think Tanks]][[Category:Alcohol]][[Category:Tobacco Industry]][[Category:Foodspin]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=127086</id>
		<title>Spiked</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=127086"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T13:32:42Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Contributors */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Spiked''' is part of the libertarian anti-environmental [[LM network]]. It is an online magazine currently edited by [[Brendan O'Neill]] and previously by ''Times'' columnist [[Mick Hume]]. Spiked is a private company limited by shares with seven staff and an annual turnover of about £175,000.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House,Spiked Ltd. Financial Statement 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Its directors are [[Helene Guldberg]] (company secretary and managing editor, previously co-publisher of [[LM]]) and [[Frank Furedi]].  The great majority of the shares in the company Spiked Ltd, which has the same address as that of Spiked magazine and which runs Spiked magazine, are held by Frank Furedi and [[Jennie Bristow]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/326/ Support Spiked], Spiked, acc 29 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to Alexa, the web information company, Spiked is the 12,013th most popular website in the UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/spiked-online.com# spiked-online.com]&amp;quot;, Alexa website, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked was launched in 2000 after the magazine Hume edited, LM, was terminated after unsuccessfully defending a libel lawsuit. Helene Guldberg's co-publisher, [[Claire Fox]], launched Spiked's sister organisation, the [[Institute of Ideas]] (IoI) around the same time. The staff and many of Spiked's contributors are members of the same network of [[Living Marxism]]/[[Revolutionary Communist Party]] supporters.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thus very many of the personnel of other entities associated with the LM network have written for Spiked. Spiked has promoted the events and publications of the [[Institute of Ideas]] and its projects, the [[Battle of Ideas]] and [[Culture Wars]]. Many of Spiked's writers write for and appear at the events of these entities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has featured a number of pro-GM articles by [[Vivian Moses]] of [[CropGen]] and [[Thomas Deichmann]], the person at the center of the ITN/LM libel case. Spiked has also published a number of articles downplaying the hazards of pesticide residues in food which suggest that there is nothing to worry about.  It has also published articles attacking organic food by [[Dennis Avery]] and [[Alex Avery]] of the [[Hudson Institute]] and [[Center for Global Food Issues]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alex Avery and Dennis Avery, [http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/00000002D21D.htm Unearthing the truth about organic food], Spiked, 5 Sept 2001, acc 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on the environment==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has also run a series of online debates about the environment sponsored by the [[Natural Environment Research Council]] (NERC), a UK public funding body whose mission is to support independent scientific research in the environmental sciences. One of the series was a debate on GM called &amp;quot;The future of GM&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. It features the opinions of &amp;quot;five experts&amp;quot; ([[Les Firbank]], [[Tony Gilland]], [[Robin Grove-White]], [[Gregory Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]]) together with three &amp;quot;Commissioned responses&amp;quot; from other &amp;quot;experts&amp;quot; ([[Alan Gray]], [[John Conroy]], and the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]]). Of these eight experts only one has been known to take a critical attitude towards the technology, and it would seem incompatible with NERC's aim to obtain &amp;quot;independent&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;impartial&amp;quot; input.   However, when the history of those behind Spiked was brought to NERC's attention, Marion O'Sullivan, the Press Officer, replied that: &lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;NERC is satisfied that '''there is no evidence''' suggesting that, on environmental matters, Spiked have any particular agenda.&amp;quot; (emphasis added)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marion O'Sullivan in an email to GMWatch, September 2002, archived [http://ngin.tripod.com/180902a.htm here]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In fact, those involved in Spiked are pro-GM and ignore or attack environmental concerns in almost any form. Two of the contributors to this debate on GM ([[John Conroy]], [[Tony Gilland]]) are part of a group which includes Spiked, but their affiliation with the organisation was not made public. Gilland's contribution, &amp;quot;Let the Sowing Begin&amp;quot;, argued that: &lt;br /&gt;
:The [GM] farm-scale trials are an unnecessary obstacle to the introduction of this beneficial technology.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Tony Gillan, [http://web.archive.org/web/20040519215214/www.spiked-online.com/articles/00000006D9FF.htm Let the sowing begin], Spiked, 16 Sep 02, version placed in web archive 2004, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The other experts commissioned by Spiked included the biotech industry lobby group, the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] (ABC), and the pro-GM lobbyists [[Greg Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]], who have also previously written for Spiked.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A 2010 Spiked debate on After Copenhagen commenced with a manifesto from Spiked editor Brendan O’Neill, followed by contributions from Spiked staffers Brendan O’Neill, Rob Lyons and Nathalie Rothschild, LM associates [[Frank Furedi]] and [[Philip Hammond]] and critics of environmentalism [[Dominic Lawson]], [[Mike Hulme]], [[Ben Pile]], [[Tim Ridley]] and [[Peter Taylor]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/debates/copenhagen_homeAfter Copenhagen]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 10 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Contributions to the 2009 Spiked ‘debate’ on online poker comprised four from sponsor Poker Junkie and one each from a pro-poker society, a poker player and an anti-regulation Spiked intern.  Four readers commented. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members of the LM network are among those who post comments on Spiked &amp;quot;debates&amp;quot;, and these invariably support the party line but without revealing their affiliation. The same goes for other articles published by Spiked, many of which are penned by members of the LM network.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on mobile phones==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
BT subsidiary O2 sponsored five Spiked Debates on mobile phones during 2005, 2006 and 2007&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/onlinedebates/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 7 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; while another was sponsored by Orange.  The Mobile Operators Association is also on record as having funded Spiked. The debates explored public concerns about the perceived effects of mobile phones on health, child protection and the environment. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Campaigns 2010==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked campaigns in 2010 included:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ All Spiked Issues], Spiked, accessed 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* Challenging China-bashing&lt;br /&gt;
* Drink and drugs&lt;br /&gt;
* Environment&lt;br /&gt;
* For Europe, Against the EU&lt;br /&gt;
* Genetics&lt;br /&gt;
* GM food&lt;br /&gt;
* Hands off the human footprint - Climate Change&lt;br /&gt;
* Mad cow panic and BSE&lt;br /&gt;
* Open the Borders - Anti-immigration control&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Seminars==&lt;br /&gt;
Besides its website, Spiked also organises seminars which draw well-known figures to events carefully designed to promote its own agenda. In March 2003, Spiked co-sponsored with [[International Policy Network]] (IPN) a seminar held at the London headquarters of PR firm Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton entitled: &amp;quot;'GM food: should labeling be mandatory?&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This seminar, in common with other Spiked seminars, was held at [[Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton]], an influential public relations company.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Principals==&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mick Hume]] &amp;amp;ndash; founder and editor-at-large&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Brendan O'Neill]] &amp;amp;ndash; editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] &amp;amp;ndash; managing editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Lyons]] &amp;amp;ndash; deputy editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Nathalie Rothschild]] &amp;amp;ndash; commissioning editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tim Black]] &amp;amp;ndash; senior writer&lt;br /&gt;
===Contributors===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tracey Brown]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Greg Conko]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Conroy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Fox]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Thomas Deichmann]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Bill Durodie]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michael Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tony Gilland]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Gillott]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Vivian Moses]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Channapatna S. Prakash]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellen Raphael]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christopher Snowdon]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Juliet Tizzard]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
In October 2009, Spiked appealed to its readers for funds to help it keep going.  Spiked state&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/340 Spiked partners and sponsors]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 3 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; that current and former partners and sponsors include: &lt;br /&gt;
* Arts Council England&lt;br /&gt;
* Bloomberg &lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Association for the Advancement of Science]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[BT]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Cadbury Schweppes]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Cambridge University Press&lt;br /&gt;
* Cheltenham Science Festival&lt;br /&gt;
* Colubris Networks&lt;br /&gt;
* City of London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Clarke Mulder Purdie]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Continuum International Publishing Group&lt;br /&gt;
* Dana Centre&lt;br /&gt;
* European Commission research project RightsWatch&lt;br /&gt;
* [[EuroScience]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Hill and Knowlton]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[IBM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[INFORM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute for the International Education of Students&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute of Psychiatry&lt;br /&gt;
* [[International Policy Network]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Luther Pendragon]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Medical Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Mobile Operators Association]]&lt;br /&gt;
* National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Natural Environment Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Orange]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[O2]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Pfizer]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Royal Institution]] of Great Britain&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Social Issues Research Centre]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Society of Chemical Industry]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Tech Central Station]]&lt;br /&gt;
* University of East London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Wellcome Trust]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Officers and shareholders of Spiked Ltd==&lt;br /&gt;
According to Spiked Ltd's Annual Return 2010:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Officers===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]] - company director&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] - company director and company secretary&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Shareholders===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ben Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Geraldine Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Belt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Colin Berry]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Best]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jennie Bristow]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Cassidy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Cleary]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dave Clements]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ceri Dingle]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dieter Hamblock]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Stuart Hibbin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ged Hession]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Holbrook]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ashley Johnstone]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Joe Kaplinsky]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Killick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Knight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rose Landthaller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michele Ledda]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellie Lee]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith McCabe]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jonathan Meads]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Alan Miller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Matt Ridley]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Reeves]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Hilary Salt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Marco Santucci]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helen Searls]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Sowerby]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith Teare]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mark Tyson]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Wight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[James Woudhuysen]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources, references and contact==&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked, [http://spinprofiles.org/images/7/7a/BrandManagersPack.pdf Brand Managers Pack]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:Website: [http://www.spiked.org/ www.spiked.org]  (Accessed 21 August 2007)&lt;br /&gt;
:Address: spiked, Signet House, 49-51 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3JP &lt;br /&gt;
:Tel: +44 (0)207 40 40 470&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: general-enquiries@spiked-online.com&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:LM network]][[Category:GM]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=127075</id>
		<title>Spiked</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=127075"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T12:56:23Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Debates on the environment */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Spiked''' is part of the libertarian anti-environmental [[LM network]]. It is an online magazine currently edited by [[Brendan O'Neill]] and previously by ''Times'' columnist [[Mick Hume]]. Spiked is a private company limited by shares with seven staff and an annual turnover of about £175,000.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House,Spiked Ltd. Financial Statement 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Its directors are [[Helene Guldberg]] (company secretary and managing editor, previously co-publisher of [[LM]]) and [[Frank Furedi]].  The great majority of the shares in the company Spiked Ltd, which has the same address as that of Spiked magazine and which runs Spiked magazine, are held by Frank Furedi and [[Jennie Bristow]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/326/ Support Spiked], Spiked, acc 29 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to Alexa, the web information company, Spiked is the 12,013th most popular website in the UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/spiked-online.com# spiked-online.com]&amp;quot;, Alexa website, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked was launched in 2000 after the magazine Hume edited, LM, was terminated after unsuccessfully defending a libel lawsuit. Helene Guldberg's co-publisher, [[Claire Fox]], launched Spiked's sister organisation, the [[Institute of Ideas]] (IoI) around the same time. The staff and many of Spiked's contributors are members of the same network of [[Living Marxism]]/[[Revolutionary Communist Party]] supporters.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thus very many of the personnel of other entities associated with the LM network have written for Spiked. Spiked has promoted the events and publications of the [[Institute of Ideas]] and its projects, the [[Battle of Ideas]] and [[Culture Wars]]. Many of Spiked's writers write for and appear at the events of these entities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has featured a number of pro-GM articles by [[Vivian Moses]] of [[CropGen]] and [[Thomas Deichmann]], the person at the center of the ITN/LM libel case. Spiked has also published a number of articles downplaying the hazards of pesticide residues in food which suggest that there is nothing to worry about.  It has also published articles attacking organic food by [[Dennis Avery]] and [[Alex Avery]] of the [[Hudson Institute]] and [[Center for Global Food Issues]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alex Avery and Dennis Avery, [http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/00000002D21D.htm Unearthing the truth about organic food], Spiked, 5 Sept 2001, acc 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on the environment==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has also run a series of online debates about the environment sponsored by the [[Natural Environment Research Council]] (NERC), a UK public funding body whose mission is to support independent scientific research in the environmental sciences. One of the series was a debate on GM called &amp;quot;The future of GM&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. It features the opinions of &amp;quot;five experts&amp;quot; ([[Les Firbank]], [[Tony Gilland]], [[Robin Grove-White]], [[Gregory Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]]) together with three &amp;quot;Commissioned responses&amp;quot; from other &amp;quot;experts&amp;quot; ([[Alan Gray]], [[John Conroy]], and the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]]). Of these eight experts only one has been known to take a critical attitude towards the technology, and it would seem incompatible with NERC's aim to obtain &amp;quot;independent&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;impartial&amp;quot; input.   However, when the history of those behind Spiked was brought to NERC's attention, Marion O'Sullivan, the Press Officer, replied that: &lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;NERC is satisfied that '''there is no evidence''' suggesting that, on environmental matters, Spiked have any particular agenda.&amp;quot; (emphasis added)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marion O'Sullivan in an email to GMWatch, September 2002, archived [http://ngin.tripod.com/180902a.htm here]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In fact, those involved in Spiked are pro-GM and ignore or attack environmental concerns in almost any form. Two of the contributors to this debate on GM ([[John Conroy]], [[Tony Gilland]]) are part of a group which includes Spiked, but their affiliation with the organisation was not made public. Gilland's contribution, &amp;quot;Let the Sowing Begin&amp;quot;, argued that: &lt;br /&gt;
:The [GM] farm-scale trials are an unnecessary obstacle to the introduction of this beneficial technology.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Tony Gillan, [http://web.archive.org/web/20040519215214/www.spiked-online.com/articles/00000006D9FF.htm Let the sowing begin], Spiked, 16 Sep 02, version placed in web archive 2004, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The other experts commissioned by Spiked included the biotech industry lobby group, the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] (ABC), and the pro-GM lobbyists [[Greg Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]], who have also previously written for Spiked.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A 2010 Spiked debate on After Copenhagen commenced with a manifesto from Spiked editor Brendan O’Neill, followed by contributions from Spiked staffers Brendan O’Neill, Rob Lyons and Nathalie Rothschild, LM associates [[Frank Furedi]] and [[Philip Hammond]] and critics of environmentalism [[Dominic Lawson]], [[Mike Hulme]], [[Ben Pile]], [[Tim Ridley]] and [[Peter Taylor]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/debates/copenhagen_homeAfter Copenhagen]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 10 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Contributions to the 2009 Spiked ‘debate’ on online poker comprised four from sponsor Poker Junkie and one each from a pro-poker society, a poker player and an anti-regulation Spiked intern.  Four readers commented. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members of the LM network are among those who post comments on Spiked &amp;quot;debates&amp;quot;, and these invariably support the party line but without revealing their affiliation. The same goes for other articles published by Spiked, many of which are penned by members of the LM network.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on mobile phones==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
BT subsidiary O2 sponsored five Spiked Debates on mobile phones during 2005, 2006 and 2007&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/onlinedebates/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 7 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; while another was sponsored by Orange.  The Mobile Operators Association is also on record as having funded Spiked. The debates explored public concerns about the perceived effects of mobile phones on health, child protection and the environment. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Campaigns 2010==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked campaigns in 2010 included:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ All Spiked Issues], Spiked, accessed 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* Challenging China-bashing&lt;br /&gt;
* Drink and drugs&lt;br /&gt;
* Environment&lt;br /&gt;
* For Europe, Against the EU&lt;br /&gt;
* Genetics&lt;br /&gt;
* GM food&lt;br /&gt;
* Hands off the human footprint - Climate Change&lt;br /&gt;
* Mad cow panic and BSE&lt;br /&gt;
* Open the Borders - Anti-immigration control&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Seminars==&lt;br /&gt;
Besides its website, Spiked also organises seminars which draw well-known figures to events carefully designed to promote its own agenda. In March 2003, Spiked co-sponsored with [[International Policy Network]] (IPN) a seminar held at the London headquarters of PR firm Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton entitled: &amp;quot;'GM food: should labeling be mandatory?&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This seminar, in common with other Spiked seminars, was held at [[Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton]], an influential public relations company.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Principals==&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mick Hume]] &amp;amp;ndash; founder and editor-at-large&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Brendan O'Neill]] &amp;amp;ndash; editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] &amp;amp;ndash; managing editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Lyons]] &amp;amp;ndash; deputy editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Nathalie Rothschild]] &amp;amp;ndash; commissioning editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tim Black]] &amp;amp;ndash; senior writer&lt;br /&gt;
===Contributors===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tracey Brown]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Greg Conko]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Conroy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Fox]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Thomas Deichmann]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Bill Durodie]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michael Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tony Gilland]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Gillott]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Vivian Moses]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Channapatna S. Prakash]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellen Raphael]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Juliet Tizzard]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
In October 2009, Spiked appealed to its readers for funds to help it keep going.  Spiked state&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/340 Spiked partners and sponsors]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 3 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; that current and former partners and sponsors include: &lt;br /&gt;
* Arts Council England&lt;br /&gt;
* Bloomberg &lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Association for the Advancement of Science]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[BT]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Cadbury Schweppes]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Cambridge University Press&lt;br /&gt;
* Cheltenham Science Festival&lt;br /&gt;
* Colubris Networks&lt;br /&gt;
* City of London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Clarke Mulder Purdie]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Continuum International Publishing Group&lt;br /&gt;
* Dana Centre&lt;br /&gt;
* European Commission research project RightsWatch&lt;br /&gt;
* [[EuroScience]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Hill and Knowlton]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[IBM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[INFORM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute for the International Education of Students&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute of Psychiatry&lt;br /&gt;
* [[International Policy Network]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Luther Pendragon]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Medical Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Mobile Operators Association]]&lt;br /&gt;
* National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Natural Environment Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Orange]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[O2]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Pfizer]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Royal Institution]] of Great Britain&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Social Issues Research Centre]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Society of Chemical Industry]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Tech Central Station]]&lt;br /&gt;
* University of East London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Wellcome Trust]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Officers and shareholders of Spiked Ltd==&lt;br /&gt;
According to Spiked Ltd's Annual Return 2010:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Officers===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]] - company director&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] - company director and company secretary&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Shareholders===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ben Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Geraldine Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Belt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Colin Berry]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Best]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jennie Bristow]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Cassidy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Cleary]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dave Clements]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ceri Dingle]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dieter Hamblock]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Stuart Hibbin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ged Hession]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Holbrook]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ashley Johnstone]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Joe Kaplinsky]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Killick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Knight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rose Landthaller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michele Ledda]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellie Lee]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith McCabe]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jonathan Meads]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Alan Miller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Matt Ridley]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Reeves]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Hilary Salt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Marco Santucci]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helen Searls]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Sowerby]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith Teare]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mark Tyson]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Wight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[James Woudhuysen]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources, references and contact==&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked, [http://spinprofiles.org/images/7/7a/BrandManagersPack.pdf Brand Managers Pack]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:Website: [http://www.spiked.org/ www.spiked.org]  (Accessed 21 August 2007)&lt;br /&gt;
:Address: spiked, Signet House, 49-51 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3JP &lt;br /&gt;
:Tel: +44 (0)207 40 40 470&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: general-enquiries@spiked-online.com&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:LM network]][[Category:GM]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Social_Affairs_Unit&amp;diff=127035</id>
		<title>Social Affairs Unit</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Social_Affairs_Unit&amp;diff=127035"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T10:11:16Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Publications */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Social Affairs Unit''' (SAU) describes itself on its website as a charity and says its &amp;quot;role and ambitions are wholly unpolitical&amp;quot;. The SAU comprises a group of individuals who study, debate, and publish reports on various cultural, social and economic issues, with an &amp;quot;emphasis on the value of personal responsibility&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/ About Us]&amp;quot;, Social Affairs Unit website, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  According to the SAU website, its historians, sociologists, philosophers, doctors and scientists &amp;quot;identify research with a potential to inform public policy and translate it from academic discourse into public debate&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/ Welcome to the Social Affairs Unit Website]&amp;quot;, Social Affairs Unit website, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The SAU was founded in 1980 by [[Julius Gould]] (professor and director) and [[Digby Anderson]] (doctor and chairman). According to its entry on the Intute:Social Sciences website, it was  founded &amp;quot;with active encouragement&amp;quot; from the neo-liberal [[Institute of Economic Affairs]] (IEA)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/cgi-bin/fullrecord.pl?handle=sosig1065790738-7561 Social Affairs Unit]&amp;quot;, Intute website, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. The SAU remained linked to the IEA until 2005 through the recently deceased [[Arthur Seldon]], former joint founding president of the Institute. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In its early years it was interested in &amp;quot;critical evaluation of the welfare state&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Social-Affairs-Unit Social Affairs Unit]&amp;quot;, NationMaster.com Encyclopedia, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and it boasts how many of its ideas, such as parental accountability and local autonomy within education, have made their mark on policy today. Ironically, these areas of policy remain among the most contentious today.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SAU publishes a monthly magazine, [[Standpoint.Online]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/about-us About Us] Standpoint.Online (accessed: 7 October 2008)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==SAU version==&lt;br /&gt;
According to the SAU in 2002:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The SAU is an independent research and educational trust committed to the promotion of lively and wide-ranging debate on social affairs. Its authors, (over 200), have analyzed the factors which make for a free and orderly society in which enterprise can flourish. It is committed to international co-operation in ideas: e.g. Health Lifestyle and Environment: Countering the Panic with the Manhattan Institute, a forthcoming Anglo-French project on food and alcohol policy, and The Loss of Virtue: Moral Confusion and Social Disorder in Britain and America, also published as a National Review book in the USA, which won the 1994 Sir Antony Fisher Memorial Award for the best book from a think-tank. Current areas of work include consumer affairs, the critical appraisal of welfare and public spending and problems of freedom and personal responsibility.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; [http://www.betterworld.com/BWZ/9604/aboutsau.htm original url][http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.betterworld.com/BWZ/9604/aboutsau.htm Web archive versions]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Staff==&lt;br /&gt;
===Director===&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Michael Mosbacher]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Trustees===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Julius Gould]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Greenwood]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Anthony O'Hear]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Sharratt]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===International Advisory Council===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Digby Anderson]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Alejandro Chafuen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christie Davies]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Adrian Furnham]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jacques Garello]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Nathan Glazer]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Green]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Leonard Liggio]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Theodore Malloch]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[David Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Antonio Martino]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michael Novak]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John O’Sullivan]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Geoffrey Partington]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Arthur Seldon]] CBE&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Other contributors and authors===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jeremy Black]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Lilian Pizzichini]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Myles Harris]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Richard D North]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Harry Phibbs]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Douglas Murray]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter Mullen]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The SAU has taken funding from the tobacco industry. BAT Industries (British American Tobacco) gave it £1,000 in the 1980s&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid//jig30a99 Donations budget 1986, British American Tobacco collection]&amp;quot;, p. 3, archived at the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, University of California, San Francisco, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact, References and Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:The [[Social Affairs Unit]]&lt;br /&gt;
:314-322 Regent St&lt;br /&gt;
:London  W1B 5SA&lt;br /&gt;
:Tel: 020 7637 4356&lt;br /&gt;
:Fax: 020 7436 8530&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/ Social Affairs Unit] website is organised by a blogging company called '[[tbbc: the Big Blog]]' that also manages blogging sites for [[Ideal Government]], [[Stephen Pollard]], [[Economics UK]] and [[Adam Smith Institute]].&lt;br /&gt;
:Blog: [http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
[[BBC: Social Affairs Unit]] - page on the SAU's attacks on the [[BBC]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Publications====&lt;br /&gt;
*David Conning, A New Diet of Reason: Healthy eating and government policy 1983-1995.&lt;br /&gt;
*Violence, Disorder and Incivility in British Hospitals: The Case for Zero Tolerance (Research Reports), by [[Theodore Dalrymple]], 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
* Douglas Murray, Neoconservatism: Why We Need It, 2005.&lt;br /&gt;
*From Rushdie to 7/7: The Radicalisation of Islam in Britain, by [[Anthony McRoy]], 2005. &lt;br /&gt;
*When Students Turn to Terror: Terrorist and Extremist Activity on British Campuses, by [[Anthony Glees]] and [[Chris Pope]], 2005, ISBN 1904863078.&lt;br /&gt;
*Anti-Totalitarianism: The Left Wing Case for a Neoconservative Foreign Policy, by [[Oliver Kamm]], 2006.&lt;br /&gt;
*The Dotted Red Line: Britain's Defence Policy in the Modern World, by [[Jeremy Black]], 2006, ISBN 1904863132&lt;br /&gt;
*The British Moment: The Case for Democratic Geopolitics in the Twenty-First Century, Manifesto of the [[Henry Jackson Society Project for Democratic Geopolitics|Henry Jackson Society]], 2006.&lt;br /&gt;
*Warning: Immigration Can Seriously Damage Your Wealth, by [[Anthony Scholefield]], 2007.&lt;br /&gt;
* Jeremy Black, The Holocaust, 2008.&lt;br /&gt;
*Brother Tariq: The Doublespeak of Tariq Ramadan, by [[Caroline Fourest]], with a foreword by [[Denis MacShane]], 2008.&lt;br /&gt;
*The Disrespect Agenda: Or How the Wrong Kind of Niceness Is Making Us Weak and Unhappy, by Lincoln Allison, Forthcoming, 2008.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===References===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
 [[Category:Think Tanks]][[Category:Neocons]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Social_Affairs_Unit&amp;diff=127032</id>
		<title>Social Affairs Unit</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Social_Affairs_Unit&amp;diff=127032"/>
		<updated>2010-08-05T10:10:11Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Contact */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Social Affairs Unit''' (SAU) describes itself on its website as a charity and says its &amp;quot;role and ambitions are wholly unpolitical&amp;quot;. The SAU comprises a group of individuals who study, debate, and publish reports on various cultural, social and economic issues, with an &amp;quot;emphasis on the value of personal responsibility&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/ About Us]&amp;quot;, Social Affairs Unit website, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  According to the SAU website, its historians, sociologists, philosophers, doctors and scientists &amp;quot;identify research with a potential to inform public policy and translate it from academic discourse into public debate&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/ Welcome to the Social Affairs Unit Website]&amp;quot;, Social Affairs Unit website, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The SAU was founded in 1980 by [[Julius Gould]] (professor and director) and [[Digby Anderson]] (doctor and chairman). According to its entry on the Intute:Social Sciences website, it was  founded &amp;quot;with active encouragement&amp;quot; from the neo-liberal [[Institute of Economic Affairs]] (IEA)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/cgi-bin/fullrecord.pl?handle=sosig1065790738-7561 Social Affairs Unit]&amp;quot;, Intute website, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. The SAU remained linked to the IEA until 2005 through the recently deceased [[Arthur Seldon]], former joint founding president of the Institute. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In its early years it was interested in &amp;quot;critical evaluation of the welfare state&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Social-Affairs-Unit Social Affairs Unit]&amp;quot;, NationMaster.com Encyclopedia, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and it boasts how many of its ideas, such as parental accountability and local autonomy within education, have made their mark on policy today. Ironically, these areas of policy remain among the most contentious today.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SAU publishes a monthly magazine, [[Standpoint.Online]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/about-us About Us] Standpoint.Online (accessed: 7 October 2008)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==SAU version==&lt;br /&gt;
According to the SAU in 2002:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The SAU is an independent research and educational trust committed to the promotion of lively and wide-ranging debate on social affairs. Its authors, (over 200), have analyzed the factors which make for a free and orderly society in which enterprise can flourish. It is committed to international co-operation in ideas: e.g. Health Lifestyle and Environment: Countering the Panic with the Manhattan Institute, a forthcoming Anglo-French project on food and alcohol policy, and The Loss of Virtue: Moral Confusion and Social Disorder in Britain and America, also published as a National Review book in the USA, which won the 1994 Sir Antony Fisher Memorial Award for the best book from a think-tank. Current areas of work include consumer affairs, the critical appraisal of welfare and public spending and problems of freedom and personal responsibility.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; [http://www.betterworld.com/BWZ/9604/aboutsau.htm original url][http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.betterworld.com/BWZ/9604/aboutsau.htm Web archive versions]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Staff==&lt;br /&gt;
===Director===&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Michael Mosbacher]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Trustees===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Julius Gould]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Greenwood]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Anthony O'Hear]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Sharratt]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===International Advisory Council===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Digby Anderson]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Alejandro Chafuen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Christie Davies]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Adrian Furnham]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jacques Garello]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Nathan Glazer]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Green]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Leonard Liggio]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Theodore Malloch]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[David Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Antonio Martino]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michael Novak]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John O’Sullivan]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Geoffrey Partington]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Arthur Seldon]] CBE&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Other contributors and authors===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jeremy Black]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Lilian Pizzichini]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Myles Harris]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Richard D North]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Harry Phibbs]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Douglas Murray]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter Mullen]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The SAU has taken funding from the tobacco industry. BAT Industries (British American Tobacco) gave it £1,000 in the 1980s&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid//jig30a99 Donations budget 1986, British American Tobacco collection]&amp;quot;, p. 3, archived at the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library, University of California, San Francisco, accessed November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact, References and Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:The [[Social Affairs Unit]]&lt;br /&gt;
:314-322 Regent St&lt;br /&gt;
:London  W1B 5SA&lt;br /&gt;
:Tel: 020 7637 4356&lt;br /&gt;
:Fax: 020 7436 8530&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/ Social Affairs Unit] website is organised by a blogging company called '[[tbbc: the Big Blog]]' that also manages blogging sites for [[Ideal Government]], [[Stephen Pollard]], [[Economics UK]] and [[Adam Smith Institute]].&lt;br /&gt;
:Blog: [http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
[[BBC: Social Affairs Unit]] - page on the SAU's attacks on the [[BBC]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Publications====&lt;br /&gt;
*David Conning, A New Diet of Reason: Healthy eating and government policy 1983-1995.&lt;br /&gt;
*Violence, Disorder and Incivility in British Hospitals: The Case for Zero Tolerance (Research Reports), by [[Theodore Dalrymple]], 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
* Douglas Murray, Neoconservatism: Why We Need It, 2005.&lt;br /&gt;
*From Rushdie to 7/7: The Radicalisation of Islam in Britain, by [[Anthony McRoy]], 2005. &lt;br /&gt;
*When Students Turn to Terror: Terrorist and Extremist Activity on British Campuses, by [[Anthony Glees]] and [[Chris Pope]], 2005, ISBN 1904863078.&lt;br /&gt;
*Anti-Totalitarianism: The Left Wing Case for a Neoconservative Foreign Policy, by [[Oliver Kamm]], 2006.&lt;br /&gt;
*The Dotted Red Line: Britain's Defence Policy in the Modern World, by [[Jeremy Black]], 2006, ISBN 1904863132&lt;br /&gt;
*The British Moment: The Case for Democratic Geopolitics in the Twenty-First Century, Manifesto of the [[Henry Jackson Society Project for Democratic Geopolitics|Henry Jackson Society]], 2006.&lt;br /&gt;
*Warning: Immigration Can Seriously Damage Your Wealth, by [[Anthony Scholefield]], 2007.&lt;br /&gt;
* Jeremy Black, The Holocaust, , 2008.&lt;br /&gt;
*Brother Tariq: The Doublespeak of Tariq Ramadan, by [[Caroline Fourest]], with a foreword by [[Denis MacShane]], 2008.&lt;br /&gt;
*The Disrespect Agenda: Or How the Wrong Kind of Niceness Is Making Us Weak and Unhappy, by Lincoln Allison, Forthcoming, 2008.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===References===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
 [[Category:Think Tanks]][[Category:Neocons]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Cato_Institute&amp;diff=126968</id>
		<title>Cato Institute</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Cato_Institute&amp;diff=126968"/>
		<updated>2010-08-04T14:13:30Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Experts / Scholars / Adjunct Scholars */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Template:Climate badge}}&lt;br /&gt;
'''Cato Institute''' was founded in 1977 by [[Edward H. Crane]] and [[Charles H. Koch]], the billionaire co-owner of [[Koch Industries]] which is the US’ second-largest privately owned company and the largest privately owned oil company, with annual revenues of more than $30 billion {{ref|1}}. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It is named after the “Cato Letters”, a series of libertarian pamphlets, and the think-tank is more libertarian than many of the other right-wing organisations it works with. To this end Cato says that the “The Jeffersonian philosophy that animates Cato's work has increasingly come to be called ‘libertarianism’ or ‘market liberalism’&amp;quot;. {{ref|2}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Although it has a smaller budget than some of the large think-tanks it was seen, in the late nineties at least, as the fourth most influential think-tank in Washington.&lt;br /&gt;
{{ref|3}}&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Cato maintains that “In order to maintain an independent posture, the Cato Institute accepts no government funding or endowments. Contributions are received from foundations, corporations, and individuals”. {{ref|4}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to People for the American Way, Cato has been funded by: {{ref|5}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Philip Morris]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[R.J. Reynolds]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Bell Atlantic Network Services]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[BellSouth Corporation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Digital Equipment Corporation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[GTE Corporation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Microsoft Corporation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Netscape Communications Corporation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[NYNEX Corporation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sun Microsystems]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Viacom International]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[American Express]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Chase Manhattan Bank]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Chemical Bank]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Citicorp]]/[[Citibank]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Commonwealth Fund]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Prudential Securities]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Salomon Brothers]] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Energy conglomerates include: &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Chevron Companies]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Exxon Company]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Shell Oil Company]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tenneco Gas]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[American Petroleum Institute]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Amoco Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Atlantic Richfield Foundation]] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Cato's pharmaceutical donors include:&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Eli Lilly &amp;amp; Company]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Merck &amp;amp; Company]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Pfizer]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Between 1985 and 2001, the Institute received $15,718,040 in 112 grants from only ten conservative foundations: {{ref|6}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Castle Rock Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Earhart Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[JM Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John M. Olin Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sarah Scaife Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Carthage Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[David H Koch Foundation]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Since 1998, it has received some $50,000 from Exxon Mobil. {{ref|7}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Links to the Bush Administration== &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to Cato in 2001 President George W. Bush appointed a former Cato vice president and a Cato fellow, and two Cato staffers to the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security. According to People for the American Way these include: Former Rep. Tim Penny (D-MN); Sam Beard, Carolyn Weaver, Randy Clerihue, and Andrew Biggs. Mark Groombridge, Special Assistant, Office of the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, State Department also used to work at Cato{{ref|8}}.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Principals==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Edward H. Crane]] - Founder and President  - Board of U.S. Term Limits, and is a member of the [[Mont Pèlerin Society]]. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[David Boaz]] - Executive Vice President&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ted Galen Carpenter]] - Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies&lt;br /&gt;
*[[James A. Dorn]] - Vice President for Academic Affairs&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Board===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Philip Morris]] boss [[Geoffrey Bible]] and [[Rupert Murdoch]] have both served on the board {{ref|9}}. Current board members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter Ackerman]] - Managing Director, Rockport Financial Ltd. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[K. Tucker Andersen]] - Senior Consultant, Cumberland Associates LLC &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Bond]] – Chairman, [[The Foundation Group]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Edward H. Crane]] - President, Cato Institute &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Richard J. Dennis]] - President, Dennis Trading Group &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Theodore J. Forstmann]] - Principal, Forstmann Little &amp;amp; Company &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ethelmae C. Humphreys]] - Chairman, Tamko Roofing Products, Inc. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[David H. Koch]] - Executive Vice President, Koch Industries, Inc. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[John C. Malone]] - Chairman, [[Liberty Media Corporation]] &lt;br /&gt;
*[[William A. Niskanen]] - Chairman, Cato Institute &lt;br /&gt;
*[[David H. Padden]] - President, Padden &amp;amp; Company &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Lewis E. Randall]] - Board Member, E*Trade Financial &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Howard S. Rich]] - President, U.S. Term Limits &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frederick W. Smith]] - Chairman &amp;amp; CEO, FedEx Corporation &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jeffrey S. Yass]] - Managing Director, Susquehanna International Group, LLP &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Experts / Scholars / Adjunct Scholars===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ronald A. Bailey]] - Science correspondent for Reason magazine.&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]] - is founding director of the [[Democracy Institute]] and an adjunct scholar with the Cato Institute's Center for Representative Government.&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Robert L. Bradley Jr]]. - is president of the Institute for Energy Research. He is an expert on energy policy and its relation to the environment and an adjunct scholar at the [[Competitive Enterprise Institute]]. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Terry L. Anderson]] - is executive director of the Political Economy Research Center (see below), and co-author of Free Market Environmentalism. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Kevin Dowd]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michael Gough]] - author of Silencing Science, Readings at Risk and Dioxin, Agent Orange, “is an expert on risk assessment and environmental policy” according to CATO. Or according to PR Watch “he has spent much of his career denying that environmental problems even exist ..and he frequently trashes health and environmental advocates”{{ref|10}}.&lt;br /&gt;
*Patrick J. Michaels - is a research professor of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia and visiting scientist with the Marshall Institute in Washington, D.C. One of the world’s leading climate sceptics (see below)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Steven J. Milloy]] - is the founder and publisher of junkscience.com, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute (see below) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Cassandra Chrones Moore]] - an adjunct scholar with the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the author of Haunted Housing: How Toxic Scare Stories Are Spooking the Public Out of House and Home.&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Thomas Gale Moore]] - is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is author of Climate of Fear: Why We Shouldn't Worry about Global Warming, and a contributor to the World Climate Report edited by Dr. Patrick Michaels (see below).. Moore was a member of Reagan's Council of Economic Advisors (1985-89){{ref|11}}. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[William A. Niskanen]] - Chairman of Cato since 1985. He was previously acting chairman of President Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers. He has also served as director of economics at Ford Motor Company and as a defense analyst for the Pentagon, the RAND Corporation, and the Institute for Defense Analyses. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Randal O'Toole]] – is director of the Thoreau Institute. &amp;quot;He is an expert on environmental policy, public lands, and urban and regional growth”{{ref|12}} . He is the author of The Citizens' Guide to the Forest Service Budget and The Citizens' Guide to the Timber Industry&lt;br /&gt;
*Richard L. Stroup - is professor of economics at Montana State University. “He is an expert on privatization, the environment, and Superfund. He is co-author of Economics: Public and Private Choice”{{ref|13}}.&lt;br /&gt;
*[[David Schoenbrod]] - professor of law at New York Law School. “He is an expert on the delegation of executive powers, federal regulation, injunctions, air pollution, and institutional reform”{{ref|14}}.&lt;br /&gt;
*Jerry Taylor challenges the “market failure” critique of free markets as they pertain to energy policy and environmental protection. “Under Taylor’s direction, the Cato Institute has become the nation's most influential critics of federal and state environmental policy”{{ref|15}}.&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dwight R. Lee]] - professor of economics at the University of Georgia. He is an expert on environmental economics, the economic analysis of government, and labor economics{{ref|16}}. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter VanDoren]] - Editor of the quarterly journal Regulation, and an expert in the regulation of housing, land, energy, the environment, transportation and labor{{ref|17}}. &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Benjamin Zycher]] - A senior economist at RAND. He is an expert on public finance, regulation, insurance, environmental and energy economics, and the economics of defense{{ref|18}}.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Issues==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Cato works on all the major policy issues, including a myriad of environmental ones, including Air Pollution Population, Urban Sprawl, and Sustainable Development &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Forests and Forestry, 5th Amendment (property rights), Global Warming, Public Lands, Energy, Risk Assessment/Science and Public Policy, Environmental Law, and Regulation, Superfund, Natural Resources, and Water Policy. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Some of its most important and high profile are global warming, “sound science,” attacking the environmental movement - see below and climate &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Climate===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Patrick Michaels]] is one of the most often quoted climate sceptics in the US. He is author of &amp;quot;''The Satanic Gases: Clearing the Air About Global Warming''” along with [[Robert Balling]], another leading climate sceptic{{ref|19}}.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Over the past few years, Michaels has moderated his position from one where global warming is not happening to one where it is, but it is not as bad as everyone makes out{{ref|20}}. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Said Michaels in October 2003: “Contrary to almost every news report and every staged hearing… scientists know quite precisely how much the planet will warm in the foreseeable future, a modest three-quarters of a degree”{{ref|21}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Michaels and Cato have spoken out against Kyoto in numerous press articles. For example: “The [[Kyoto Protocol]] is wildly popular in Britain largely because the country seems to lack scientists courageous enough to point out that the government's alarmist view of climate change is without merit”{{ref|22}}. He also opposes domestic US initiatives to tackle climate such as McCain-Lieberman bill, which he calls an “intrusion into business, the economy, and, eventually, into your home”, which “is totally unnecessary”. {{ref|23}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Cato Institute]] holds regular briefings on global warming, with known climate sceptics. In December 2003, panellists included [[Patrick Michaels]], known-sceptic [[Robert Balling]], Arizona State University and [[Michael Schlesinger]], University of Illinois, who believes that the current scientific knowledge of climate change is not settled and that uncertainties “must be reduced”, amongst others{{ref|24}}. Cato held similar briefings on Climate in Washington in July 2003 and 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He has numerous links to anti-environmental and right-wing groups. He is an advisor to the [[American Council on Science and Health]], [[The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition]] (now defunct), the [[American Policy Center]] and [[Consumer Alert]]{{ref|25}}. He has debunked climate change at a press conference for [[Consumer Alert]] along with other known climate sceptics. Along with Robert Balling (who often appears at Cato events) Michaels has represented the fossil-fuel corporate front groups the [[Global Climate Coalition]] and the [[Information Council on the Environment]] (ICE), the later funded by the [[National Coal Association]]. Leaked memos details how the Association planned test marketing of the idea to “reposition global warming as theory (not fact)” {{ref|26}}. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Michaels testified in 1995 that he had received $16,000 in funding in the previous five years from the [[German Coal Association]] and [[Western Fuels Company]]{{ref|27}}. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Michael’s newsletter, the [[World Climate Report]], is funded by the Western Fuels Association, and can be found on the website, www.co2andclimate.org/editors.html, which is run by the Greening Earth Society / Western Fuels. The Contributing Editor is Robert Balling. Sallie Baliunas (See below) has also been a past contributing editor. Other contributors include Dr. Thomas Gale Moore from the Hoover Institution{{ref|28}}. In his book “The Heated Debate”, Balling calls global warming “the mother of all scares”{{ref|29}}. In 1996, Balling and Michaels were listed as a member of ESEF (see below). Balling is also on the Science Roundtable of Tech Central Station.{{ref|30}} (see below)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
But he is not the only Cato analyst to dismiss climate change. Jerry Taylor from Cato dismissed the World Watch Report in May 2003 that linked climate change and severe weather events. “It's false”, said Taylor. “There is absolutely no evidence that extreme weather events are on the increase. None. The argument that more and more dollar damages accrue is a reflection of the greater amount of wealth we've created{{ref|31}}”.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Water===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Cato Institute]] have intermittently contributed to debates over water policy in recent times. Unsurprisngly this has taken a tone which chimes with [[Market Environmentalism]]. Given [[Terry Anderson]], co-author of ''Free Market Environmentalism '' is one of the main contributors its even less surprising. Publications from the Cato Institute advocating private property rights of water include [http://www.catostore.org/index.asp?fa=ProductDetails&amp;amp;method=cats&amp;amp;scid=33&amp;amp;pid=1441248&amp;amp;__utma=1.1873608286482151000.1242883647.1242883647.1262709725.2&amp;amp;__utmb=1.3.10.1262709725&amp;amp;__utmc=1&amp;amp;__utmx=-&amp;amp;__utmz=1.1262709725.2.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=Cato%20Institute%20water&amp;amp;__utmv=-&amp;amp;__utmk=67607057 Water For Sale: How Business and the Market Can Resolve the World's Water Crisis] by [[Fredrik Segerfeldt]], [http://www.catostore.org/index.asp?fa=ProductDetails&amp;amp;method=&amp;amp;pid=144126 Water Policy: Ending the Drought] by [[Terry Anderson]] and their Policy Analysis Paper [http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=970&amp;amp;full=1 Going With the Flow: Expanding the Water Markets] by [[Terry Anderson]] and [[Donald R. Leal]]. &lt;br /&gt;
    &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Steve Milloy]] - the junkman&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Steven Milloy is the “junkman” an industry hack who is an apologist for the tobacco and oil industries.  He also routinely denigrates environmentalists as “eco-terrorists”{{ref|32}}, or psychologically challenged” or “bogus”, “environmental extremists”, “blowhards”, “turkeys”, “nut cases”, or members of the “food police”,{{ref|33}} through his website junkscience.com.&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
PR Watch has tracked Milloy’s activities as a spin doctor for big tobacco and other polluting industries. Going back a decade, to the early nineties Milloy worked as a lobbyist for [[Multinational Business Services]] (MBS), a group hired by [[Philip Morris]] as its primary contact on secondhand smoke issues. Milloy worked under James Tozzi, who was under contract with PM for $40,000 a month in 19935 and up to $610,000 in 1994{{ref|34}}.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Milloy first came to prominence as the Executive Director [[The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition]] (TASSC), “an organization that was covertly created by Philip Morris for the express purpose of generating scientific controversy regarding the link between second-hand smoke and cancer” ...&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the late nineties, Milloy was registered as a lobbyist for the EOP Group. In 1997, Congressional lobbying records show that Milloy and the EOP group client’s included American Petroleum Institute, FMC Corp, Fort Howard, International Food Additives Council, and Monsanto.{{ref|45}}  In 1998, through the EOP Group, Milloy was a registered lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute{{ref|46}}.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
TASSC was quietly retired in 1998 only to be replaced by other Milloy websites such as No More Scares.com which was set up with Bonner Cohen, the editor of EPA Watch, published by the American Policy Center (APC), which is headed “by long-time PR pro Thomas DeWeese”{{ref|47}}. In 2000, the nomorescares website was used to launch a report called “The Fear Profiteers” whose authors included Milloy, Bonner Cohen, John Carlisle, Michael Fumento, Michael Gough, Henry Miller, Kenneth Smith and Elizabeth Whelan. “All have a track record of accepting funding from and defending industries that make dangerous products and pollute the environment”{{ref|48}}. Nomorescare is now also defunct. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Another website runs by Milloy was consumerdistorts.com, which is also defunct, so Milloy’s main weapon of propaganda is junkscience.com and a column for Fox news. In 2001, Milloy published the book Junk Science Judo: Self-Defense Against Health Scares and Scams{{ref|49}}, and used the attacks on the World Trade Center to argue the case for more asbestos{{ref|50}}. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A year later Milloy set up yet another front web-site called StopLabelingLies.com that claims to be dedicated to exposing “examples of false and misleading food and other product labels and their associated marketing campaigns,” but its “real mission is to attack organic foods on behalf of the biotech industry”. The site tries to hide links to Milloy, but was originally registered to Citizens for the Integrity of Science, a paper organization that, according to PR Watch “ Milloy sometimes lists as the sponsor of his other web site, JunkScience.com.”{{ref|51}} Indeed it is as the Citizens for the Integrity of Science that Malloy has joined the CEI and other groups attacking climate change.{{ref|52}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Exxon]] documents show that it has given $30,000 to the Advancement of Sound Science Council rather than Coalition. This organisation does to seem to exist elsewhere, so even though TASSC is widely seen to be defunct, Exxon may still be funding it in a slightly different guise.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact== &lt;br /&gt;
*'''Address:''' 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington D.C. 20001-5403&lt;br /&gt;
*'''Web Address:''' [http://www.cato.org www.cato.org]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|1}} see the sierra magazine article available on their website at http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200207/thinktank_printable.asp&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|2}} from the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/about/index.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|3}} quoted in an article on the Tobacco News website available at http://www.tobacco.org/articles/org/cato/&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|4}} from the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/about/about.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|5}} from the PFAW website at http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9261&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|6}} see http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Cato_Institute&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|7}} ibid&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|8}} http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200207/thinktank_printable.asp&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|9}}  http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/cpr-19n6-10.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|10}} see PR Watch website at  http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1999Q4/forcing.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|11}} see CEI website at http://www.cei.org/pages/tmoore.cfm&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|12}} see the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/people/otoole.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|13}} see the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/people/stroup.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|14}} see the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/people/schoenbrod.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|15}} see the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/people/taylor.html &lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|16}} see the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/people/lee.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|17}} see the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/people/vandoren.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|18}} see the Cato website at http://www.cato.org/people/zycher.html&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|19}} information about this book available on the Cato website at http://www.catostore.org/index.asp?fa=ProductDetails&amp;amp;method=cats&amp;amp;scid=17&amp;amp;pid=144919 &lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|20}} T. Stein (2003) “Unstable Climate Linked To Pollution Boulder Experts Cite Causes Of Warming”, The Denver Post, 5 December.&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|21}} P. J. Michaels (2003) “Posturing and Reality On Warming”, The Washington Times, 16 October.&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|22}}  P. J. Michaels (2003) Kyoto: The Hidden Cost Of Victory In Iraq, The Cato Institute; quoted in United Press International (2003) “Think tanks wrap-up V”, 17 April&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|23}} J. L. Brady (2003) “With Clock Ticking, McCain's Push for Climate Change Bill Irritates Colleagues”, Roll Call, 30 October (2003) “Think tanks wrap-up V”, 17 April&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|24}} P. J. Michaels (2003) “Posturing And Reality On Warming”, The Washington Times, 16 October&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|25}}http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2000Q3/junkman.html]&lt;br /&gt;
#{{note|26}}http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/info_on_any_recipient.php?51]&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|27}}Source Greenpeace  - data from company reports for  98, 00, 01, 02 – data not available for 99 and pre-98.&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|28}}http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=9261&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|29}}http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Cato_Institute&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|30}}http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1999Q4/forcing.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|31}}http://www.clearproject.org/reports_cato.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|32}}C. Coon, &amp;amp; Erin. Hymel (2003) Sound Policy for the Energy Bill, Heritage Foundation Reports, 23 September. &lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|33}}http://www.ewg.org/pub/home/clear/view/CV_Vol4_No16.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|34}}A. Rowell (1996) Green Backlash – Global Subversion of the Environment Movement, Routledge, 140-143; S. Rampton &amp;amp; J. Stauber (2001) Trust Us, We’re Experts, How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Yours Future, Tarcher / Putnam, p272-274&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|45}}S. Rampton &amp;amp; J. Stauber (2001) Trust Us, We’re Experts – How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Yours Future, Tarcher / Puttnam, p273&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|46}}http://www.co2andclimate.org/editors.html] [http://www.co2andclimate.org/climate/download/pdf/wcr7-10.pdf&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|47}}R. C. Balling Jr. (1992) The Heated Debate, Greenhouse Predictions Versus Climate Reality, Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy, pxv&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|48}}http://www.Tech Central Station.com/scienceroundtable.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|49}}L. Miller (2003) “Enviro Trends: Poor to Bear Brunt Of Climate Change --; Worldwatch”, Greenwire, 23 May.&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|50}}http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2001Q4/terror.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|51}}http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1999Q4/avery.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|52}}Americans for Non Smokers Rights (2003) Steven J. Milloy – The Junkman Exposed, December.&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|53}}http://www.opensecrets.org/Lobbyists/lobbyist.asp?ID=15971&amp;amp;year=1997&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|54}}http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/opr_viewer.exe?19984MILLOY,$STEVELOB~0&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|55}}http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2000Q3/usual.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|56}}http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2000Q3/usual.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|57}}http://www.prwatch.org/spin/August_2001.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|58}}http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2001Q4/junkman.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|59}}http://www.prwatch.org/spin/October_2002.html&lt;br /&gt;
# {{note|60}}http://www.cei.org/gencon/003,03465.cfm&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:GM]][[Category:Far-Right Think-Tanks (GM)]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Think Tanks]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Climate Change Sceptics]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Water]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Water: Think Tanks]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Climate]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=126940</id>
		<title>Spiked</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Spiked&amp;diff=126940"/>
		<updated>2010-08-04T11:31:37Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Principals */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Spiked''' is part of the libertarian anti-environmental [[LM network]]. It is an online magazine currently edited by [[Brendan O'Neill]] and previously by ''Times'' columnist [[Mick Hume]]. Spiked is a private company limited by shares with seven staff and an annual turnover of about £175,000.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House,Spiked Ltd. Financial Statement 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Its directors are [[Helene Guldberg]] (company secretary and managing editor, previously co-publisher of [[LM]]) and [[Frank Furedi]].  The great majority of the shares in the company Spiked Ltd, which has the same address as that of Spiked magazine and which runs Spiked magazine, are held by Frank Furedi and [[Jennie Bristow]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/326/ Support Spiked], Spiked, acc 29 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to Alexa, the web information company, Spiked is the 12,013th most popular website in the UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/spiked-online.com# spiked-online.com]&amp;quot;, Alexa website, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked was launched in 2000 after the magazine Hume edited, LM, was terminated after unsuccessfully defending a libel lawsuit. Helene Guldberg's co-publisher, [[Claire Fox]], launched Spiked's sister organisation, the [[Institute of Ideas]] (IoI) around the same time. The staff and many of Spiked's contributors are members of the same network of [[Living Marxism]]/[[Revolutionary Communist Party]] supporters.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Thus very many of the personnel of other entities associated with the LM network have written for Spiked. Spiked has promoted the events and publications of the [[Institute of Ideas]] and its projects, the [[Battle of Ideas]] and [[Culture Wars]]. Many of Spiked's writers write for and appear at the events of these entities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has featured a number of pro-GM articles by [[Vivian Moses]] of [[CropGen]] and [[Thomas Deichmann]], the person at the center of the ITN/LM libel case. Spiked has also published a number of articles downplaying the hazards of pesticide residues in food which suggest that there is nothing to worry about.  It has also published articles attacking organic food by [[Dennis Avery]] and [[Alex Avery]] of the [[Hudson Institute]] and [[Center for Global Food Issues]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alex Avery and Dennis Avery, [http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/00000002D21D.htm Unearthing the truth about organic food], Spiked, 5 Sept 2001, acc 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on the environment==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked has also run a series of online debates about the environment sponsored by the [[Natural Environment Research Council]] (NERC), a UK public funding body whose mission is to support independent scientific research in the environmental sciences. One of the series was a debate on GM called &amp;quot;The future of GM&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;. It features the opinions of &amp;quot;five experts&amp;quot; ([[Les Firbank]], [[Tony Gilland]], [[Robin Grove-White]], [[Gregory Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]]) together with three &amp;quot;Commissioned responses&amp;quot; from other &amp;quot;experts&amp;quot; ([[Alan Gray]], [[John Conroy]], and the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]]). Of these eight experts only one has been known to take a critical attitude towards the technology, and it would seem incompatible with NERC's aim to obtain &amp;quot;independent&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;impartial&amp;quot; input.   However, when the history of those behind Spiked was brought to NERC's attention, Marion O'Sullivan, the Press Officer, replied that: &lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;NERC is satisfied that '''there is no evidence''' suggesting that, on environmental matters, Spiked have any particular agenda.&amp;quot; (emphasis added)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Marion O'Sullivan in an email to GMWatch, September 2002, archived [http://ngin.tripod.com/180902a.htm here]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In fact, those involved in Spiked are pro-GM and ignore or attack environmental concerns in almost any form. Two of the contributors to this debate on GM ([[John Conroy]], [[Tony Gilland]]) are part of group which includes Spiked, but their affiliation with the organization was not made public. Gilland's contribution, &amp;quot;Let the Sowing Begin&amp;quot;, argued that: &lt;br /&gt;
:The [GM] farm-scale trials are an unnecessary obstacle to the introduction of this beneficial technology.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Tony Gillan, [http://web.archive.org/web/20040519215214/www.spiked-online.com/articles/00000006D9FF.htm Let the sowing begin], Spiked, 16 Sep 02, version placed in web archive 2004, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The other experts commissioned by Spiked included the biotech industry lobby group, the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] (ABC), and the pro-GM lobbyists [[Greg Conko]] and [[CS Prakash]], who have also previously written for Spiked.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040519220441/http://www.spiked-online.com/Sections/Science/Debates/GM/ Spiked Science Debates: The future of GM], Spiked, 16 Sept 2002, version placed in web archive 19 May 04 (Accessed in web archive 25 May 2010)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A 2010 Spiked debate on After Copenhagen commenced with a manifesto from Spiked editor Brendan O’Neill, followed by contributions from Spiked staffers Brendan O’Neill, Rob Lyons and Nathalie Rothschild, LM associates [[Frank Furedi]] and [[Philip Hammond]] and critics of environmentalism [[Dominic Lawson]], [[Mike Hulme]], [[Ben Pile]], [[Tim Ridley]] and [[Peter Taylor]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/debates/copenhagen_homeAfter Copenhagen]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 10 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Contributions to the 2009 Spiked ‘debate’ on online poker comprised four from sponsor Poker Junkie and one each from a pro-poker society, a poker player and an anti-regulation Spiked intern.  Four readers commented. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members of the LM network are among those who post comments on Spiked &amp;quot;debates&amp;quot;, and these invariably support the party line but without revealing their affiliation. The same goes for other articles published by Spiked, many of which are penned by members of the LM network.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Debates on mobile phones==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
BT subsidiary O2 sponsored five Spiked Debates on mobile phones during 2005, 2006 and 2007&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/onlinedebates/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 7 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; while another was sponsored by Orange.  The Mobile Operators Association is also on record as having funded Spiked. The debates explored public concerns about the perceived effects of mobile phones on health, child protection and the environment. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ Online debates]&amp;quot;, Spiked, accessed 9 June 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Campaigns 2010==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked campaigns in 2010 included:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/issues_all/ All Spiked Issues], Spiked, accessed 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
* Challenging China-bashing&lt;br /&gt;
* Drink and drugs&lt;br /&gt;
* Environment&lt;br /&gt;
* For Europe, Against the EU&lt;br /&gt;
* Genetics&lt;br /&gt;
* GM food&lt;br /&gt;
* Hands off the human footprint - Climate Change&lt;br /&gt;
* Mad cow panic and BSE&lt;br /&gt;
* Open the Borders - Anti-immigration control&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Seminars==&lt;br /&gt;
Besides its website, Spiked also organises seminars which draw well-known figures to events carefully designed to promote its own agenda. In March 2003, Spiked co-sponsored with [[International Policy Network]] (IPN) a seminar held at the London headquarters of PR firm Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton entitled: &amp;quot;'GM food: should labeling be mandatory?&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This seminar, in common with other Spiked seminars, was held at [[Hill &amp;amp; Knowlton]], an influential public relations company.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20040423050416/http://www.policynetwork.net/events/labelling_3march2003.htm 'GM food: should labelling be mandatory?'], IPN website, version placed in web archive 23/4/04, acc in web archive 25 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Principals==&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mick Hume]] &amp;amp;ndash; founder and editor-at-large&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Brendan O'Neill]] &amp;amp;ndash; editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] &amp;amp;ndash; managing editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Lyons]] &amp;amp;ndash; deputy editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Nathalie Rothschild]] &amp;amp;ndash; commissioning editor&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tim Black]] &amp;amp;ndash; senior writer&lt;br /&gt;
===Contributors===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Patrick Basham]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tracey Brown]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Greg Conko]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Conroy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Fox]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Thomas Deichmann]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Bill Durodie]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michael Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tony Gilland]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Gillott]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Vivian Moses]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Channapatna S. Prakash]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellen Raphael]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Juliet Tizzard]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
In October 2009, Spiked appealed to its readers for funds to help it keep going.  Spiked state&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/about/article/340 Spiked partners and sponsors]&amp;quot;, Spiked website, accessed 3 May 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; that current and former partners and sponsors include: &lt;br /&gt;
* Arts Council England&lt;br /&gt;
* Bloomberg &lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Association for the Advancement of Science]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[BT]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Cadbury Schweppes]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Cambridge University Press&lt;br /&gt;
* Cheltenham Science Festival&lt;br /&gt;
* Colubris Networks&lt;br /&gt;
* City of London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Clarke Mulder Purdie]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Continuum International Publishing Group&lt;br /&gt;
* Dana Centre&lt;br /&gt;
* European Commission research project RightsWatch&lt;br /&gt;
* [[EuroScience]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Hill and Knowlton]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[IBM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[INFORM]]&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute for the International Education of Students&lt;br /&gt;
* Institute of Psychiatry&lt;br /&gt;
* [[International Policy Network]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Luther Pendragon]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Medical Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Mobile Operators Association]]&lt;br /&gt;
* National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Natural Environment Research Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Orange]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[O2]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Pfizer]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Royal Institution]] of Great Britain&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Social Issues Research Centre]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Society of Chemical Industry]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Tech Central Station]]&lt;br /&gt;
* University of East London&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Wellcome Trust]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Officers and shareholders of Spiked Ltd==&lt;br /&gt;
According to Spiked Ltd's Annual Return 2010:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Companies House, Spiked Ltd. AR01 Annual Return 2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Officers===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]] - company director&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helene Guldberg]] - company director and company secretary&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Shareholders===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ben Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Geraldine Atfield]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Belt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Colin Berry]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Best]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jennie Bristow]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Cassidy]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Fiona Cleary]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dave Clements]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ceri Dingle]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[John Fitzpatrick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Frank Furedi]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Dieter Hamblock]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Stuart Hibbin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ged Hession]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Holbrook]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ashley Johnstone]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Joe Kaplinsky]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rob Killick]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Simon Knight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Rose Landthaller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Michele Ledda]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ellie Lee]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Peter Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith McCabe]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jonathan Meads]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Alan Miller]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Matt Ridley]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Reeves]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Hilary Salt]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Marco Santucci]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Helen Searls]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Jon Sowerby]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Keith Teare]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Mark Tyson]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Paul Wight]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[James Woudhuysen]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources, references and contact==&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Spiked, [http://spinprofiles.org/images/7/7a/BrandManagersPack.pdf Brand Managers Pack]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:Website: [http://www.spiked.org/ www.spiked.org]  (Accessed 21 August 2007)&lt;br /&gt;
:Address: spiked, Signet House, 49-51 Farringdon Road, London, EC1M 3JP &lt;br /&gt;
:Tel: +44 (0)207 40 40 470&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: general-enquiries@spiked-online.com&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:LM network]][[Category:GM]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Progressive_Vision&amp;diff=126936</id>
		<title>Progressive Vision</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Progressive_Vision&amp;diff=126936"/>
		<updated>2010-08-04T11:23:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Affiliations */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Progressive Vision]] calls itself &amp;quot;an independent think-tank, campaigning for new and liberal solutions to the problems facing British and European society&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.progressive-vision.org/ Home page], Progressive Vision website, accessed 30 Sept 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In practice, its policies are traditional free market liberalism. This is perhaps not surprising as its staff have links to the free market think tanks the [[Centre for Policy Studies]] and the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Views and activities==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===On climate change===&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision has a section on climate change on its website. As at 1 October 2009 this section features an article criticising proposed EU measures to limit CO2 emissions of new cars as &amp;quot;over prescriptive legislation&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.progressive-vision.org/policies/climate_change.htm CLIMATE CHANGE REGULATION: Climate change is being used to justify unwarranted regulation, while ignoring common sense solutions], Progressive Vision website, 16 Sept 2009, accessed 1 October 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===On the NHS===&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision has a section on health on its website. As at 1 October 2009 this section is entirely devoted to an article attacking the National Health Service (NHS). The article, entitled &amp;quot;The NHS as a model is deeply flawed and a change to a more effective system is required&amp;quot;, states:&lt;br /&gt;
:Apart from a number of socialist ideologues, the NHS is envied by few outside Britain and if having one of the poorest performing health systems in the developed world is a great British achievement, Britain would be in a poor state.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.progressive-vision.org/policies/health.htm HEALTH: The NHS as a model is deeply flawed and a change to a more effective system is required], Progressive Vision website, 29 July 2008, accessed 1 October 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Progressive Conservatives===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision launched a group called ‘Progressive Conservatives’, chaired by Tory MEP [[Syed Kamall]], as a new group for ‘classical liberals in the Conservative Party’. According to the Liberal Conspiracy blog:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:If anything it looks to be ‘brains’ behind the Hannanite wing of the Tory Party, particularly when pitching for a Singapore-style healthcare system and the break-up of the BBC.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Zarathustra, [http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/01/25/where-are-all-the-nurses-for-reform/ Where are all the 'Nurses' for Reform?], ''Liberal Conspiracy'', 25-January-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to the Progressive Vision website as at October 2009, the following are the directors and staff of the organisation:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.progressive-vision.org/general/aboutus.htm About Us], Progressive Vision website, 1 October 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Director: [[Shane Frith]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:Shane has worked for a number of London based think tanks, including [[Reform]], [[Open Europe]] and the [[Centre for Policy Studies]], since moving from his native New Zealand. He is also the founder and Director of [[Doctors’ Alliance]], a pan-European network of medical professionals seeking better ways to deliver healthcare.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Director of Communications: [[Mark Littlewood]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:Mark was Head of Media for the Liberal Democrats from December 2004 to May 2007. Previously, he was Campaigns Director of human rights group Liberty from June 2001 until April 2004. In 2004, he was co-founder, and first national coordinator of NO2ID, Britain’s leading pressure group opposing the introduction of national identity cards. He has been Chairman of NO2ID since 2006.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher: [[Sam Collins]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Fellow: [[Keith Boyfield]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:Keith is an economist and writer who specialises in marketing, competition and regulatory policy. He runs a City consultancy advising multinational companies, non profit organisations and charities. He is the executive director of [[Leriba Risk]], a consultancy assisting business and investment in Africa.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:He is a fellow of the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]] (IEA) and chairman of the IEA's Shadow Regulatory Policy Committee; and a research fellow of the [[Centre for Policy Studies]].&lt;br /&gt;
	&lt;br /&gt;
:Keith has written and consulted extensively on competition policy, marketing and advertising issues.  He is a regular contributor to the editorial sections of the [[Wall Street Journal]], [[Financial Times]] and other leading newspapers; and a columnist for Acquisitions Monthly.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Fellow: Dr [[Mark Pennington]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Fellow: Professor [[John Spiers]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:He is a Visiting Fellow at the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]], specialising in health care and public policy. In 2001 he was a founder member of the Advisory Council of Reform. He has previously served for 5 years as Health Policy Adviser to The [[Social Market Foundation]], and as Chairman of The Health Policy Committee of The [[Centre for Policy Studies]]. In 1999 was an Adjunct Scholar at The Cascade Policy Institute, Portland, Oregon, studying American health care policy. He was a member of the John Major's Prime Minister’s Citizen’s Charter Advisory Panel. He was Chairman of Brighton Health Authority, Brighton Health Care Trust, the NHS SE Region David Salomons Management Centre, and The Patients Association, whose re-launch he led in 1995.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Fellow: Professor [[Jim Thornton]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:Jim has been Professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, at Nottingham University and consultant at Nottingham University Hospitals for seven years. Previously he was a consultant in Leeds. He qualified in medicine in 1977 from Leeds University. Between 1979 and 1983 he worked in Chogoria, a Church of Scotland mission hospital in Kenya.  His primary research interest is in clinical trials and he is currently deputy director of the Nottingham Clinical Trials Support Unit, and a member of the Medical Research Councils Health Service Research Board. He was previously editor-in-chief of the European and British Journals of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is a founder member of [[Doctors for Reform]], and previously on the advisory boards of the [[Institute of Economic Affairs|IEA]] Health and Welfare Unit and [[Civitas]]. In 2005 he was the Conservative Party’s parliamentary candidate for Nottingham East.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision does not disclose its sources of funding on its website.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliations==&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision is the sole funder of the website [[Green Monitor]] and is a coalition partner of [[Save Our Pubs &amp;amp; Clubs: AmendTheSmokingBan.com]] along with the [[Adam Smith Institute]], [[FOREST]] and the [[Manifesto Club]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.amendthesmokingban.com/ Save Our Pubs &amp;amp; Clubs: AmendTheSmokingBan.com], accessed 4 August 2010.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Publications==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Address: Progressive Vision, Suite 111, 95 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1BZ&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Phone: +44-207 870 5303 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Email:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Website: http://www.progressive-vision.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Think Tanks]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Climate]][[Category:Climate Change Sceptics]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Progressive_Vision&amp;diff=126933</id>
		<title>Progressive Vision</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Progressive_Vision&amp;diff=126933"/>
		<updated>2010-08-04T11:21:35Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Affiliations */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[Progressive Vision]] calls itself &amp;quot;an independent think-tank, campaigning for new and liberal solutions to the problems facing British and European society&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.progressive-vision.org/ Home page], Progressive Vision website, accessed 30 Sept 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In practice, its policies are traditional free market liberalism. This is perhaps not surprising as its staff have links to the free market think tanks the [[Centre for Policy Studies]] and the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Views and activities==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===On climate change===&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision has a section on climate change on its website. As at 1 October 2009 this section features an article criticising proposed EU measures to limit CO2 emissions of new cars as &amp;quot;over prescriptive legislation&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.progressive-vision.org/policies/climate_change.htm CLIMATE CHANGE REGULATION: Climate change is being used to justify unwarranted regulation, while ignoring common sense solutions], Progressive Vision website, 16 Sept 2009, accessed 1 October 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===On the NHS===&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision has a section on health on its website. As at 1 October 2009 this section is entirely devoted to an article attacking the National Health Service (NHS). The article, entitled &amp;quot;The NHS as a model is deeply flawed and a change to a more effective system is required&amp;quot;, states:&lt;br /&gt;
:Apart from a number of socialist ideologues, the NHS is envied by few outside Britain and if having one of the poorest performing health systems in the developed world is a great British achievement, Britain would be in a poor state.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.progressive-vision.org/policies/health.htm HEALTH: The NHS as a model is deeply flawed and a change to a more effective system is required], Progressive Vision website, 29 July 2008, accessed 1 October 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Progressive Conservatives===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision launched a group called ‘Progressive Conservatives’, chaired by Tory MEP [[Syed Kamall]], as a new group for ‘classical liberals in the Conservative Party’. According to the Liberal Conspiracy blog:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:If anything it looks to be ‘brains’ behind the Hannanite wing of the Tory Party, particularly when pitching for a Singapore-style healthcare system and the break-up of the BBC.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Zarathustra, [http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/01/25/where-are-all-the-nurses-for-reform/ Where are all the 'Nurses' for Reform?], ''Liberal Conspiracy'', 25-January-2010&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to the Progressive Vision website as at October 2009, the following are the directors and staff of the organisation:&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.progressive-vision.org/general/aboutus.htm About Us], Progressive Vision website, 1 October 2009&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Director: [[Shane Frith]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:Shane has worked for a number of London based think tanks, including [[Reform]], [[Open Europe]] and the [[Centre for Policy Studies]], since moving from his native New Zealand. He is also the founder and Director of [[Doctors’ Alliance]], a pan-European network of medical professionals seeking better ways to deliver healthcare.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Director of Communications: [[Mark Littlewood]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:Mark was Head of Media for the Liberal Democrats from December 2004 to May 2007. Previously, he was Campaigns Director of human rights group Liberty from June 2001 until April 2004. In 2004, he was co-founder, and first national coordinator of NO2ID, Britain’s leading pressure group opposing the introduction of national identity cards. He has been Chairman of NO2ID since 2006.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher: [[Sam Collins]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Fellow: [[Keith Boyfield]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:Keith is an economist and writer who specialises in marketing, competition and regulatory policy. He runs a City consultancy advising multinational companies, non profit organisations and charities. He is the executive director of [[Leriba Risk]], a consultancy assisting business and investment in Africa.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:He is a fellow of the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]] (IEA) and chairman of the IEA's Shadow Regulatory Policy Committee; and a research fellow of the [[Centre for Policy Studies]].&lt;br /&gt;
	&lt;br /&gt;
:Keith has written and consulted extensively on competition policy, marketing and advertising issues.  He is a regular contributor to the editorial sections of the [[Wall Street Journal]], [[Financial Times]] and other leading newspapers; and a columnist for Acquisitions Monthly.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Fellow: Dr [[Mark Pennington]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Fellow: Professor [[John Spiers]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:He is a Visiting Fellow at the [[Institute of Economic Affairs]], specialising in health care and public policy. In 2001 he was a founder member of the Advisory Council of Reform. He has previously served for 5 years as Health Policy Adviser to The [[Social Market Foundation]], and as Chairman of The Health Policy Committee of The [[Centre for Policy Studies]]. In 1999 was an Adjunct Scholar at The Cascade Policy Institute, Portland, Oregon, studying American health care policy. He was a member of the John Major's Prime Minister’s Citizen’s Charter Advisory Panel. He was Chairman of Brighton Health Authority, Brighton Health Care Trust, the NHS SE Region David Salomons Management Centre, and The Patients Association, whose re-launch he led in 1995.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Fellow: Professor [[Jim Thornton]]. His biography on the Progressive Vision website reads:&lt;br /&gt;
:Jim has been Professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, at Nottingham University and consultant at Nottingham University Hospitals for seven years. Previously he was a consultant in Leeds. He qualified in medicine in 1977 from Leeds University. Between 1979 and 1983 he worked in Chogoria, a Church of Scotland mission hospital in Kenya.  His primary research interest is in clinical trials and he is currently deputy director of the Nottingham Clinical Trials Support Unit, and a member of the Medical Research Councils Health Service Research Board. He was previously editor-in-chief of the European and British Journals of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is a founder member of [[Doctors for Reform]], and previously on the advisory boards of the [[Institute of Economic Affairs|IEA]] Health and Welfare Unit and [[Civitas]]. In 2005 he was the Conservative Party’s parliamentary candidate for Nottingham East.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision does not disclose its sources of funding on its website.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliations==&lt;br /&gt;
Progressive Vision is the sole funder of the website [[Green Monitor]] and is a coalition partner of [[Save Our Pubs &amp;amp; Clubs: AmendTheSmokingBan.com]] along with the [[Adam Smith Institute]], [[FOREST]] and the [[Manifesto Club]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Publications==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Address: Progressive Vision, Suite 111, 95 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1BZ&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Phone: +44-207 870 5303 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Email:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Website: http://www.progressive-vision.org&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Think Tanks]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Climate]][[Category:Climate Change Sceptics]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88439</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88439"/>
		<updated>2009-05-07T11:46:24Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Back to London */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;[[Robbie MacDuff]] (Robert Walter MacDuff, b. 19 June 1958) is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as a Director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2005) and its Chair since 2008. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002, MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[Seiga Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. During SEIGA's existence, it was located at 12 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BB. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Edinburgh Business Labour Forum====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Strategy in Scotland====&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003====&lt;br /&gt;
On 30 April, 1999, Fran Abrams reported that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Back to London===&lt;br /&gt;
====APPC Role====&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. MacDuff, who was appointed as Chair of APPC in 2008, said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Political Public Affairs Consultant (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Seiga Political Consultants]] - Managing Director (1995-1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Association of Professional Political Consultants]] (APPC) - Director (2005-), Chair (2008-)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88438</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88438"/>
		<updated>2009-05-07T11:35:31Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;[[Robbie MacDuff]] (Robert Walter MacDuff, b. 19 June 1958) is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as a Director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2005) and its Chair since 2008. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002, MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[Seiga Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. During SEIGA's existence, it was located at 12 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BB. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Edinburgh Business Labour Forum====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Strategy in Scotland====&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003====&lt;br /&gt;
On 30 April, 1999, Fran Abrams reported that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Back to London===&lt;br /&gt;
====APPC Role====&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Political Public Affairs Consultant (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Seiga Political Consultants]] - Managing Director (1995-1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Association of Professional Political Consultants]] (APPC) - Director (2005-), Chair (2008-)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88437</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88437"/>
		<updated>2009-05-07T11:33:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;[[Robbie MacDuff]] (Robert Walter MacDuff, b. 19 June 1958) is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as a director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2005) and its Director since 2008. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002, MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[Seiga Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. During SEIGA's existence, it was located at 12 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BB. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Edinburgh Business Labour Forum====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Strategy in Scotland====&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003====&lt;br /&gt;
On 30 April, 1999, Fran Abrams reported that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Back to London===&lt;br /&gt;
====APPC Role====&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Political Public Affairs Consultant (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Seiga Political Consultants]] - Managing Director (1995-1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Association of Professional Political Consultants]] (APPC) - Director (2005-), Chair (2008-)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88424</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88424"/>
		<updated>2009-05-07T09:28:50Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002, MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[Seiga Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. However, the inconsiderable impact on the lobbying arena of his short-lived SEIGA anti-saga itself is illustrated by the fact that one of the company's few traceable online appearances comes in the form of a curious listing in the BView directory under the category of 'Computer Consumables Suppliers in Edinburgh' alongside (office stationary) industry specialists such as Ink Cycle and Toner UK. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During SEIGA's existence, it was located at 12 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BB. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
On 30 April, 1999, Fran Abrams reported that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Seiga Political Consultants]] - Managing Director (1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88389</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88389"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T16:17:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Career */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002, MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[Seiga Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament (in typically cynical terms) as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. However, the inconsiderable impact on the lobbying arena of his short-lived SEIGA anti-saga itself is illustrated by the fact that one of the company's few traceable online appearances comes in the form of a curious listing in the BView directory under the category of 'Computer Consumables Suppliers in Edinburgh' alongside (office stationary) industry specialists such as Ink Cycle and Toner UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
On 30 April, 1999, Fran Abrams reported that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Seiga Political Consultants]] - Managing Director (1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88388</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88388"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T16:16:50Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003 */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002, MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[Seiga Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament (in typically cynical terms) as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. However, the inconsiderable impact on the lobbying arena of his short-lived SEIGA anti-saga itself is illustrated by the fact that one of the company's few traceable online appearances comes in the form of a curious listing in the BView directory under the category of 'Computer Consumables Suppliers in Edinburgh' alongside (office stationary) industry specialists such as Ink Cycle and Toner UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
On 30 April, 1999, Fran Abrams reported that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] Scottish Office (SEIGA) - Managing Director (1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88384</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88384"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T16:14:09Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002, MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[Seiga Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament (in typically cynical terms) as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. However, the inconsiderable impact on the lobbying arena of his short-lived SEIGA anti-saga itself is illustrated by the fact that one of the company's few traceable online appearances comes in the form of a curious listing in the BView directory under the category of 'Computer Consumables Suppliers in Edinburgh' alongside (office stationary) industry specialists such as Ink Cycle and Toner UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] Scottish Office (SEIGA) - Managing Director (1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88383</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88383"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T16:12:03Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002, MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[SEIGA Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament (in typically cynical terms) as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. However, the inconsiderable impact on the lobbying arena of his short-lived SEIGA anti-saga itself is illustrated by the fact that one of the company's few traceable online appearances comes in the form of a curious listing in the BView directory under the category of 'Computer Consumables Suppliers in Edinburgh' alongside (office stationary) industry specialists such as Ink Cycle and Toner UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] Scottish Office (SEIGA) - Managing Director (1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88382</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88382"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T16:11:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]] in January 2002. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[SEIGA Political Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament (in typically cynical terms) as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. However, the inconsiderable impact on the lobbying arena of his short-lived SEIGA anti-saga itself is illustrated by the fact that one of the company's few traceable online appearances comes in the form of a curious listing in the BView directory under the category of 'Computer Consumables Suppliers in Edinburgh' alongside (office stationary) industry specialists such as Ink Cycle and Toner UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] Scottish Office (SEIGA) - Managing Director (1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88380</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88380"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T16:10:16Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]] in January 2002. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He had worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office ([[SEIGA Polital Consultants]]) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director. The inconsiderable impact on the lobbying arena of MacDuff's short-lived SEIGA anti-saga is illustrated by the fact that one of the company's few traceable online appearances comes in the form of a curious listing in the BView directory under the category of 'Computer Consumables Suppliers in Edinburgh' alongside (office stationary) industry specialists such as Ink Cycle and Toner UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
Over the years, MacDuff has worked for several prominent companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. After a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run. ''The Guardian'' reported that ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
''The Observer'' of 6 October, 1996, notes that&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
It would appear that MacDuff saw the establishment of the Scottish Parliament (in typically cynical terms) as the emergence of a new market for lobbying and took the opportunity to facilitate a significant degree of public-private relations in a short space of time. However, the inconsiderable impact on the lobbying arena of his short-lived SEIGA anti-saga itself is illustrated by the fact that one of the company's few traceable online appearances comes in the form of a curious listing in the BView directory under the category of 'Computer Consumables Suppliers in Edinburgh' alongside (office stationary) industry specialists such as Ink Cycle and Toner UK. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.bview.co.uk/c/Computer-Consumables-Suppliers/Edinburgh Computer Consumables Suppliers]', BView website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] Scottish Office (SEIGA) - Managing Director (1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88365</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88365"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T15:09:55Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]] in January 2002. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office (SEIGA) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. ''The Guardian'' reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were put aside and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] Scottish Office (SEIGA) - Managing Director (1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88363</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88363"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T15:06:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff and [[Chris Lowe]] established [[Precise Public Affairs]] in January 2002. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office (SEIGA) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
  &lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Politics===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. ''The Guardian'' reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Appointed as Chair of the APPC in 2008, MacDuff said that the association's &amp;quot;Code of Conduct and standards of ethics are important to all sizes and types of public affairs consultancies.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.newsandevents.five_more_companies_joins_appc/ APPC MEMBERSHIP GROWS AGAIN]', APPC website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were put aside and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[APPC]] threw out a complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Career==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] (1982-89/90)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] - Lobbyist (1989-96)&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ian Greer Associates]] Scottish Office (SEIGA) - Managing Director (until 1996)   &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) - Managing Director (1996-2002) &lt;br /&gt;
*[[Precise Public Affairs]] - Co-founder (with [[Chris Lowe]]) and Director (2002-) &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/default2.asp?page_key=1 Investment in Precise a further step in building leading presence in UK public affairs]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88341</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88341"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T13:38:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland, where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]], and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989/90-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office (SEIGA) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Political Career===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. ''The Guardian'' reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The APPC threw out a new complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88340</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88340"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T13:37:56Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland (where he was Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]]) and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2008, the [[Precise Public Affairs]] website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] (1989/90-96), moving to Edinburgh to set up the firm's Scottish office (SEIGA) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Political Career===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. ''The Guardian'' reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The APPC threw out a new complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88339</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88339"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T13:24:29Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland (where he was  Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]]) and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2008, the Precise Public Affairs website noted that MacDuff has been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] in London (1989/90-96) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to Edinburgh's [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director and then back to London with [[Precise Public Affairs]].  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Political Career===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. ''The Guardian'' reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later, the brave faces were abandoned and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alison Little, 'Greer to Quit as 'Sleaze' Row Rumbles On', ''Press Association'', 6 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Pallister, David Hencke and Owen Bowcott, 'Tories Tangled Web: Greer Throws in the Towel as Directors Quit', ''The Observer'', 6 October, 1996, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. ''The Herald'' reported in March 1996 that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Jennifer Cunningham, 'Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us: Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament', ''The Herald'' (Glasgow), 25 March, 1996, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader - in 1998 the ''Daily Record'' quoted MacDuff as stating that:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster', ''Daily Record'', 9 July, 1998, p.2.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together. He states that he was its 'secretary' though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005, [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]] spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9160013_ITM Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff]', ''PR Week'', 3 June, 2005. p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Strategy in Scotland]], the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm [[Westminster Strategy]], said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Fran Abrams, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/voting-for-a-new-britain-lobbyist-gifts-are-banned-for-scots-1090475.html Voting for a New Britain: Lobbyist Gifts are Banned for Scots]', ''The Independent'', 30 April, 1999, News Section, p. 9.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The APPC threw out a new complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn. The latest complaint was submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'The Week in Lobbying', ''PR Week'', 12 September, 2008, (Section: Public Affairs, p. 7)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88330</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88330"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T12:46:48Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland (where he was  Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]]) and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2008, the Precise Public Affairs website noted that MacDuff has been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] in London (1989/90-96) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to Edinburgh's [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director and then back to London with [[Precise Public Affairs]].  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Political Career===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90) and, in 1985, attempted to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party. ''The Guardian'' reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff tried to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election but reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election but he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to gain a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] (IGA) and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 MacDuff was reported to be an ‘Associate Director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1994 it was reported that ‘Of Mr Greer's staff, 43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Instead of dealing with the issues raised, MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff's depreciation of the exposure of unethical lobbying at IGA calls into question his stated commitment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later the brave faces were put aside and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Press Association, October 6, 1996, Sunday&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; The Observer October 6, 1996, Sunday TORIES TANGLED WEB: GREER THROWS IN THE TOWEL AS DIRECTORS QUIT BYLINE: David Pallister, David Hencke, Owen Bowcott SECTION: THE OBSERVER HOME PAGE; Pg. 3&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London in 1995/6 and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. The Herald reported in March 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
: Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Jennifer Cunningham Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us;Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament The Herald (Glasgow) March 25, 1996Pg. 19&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader, as the ''Daily Record'' reported in 1998:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Director Robbie MacDuff said: &amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Daily Record July 9, 1998, Thursday LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster SECTION: Page 2&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in - he states that he was its 'secretary'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;From the [[Precise Public Affairs]] [http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 website], accessed 6 November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; - the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together, though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it.  It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005 [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]], spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;PR Week (UK) June 3, 2005 Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff; appointed Robbie MacDuff as director of public affairs;  Brief Article SECTION: Pg. 19 ISSN: 0267-6087&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of Strategy in Scotland, the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm Westminster Strategy, said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; : Fran Abrams, ‘VOTING FOR A NEW BRITAIN: LOBBYIST GIFTS ARE BANNED FOR SCOTS’ The Independent (London) April 30, 1999, Friday, NEWS; Pg. 9&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The APPC has thrown out a new complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn (PRWeek, 15 August). The latest complaint has been submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; PR Week September 12, 2008 The Week in Lobbying SECTION: PUBLIC AFFAIRS; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88328</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88328"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T12:24:45Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher, who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland (where he was  Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]]) and in London as director of the British [[APPC]] (since 2008). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2008, the Precise Public Affairs website noted that MacDuff has been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] in London (1989/90-96) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to Edinburgh's [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director and then back to London with [[Precise Public Affairs]].  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 November, 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Political Career===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90).  MacDuff tried and failed to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party.  In 1985 the Guardian reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, 'Guardian Diary / Labouring points', ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff attempted to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election.  He reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election. But he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to get a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 he was reported to be an ‘Associate director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff joined a lobbying firm with close links to the Conservatives.  In 1994 it was reported that ‘43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, ‘Master of the Grand Gesture; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’, ''The Guardian'', 12 May, 1994, p. 3.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer: John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’. According to ''The Independent'', MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'Diary', ''The Independent'', 3 July, 1992, p. 19.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in ''The Guardian'' in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff went on to say:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke, 'Lobby Row Inflamed by Letters in the Lords: Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman', ''The Guardian'', 22 July, 1994, p. 7.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
That the exposure of the undoubtedly unethical lobbying fostered at IGA was deprecated by MacDuff might raise questions about his stated attachment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Instead of dealing with the issues raised MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. ''The Independent'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
''PR Week'' reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Stephen Castle, ‘[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/rise-and-fall-of-the-greed-generations-lobbyist-1356986.html Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist]’, ''The Independent'', 6 October, 1996, p. 17.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near, ''PR Week'' noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/search/92906// Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer]', ''PR Week'', 4 October, 1996.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later the brave faces were put aside and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Press Association, October 6, 1996, Sunday&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; The Observer October 6, 1996, Sunday TORIES TANGLED WEB: GREER THROWS IN THE TOWEL AS DIRECTORS QUIT BYLINE: David Pallister, David Hencke, Owen Bowcott SECTION: THE OBSERVER HOME PAGE; Pg. 3&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London in 1995/6 and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. The Herald reported in March 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
: Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Jennifer Cunningham Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us;Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament The Herald (Glasgow) March 25, 1996Pg. 19&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader, as the ''Daily Record'' reported in 1998:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Director Robbie MacDuff said: &amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Daily Record July 9, 1998, Thursday LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster SECTION: Page 2&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in - he states that he was its 'secretary'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;From the [[Precise Public Affairs]] [http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 website], accessed 6 November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; - the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together, though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it.  It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005 [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]], spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;PR Week (UK) June 3, 2005 Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff; appointed Robbie MacDuff as director of public affairs;  Brief Article SECTION: Pg. 19 ISSN: 0267-6087&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of Strategy in Scotland, the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm Westminster Strategy, said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; : Fran Abrams, ‘VOTING FOR A NEW BRITAIN: LOBBYIST GIFTS ARE BANNED FOR SCOTS’ The Independent (London) April 30, 1999, Friday, NEWS; Pg. 9&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The APPC has thrown out a new complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn (PRWeek, 15 August). The latest complaint has been submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; PR Week September 12, 2008 The Week in Lobbying SECTION: PUBLIC AFFAIRS; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88318</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88318"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T11:45:47Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher, who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland (where he was  Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]]) and in London as head of the British [[APPC]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2008, MacDuff was appointed director of the [[APPC]]. The same year, the Precise Public Affairs website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] in London (1989/90-96) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to Edinburgh's [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director and then back to London with [[Precise Public Affairs]].  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Political Career===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90).  MacDuff tried and failed to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party.  In 1985 the Guardian reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Alan Rusbridger, Guardian Diary / Labouring points, ''The Guardian'', 1 February, 1985.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff attempted to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election.  He reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&lt;br /&gt;
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MacDuff reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election. But he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
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In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;  &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Anthony Bevins, 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test', ''The Independent'', 5 October, 1990, p. 1.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to get a nomination for a seat, MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]] and was seconded to the Labour party to fight the 1992 General Election. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Chris Blackhurst, '[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-lobbyist-and-the-mps-hired-help-1355325.html The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help]', ''The Independent'', 3 October 1996. (Accessed 6 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;It is worth noting that this reference to MacDuff as 'Old Labour' comes from the ‘Old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]]. See Peter Clarke, ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’,''The Scotsman'', 4 October, 1995, p. 13.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 he was reported to be an ‘Associate director’ at the firm. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;David Hencke and John Mullin, ‘The Power and Prestige of Ian Greer’, ''The Guardian'', 5 October, 1993, p. 6.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff joined a lobbying firm with close links to the Conservatives.  In 1994 it was reported that ‘43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; DAVID HENCKE ‘MASTER OF THE GRAND GESTURE; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’ The Guardian (London) May 12, 1994, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 3&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Scotsman reported that 'the adroit Ian Greer Associates, formerly Tebbitites down to the office poodle, have bought Robbie MacDuff, a real Old Labour name.'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; The Scotsman October 4, 1995, Wednesday Left-wingers on the transfer list BYLINE: Peter Clarke Says There'S Nice Work Available In Top Companies For Labour Insiders SECTION: Pg. 13&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;The Independent (London) Diary EDITORIAL PAGE; Page 19, July 3, 1992, Friday&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;According to the Independent, MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;''The Independent'' (London) Diary EDITORIAL PAGE; Page 19, July 3, 1992, Friday&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in the Guardian in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; David Hencke, Westminster Correspondent LOBBY ROW INFLAMED BY LETTERS IN LORDS; Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman The Guardian (London) July 22, 1994, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to  ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; David Hencke, Westminster Correspondent LOBBY ROW INFLAMED BY LETTERS IN LORDS; Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman The Guardian (London) July 22, 1994, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff went on to say:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; David Hencke, Westminster Correspondent LOBBY ROW INFLAMED BY LETTERS IN LORDS; Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman The Guardian (London) July 22, 1994, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
That the exposure of the undoubtedly unethical lobbying fostered at IGA was deprecated by MacDuff might raise questions about his stated attachment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Instead of dealing with the issues raised MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. The Independent reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Chris Blackhurst Westminster Correspondent; The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help The Independent (London) October 3, 1996, Thursday Page  1&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
PR Week reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Stephen Castle ‘Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist’ The Independent (London) October 6, 1996, Sunday, FEATURES; Page  17&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near PR Week noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer PR Week October 4, 1996&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later the brave faces were put aside and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.‘ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Press Association, October 6, 1996, Sunday&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; The Observer October 6, 1996, Sunday TORIES TANGLED WEB: GREER THROWS IN THE TOWEL AS DIRECTORS QUIT BYLINE: David Pallister, David Hencke, Owen Bowcott SECTION: THE OBSERVER HOME PAGE; Pg. 3&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London in 1995/6 and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. The Herald reported in March 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
: Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Jennifer Cunningham Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us;Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament The Herald (Glasgow) March 25, 1996Pg. 19&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader, as the ''Daily Record'' reported in 1998:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Director Robbie MacDuff said: &amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Daily Record July 9, 1998, Thursday LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster SECTION: Page 2&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in - he states that he was its 'secretary'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;From the [[Precise Public Affairs]] [http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 website], accessed 6 November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; - the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together, though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it.  It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005 [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]], spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;PR Week (UK) June 3, 2005 Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff; appointed Robbie MacDuff as director of public affairs;  Brief Article SECTION: Pg. 19 ISSN: 0267-6087&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of Strategy in Scotland, the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm Westminster Strategy, said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; : Fran Abrams, ‘VOTING FOR A NEW BRITAIN: LOBBYIST GIFTS ARE BANNED FOR SCOTS’ The Independent (London) April 30, 1999, Friday, NEWS; Pg. 9&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The APPC has thrown out a new complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn (PRWeek, 15 August). The latest complaint has been submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; PR Week September 12, 2008 The Week in Lobbying SECTION: PUBLIC AFFAIRS; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88317</id>
		<title>Robbie MacDuff</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Robbie_MacDuff&amp;diff=88317"/>
		<updated>2009-05-06T11:19:02Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&amp;lt;youtube size=&amp;quot;medium&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; caption=&amp;quot;Robbie Macduff speaks in Manchester September 2008&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fdAVP1Q3JO8&amp;lt;/youtube&amp;gt;Robbie MacDuff is an Australian lobbyist and former parliamentary researcher, who has been at the forefront of the lobbying industry campaign against transparency in both Scotland (where he was  Secretary of the [[Association of Professional Political Consultants Scotland]]) and in London as head of the British [[APPC]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2008, MacDuff was appointed director of the [[APPC]]. The same year, the Precise Public Affairs website noted that MacDuff had been in lobbying for nineteen years, making his start date around 1989. He worked for clients in Westminster, Brussels and Edinburgh with [[Ian Greer Associates]] in London (1989/90-96) before Ian Greer lost his libel action against ''The Guardian'' and MacDuff moved to Edinburgh's [[Strategy in Scotland]] (part of [[Grayling Group]]) as Managing Director and then back to London with [[Precise Public Affairs]].  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff has worked for several companies including [[Kingfisher]], [[Thames Water]], [[British Gas]], [[GNER]], [[Railtrack]] Scotland, [[Alfred McAlpine]], [[BHP]], [[Birmingham International Airport]] and [[3i plc]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He is a former Secretary of the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]], and is a member of the [[Institute of Directors]]. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 People]', Precise Public Affairs website, accessed 6 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Background==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Political Career===&lt;br /&gt;
Macduff was a researcher for Labour MP for Bootle [[Alan Roberts]] for seven years (1982-89/90).  MacDuff tried and failed to win a nomination to fight a parliamentary seat for the Labour Party.  In 1985 the Guardian reported that, after a procedural hiccup, nominations by the TGWU Westminster branch (to which many labour researchers then belonged) for delegates to particular constituencies would have to be re-run: ‘Left wingers are suspicious that attempts will be made to block certain nominations: for instance, Mr Robbie MacDuff… to Mr [[Peter Shore]]'s constituency’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; ALAN RUSBRIDGER Guardian Diary / Labouring points The Guardian (London), February 1, 1985&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Five years later MacDuff attempted to gain the Labour nomination for the Bootle by-election.  He reportedly fell victim to a '''Sun'' test' with Labour enforcers asking by-election candidates 'whether there is anything in their private lives which could embarrass the party if it appeared on the front page of a tabloid newspaper'.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;''The Independent'' (London) October 5, 1990, Friday 'Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test' BYLINE: By ANTHONY BEVINS, Political Editor SECTION: TITLE PAGE; Page 1 &amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff, who, according to ''The Independent'' 'describes himself as gay' reportedly 'received more than a quarter of the local constituency nominations for the forthcoming by-election. But he was excluded from the shortlist by the national executive vetting panel of [[John Evans]], MP for St Helens North, and [[Eddie Haigh]], a [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] official.' &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;The Independent (London) October 5, 1990, Friday Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test BYLINE: By ANTHONY BEVINS, Political Editor SECTION: TITLE PAGE; Page 1 &amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; According to the ''Independent'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:[[Janet Pickering]], who chairs the TGWU's parliamentary branch - representing MPs' and peers' staff, said the strength of his nominations would normally have guaranteed him a place - if there was no by-election. Ms Pickering added: &amp;quot;It could, of course, have something to do with the fact that Robbie is gay.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;The Independent (London) October 5, 1990, Friday Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test BYLINE: By ANTHONY BEVINS, Political Editor SECTION: TITLE PAGE; Page 1 &amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In response:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr Evans and Mr Haigh said that [[The Sun]] was not specifically mentioned when candidates were asked whether there was anything in their private lives which could be used to embarrass them or the party, although Mr Haigh conceded: &amp;quot;I suppose it is in the back of people's minds.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;''The Independent'' (London) October 5, 1990, Friday Candidates face vetting by party officials in 'Sun' test BYLINE: By ANTHONY BEVINS, Political Editor SECTION: TITLE PAGE; Page 1 &amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Lobbyist==&lt;br /&gt;
After failing to get a nomination for a seat MacDuff joined the lobbying firm [[Ian Greer Associates]].  In 2008 it w`s claimed that he worked in lobbying from 1989/90.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Ref needed&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; He was certainly in post by early 1992 as he was seconded to the Labour party from IGA to fight the 1992 General Election.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Ref needed&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Later it was reported that IGA had recruited ‘a real Old Labour name’ in MacDuff.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Since this reference to MacDuff as Old Labour comes from the ‘old Conservative’ [[Peter Clarke]], some scepticism might be in order. Peter Clarke Says There'S Nice Work Available In Top Companies For Labour Insiders ‘Left-wingers on the transfer list’ The Scotsman October 4, 1995, Wednesday, Pg. 13 &amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; By 1993 he was reported to be an ‘Associate director’ at the firm. .&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===With Ian Greer===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff joined a lobbying firm with close links to the Conservatives.  In 1994 it was reported that ‘43 are members of or sympathisers with the Tories, another seven Labour supporters or members.’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; DAVID HENCKE ‘MASTER OF THE GRAND GESTURE; David Hencke charts the rise of Ian Greer, the Westminster lobbyist whose clients range from [[British Airways]] to the [[African National Congress]]’ The Guardian (London) May 12, 1994, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 3&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Scotsman reported that 'the adroit Ian Greer Associates, formerly Tebbitites down to the office poodle, have bought Robbie MacDuff, a real Old Labour name.'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; The Scotsman October 4, 1995, Wednesday Left-wingers on the transfer list BYLINE: Peter Clarke Says There'S Nice Work Available In Top Companies For Labour Insiders SECTION: Pg. 13&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer reportedly demanded much of his staff:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:One former employee said: &amp;quot;Staff are expected to get up at 6 am to read the morning's Hansard and get all the relevant bits faxed to clients by 8.45 am. On Sundays, he expected you to read all the papers and if there was anything affecting the clients you were involved with, to contact them immediately to see if anything needed to be done.&amp;quot; In return, pay is high.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other people at IGA at the time included Greer’s chief assistant [[Andrew Smith]], ‘who joined as a 19-year-old in 1984 and is described as &amp;quot;the son Ian never had&amp;quot;. Plucked from a job as filing clerk in the [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]], he is now deputy managing director with ambitions to become an MP.’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Greer's lawyer, [[Andrew Stone]], ‘who works for [[Lewis Silkin]], and his auditor and accountant, [[Ian Mablin]], who works for [[Wilson Wright]], are both non-executive directors.’ The three associate directors included MacDuff, [[Patrick Ferreira]], ‘a former airline steward’; and Jeremy Sweeney, ‘a Tory well known for his love of fishing, hunting and shooting.’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Angie Bray, aged 39, formerly [[Chris Patten]]'s assistant at Conservative Central Office, is a recent recruit. Others include [[Perry Miller]], formerly special adviser to [[Malcolm Rifkind]], the Defence Secretary, who switched careers five months ago.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;DAVID HENCKE AND JOHN MULLIN ‘THE POWER AND PRESTIGE OF IAN GREER; John Major and Norman Lamont are among the long-standing political friends of Ian Greer. Yet his pounds 3m lobbying business is formally tied with only one Tory MP, Michael Grylls’ The Guardian (London) October 5, 1993, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 6&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Paying No Poll Tax in Tower Hamlets====&lt;br /&gt;
At Ian Greer, MacDuff, a former tower Hamlets resident, was reportedly responsible for losing a potential lobbying contract with Tower Hamlets local authority when it was ‘on the point of tying up a deal with Ian Greer Associates, the parliamentary lobbyists well versed in currying favour with the Conservatives’.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;The Independent (London) Diary EDITORIAL PAGE; Page 19, July 3, 1992, Friday&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;According to the Independent, MacDuff’s name, ‘regrettably enough, is well known in the council's poll tax collection office. The latter has even had to go to court to try to persuade MacDuff to pay the charge (a snip at £147 in 1991-92). Amused, we asked Tower Hamlets for its view of this lapse - and the council rather over-reacted. In fact, IGA was told yesterday afternoon its services won't be required after all.’&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;''The Independent'' (London) Diary EDITORIAL PAGE; Page 19, July 3, 1992, Friday&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Cash for Questions====&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in the row over the unethical lobbying practices of IGA. David Hencke wrote in the Guardian in 1994:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:In the Cook Report, TV researchers posed as British representatives of an American company which wanted to launder the proceeds of art treasures amassed by Soviet former Communists to buy up Whitehall's Insolvency Service... Ian Greer agreed to act for the bogus company for pounds 10,000 and offered to arrange meetings with Trade Minister [[Neil Hamilton]]; [[David Amess]], parliamentary private secretary to [[Michael Portillo]], and Sir [[Graham Bright]], then PPS to [[John Major]]. He also boasted on film about his ability to get parliamentary questions tabled for clients and wrote to the firm promising to obtain confidential information from Whitehall. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; David Hencke, Westminster Correspondent LOBBY ROW INFLAMED BY LETTERS IN LORDS; Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman The Guardian (London) July 22, 1994, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Faced with the scandal that engulfed IGA, MacDuff wrote to  ‘several MPs attacking the Guardian for printing the story and promising MPs that Ian Greer &amp;quot;has at no time, nor will it at any time in the future, pay MPs to table questions.&amp;quot;’ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; David Hencke, Westminster Correspondent LOBBY ROW INFLAMED BY LETTERS IN LORDS; Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman The Guardian (London) July 22, 1994, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff went on to say:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I hope you will understand how disappointing it is that one company within the lobbying industry can be singled out by one journalist working for one newspaper and then being engaged by a television company, for the apparent purpose of undermining the commercial operations of that company.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; David Hencke, Westminster Correspondent LOBBY ROW INFLAMED BY LETTERS IN LORDS; Labour MPs angry at plea by front bench spokeswoman The Guardian (London) July 22, 1994, THE GUARDIAN HOME PAGE; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
That the exposure of the undoubtedly unethical lobbying fostered at IGA was deprecated by MacDuff might raise questions about his stated attachment to ethical lobbying in his subsequent incarnations with the [[APPC]]. Instead of dealing with the issues raised MacDuff attempted to explain the story away as the obsession of one journalist.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1996 it was revealed that Greer, ‘sent his staff out to work for MPs and ministers during the [1992] general election campaign.’ These included MacDuff who reportedly worked for [[Chris Smith]]. The Independent reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:As well as making cash donations to MPs' fighting funds, Mr Greer encouraged staff to leave the office for the three-week duration of the election battle and to work for prominent politicians. They continued to receive full pay from his firm, Ian Greer Associates, and their services were provided to the MPs for free… &amp;quot;It was great work experience for them,&amp;quot; explained Mr Greer.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Chris Blackhurst Westminster Correspondent; The lobbyist and the MPs' hired help The Independent (London) October 3, 1996, Thursday Page  1&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Decline and Fall====&lt;br /&gt;
PR Week reported in October 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
:Labour MPs, too, were tainted, including [[Doug Hoyle]] and [[Chris Smith]], Shadow Secretary of State for Health. In the latter case, though Smith met Mr Greer on several occasions at receptions, contact was through Robbie MacDuff, a former Labour researcher, who campaigned for Mr Smith in the run-up to the election and arranged for a small Greer payment to the constituency fighting fund.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Stephen Castle ‘Rise and fall of the greed generation's lobbyist’ The Independent (London) October 6, 1996, Sunday, FEATURES; Page  17&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As the end drew near PR Week noted:&lt;br /&gt;
:IGA chairman Ian Greer and chief executive Andrew Smith did not make it to the Blackpool bash, apparently due to being holed up in London facing the hungry press. However, managing director [[Jeremy Sweeney]] and Robbie MacDuff, managing director of the agency's Scottish office, were on hand and did a fine job of putting on a mutual brave face - no doubt relieved that at least some delegates had turned up… Perhaps unsurprisingly, Labour bigwigs were too busy rubbing their hands at the turn of events - news of which broke just before the evening reception - to attend the do. However, some lesser lights were there to quaff the orange juice and hear a presentation from non-executive director and Labour peer [[Baroness Turner of Camden]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Diary: Press conferences take precedence over party conferences for Greer PR Week October 4, 1996&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two days later the brave faces were put aside and MacDuff and others resigned from IGA ‘claiming that Mr Greer withheld information from them.‘ &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Press Association, October 6, 1996, Sunday&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Mr MacDuff, aged 38, was a former research assistant to Allan Roberts, late Labour MP for Bootle. He assisted Chris Smith, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, during the 1992 election. Mr Smith, the shadow health secretary, received pounds 200 from IGA for his campaign fund. He now lives in Edinburgh and was employed on the IGA-associated company, [[Seiga Political Consultants]]. A statement released by Mr MacDuff said: &amp;quot;Today, two directors of IGA have announced their resignation from the company in all its operations. Both enjoy long membership of the Labour Party and the trade union movement.  &amp;quot;Both believe they have not been, as directors of the company, given all the information which, they believe, should have been available to them.&amp;quot; Mr MacDuff said he had been employed by IGA since 1989 and was one of the first Labour Party activists to move into parliamentary consultancy.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; The Observer October 6, 1996, Sunday TORIES TANGLED WEB: GREER THROWS IN THE TOWEL AS DIRECTORS QUIT BYLINE: David Pallister, David Hencke, Owen Bowcott SECTION: THE OBSERVER HOME PAGE; Pg. 3&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===To Edinburgh===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff left London in 1995/6 and set up an Edinburgh office of IGA in 1996 in anticipation of the creation of a [[Scottish Parliament]]. The Herald reported in March 1996:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
: Robbie MacDuff, managing director of [[Seiga Political Consultants]], represents one breed of which we can expect to see considerably more once a parliament is set up in Edinburgh. The lobbyists, influencers of political opinion, have set up camp outside every legislature since that meant the royal tent.&lt;br /&gt;
:Most of us assume that we will be able to bend the ear of our Assembly person as they go about our business. That laissez-faire attitude is also evident in the business community, which has failed to address the wide range of issues for which it should be setting down markers, according to MacDuff.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;Late last year, businesses felt they were not part of the process of shaping how an assembly would affect Scotland,&amp;quot; said MacDuff. He attributes that to a concentration by the Scottish Constitutional Convention on the issues of framework and numbers, but finds growing interest in the issues of what an Assembly would decide and how it would do it.&lt;br /&gt;
:&amp;quot;I assume that people would want a Scottish parliament to be a radical and reforming legislature, and if we want it to start with a bang everyone should be ensuring good and close co-operation between the business community and our existing parliamentarians,&amp;quot; he said.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Jennifer Cunningham Burning question on how an Assembly would affect us;Industry begins to examine implications of a Scottish parliament The Herald (Glasgow) March 25, 1996Pg. 19&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
For MacDuff the touchstone here is business, as that is what provides the main income for lobbying firms and represents the overwhelming bulk of their clients. Though MacDuff continued to claim that his clientele was broader, as the ''Daily Record'' reported in 1998:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Director Robbie MacDuff said: &amp;quot;We will be approaching the Holyrood government on behalf of charities, trade unions, small businesses and plcs when there is legislation that has consequences for them.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; Daily Record July 9, 1998, Thursday LOBBY FIRMS' GOLDEN PROMISE; Scottish political lobbyists are promising clients they will have even more clout in Holyrood than at Westminster SECTION: Page 2&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Edinburgh Business Labour Forum===&lt;br /&gt;
MacDuff was involved in - he states that he was its 'secretary'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;From the [[Precise Public Affairs]] [http://www.precisepolitical.co.uk/displayPeople.asp?people_key=1&amp;amp;page_key=23 website], accessed 6 November 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; - the [[Edinburgh Business Labour Forum]] a lunch club intended to bring lobbyists and Labour Party figures together, though his name never appeared in any of the press coverage associated with it.  It was in operation by 1996 and seems to have ceased operations in 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Strategy in Scotland===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005 [[Edelman]] vice-chairman Europe [[Michael Burrell]], spoke about MacDuff in these terms: &lt;br /&gt;
:The Scottish Parliament was being set up and I needed someone with a Scottish-sounding name to head our office in Edinburgh. Robbie fitted the bill - the clients didn't need to know he's Australian.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;PR Week (UK) June 3, 2005 Opinion: My Best Hire - Robbie MacDuff; appointed Robbie MacDuff as director of public affairs;  Brief Article SECTION: Pg. 19 ISSN: 0267-6087&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Scotland and the lobbying regulation debate 2000-2003===&lt;br /&gt;
:Robbie MacDuff, managing director of Strategy in Scotland, the Edinburgh branch of the English lobbying firm Westminster Strategy, said it was &amp;quot;naive&amp;quot; to think lobbyists could regulate themselves. &amp;quot;I don't think Scotland is so special that it will work here when it doesn't work in London,&amp;quot; he said. &amp;quot;In an industry where people are chums, there are too many temptations.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; : Fran Abrams, ‘VOTING FOR A NEW BRITAIN: LOBBYIST GIFTS ARE BANNED FOR SCOTS’ The Independent (London) April 30, 1999, Friday, NEWS; Pg. 9&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===APPC Role===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The APPC has thrown out a new complaint about the lobbying firm [[Morgan Allen Moore]] - two weeks after a similar complaint about the agency was withdrawn (PRWeek, 15 August). The latest complaint has been submitted by a body called the Sunlight Centre for Open Politics. APPC chair Robbie MacDuff said: 'The complaint is not being investigated.'&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt; PR Week September 12, 2008 The Week in Lobbying SECTION: PUBLIC AFFAIRS; Pg. 7&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Lobbying]][[Category:Lobbyists|MacDuff, Robbie]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Endowment_for_Middle_East_Truth&amp;diff=87968</id>
		<title>Endowment for Middle East Truth</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Endowment_for_Middle_East_Truth&amp;diff=87968"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T11:01:47Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Principals */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Endowment for Middle East Truth''' (EMET) is a right-wing neoconservative/Zionist organisation seeking to &amp;quot;educate&amp;quot; the political class in the United States about the dangers of radical Islam.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Emet]&amp;quot;, EMET website, accessed October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; EMET was reportedly involved in the distribution of the film [[Obsession]], distributed by the millions before the US election. In the organisation's own words, &amp;quot;EMET has made it their business to distribute the movie, “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War against the West”, to every single congressional office.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Us] Accessed: 20 October 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=='Hard-line'==&lt;br /&gt;
Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton report in an article for ''The Electronic Intifada'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Like hard-line neo-conservatives, EMET opposes any land concessions to Palestinians and takes other hard-line positions identified with Israel's right-wing Likud Party and the &amp;quot;Settler Lobby&amp;quot; there. EMET's website says, &amp;quot;We regard ourselves as 'intellectual revolutionaries.'&amp;quot; The group's acronym, EMET, mirrors the name of a predecessor to the [[Foundation for the Defense of Democracies]], which was called [[Emet]]. The word means &amp;quot;truth&amp;quot; in Hebrew.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Two weeks ago, EMET sponsored a seminar series on Capitol Hill named for the controversial multi-billionaire casino and hotel magnate [[Sheldon Adelson]], a major donor to right-wing Zionist organizations in the US; the far-right lobby group, [[Freedom's Watch]]; and the [[Republican Jewish Coalition]] (RJC), whose efforts to persuade Jewish voters that Democratic presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] is aligned with radical anti-Israel forces in the Islamic world have drawn strong criticism from the mainstream Jewish press here.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:EMET's board of advisers includes a list of familiar neo-conservative figures, as well as three former Israeli diplomats, including a former deputy chief of mission in Israel's Washington embassy. The group is headed by [[Sarah Stern]], who began her activism on Israeli issues in opposition to the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestinians. She made a career out of her activism in the far-right [[Zionist Organization of America]] (ZOA) as its national policy coordinator from 1998 through 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Notable members of the advisory board include prominent hard-line neo-conservatives, including former American Ambassador to the UN the late [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]; [[Daniel Pipes]] of the [[Middle East Forum]]; and the [[Hudson Institute]]'s [[Meyrav Wurmser]], the Israeli-born spouse of Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]'s former top Middle East adviser, [[David Wurmser]]. Other prominent neo-conservative members of the board include [[Center for Security Policy]] (CSP) president [[Frank Gaffney]]; former CIA chief [[James Woolsey]]; and [[Heritage Foundation]] fellows [[Ariel Cohen]] and [[Nina Shea]], who has also served for years on the quasi-governmental [[US Commission for International Religious Freedom]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The US-born and -educated hard-line deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post and senior fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at Gaffney's CSP, [[Caroline Glick]], is also an adviser. Glick, Pipes, and [[Walid Shoebat]], a &amp;quot;reformed&amp;quot; terrorist and EMET adviser, are all featured as experts in [[Obsession]]. Also among the top names of listed advisers to EMET are three Israeli diplomats. Two of them, Ambassadors [[Yossi Ben Aharon]] and [[Yoram Ettinger]], were among the three Israeli ambassadors whom then-Israeli Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]] referred to as &amp;quot;the Three Musketeers&amp;quot; when they lobbied Washington in opposition to the Oslo accords. Indeed, Stern began her career at the behest of three unnamed Israeli diplomats who were based in Washington under Rabin's predecessor, Yitzhak Shamir, according to EMET's website. Ettinger was at one time the chairman of special projects and is still listed as a contributing expert at the [[Ariel Centre for Policy Research]], a hard-line Likudist Israeli think tank that opposes the peace process. Ben Aharon was the director general -- effectively the chief of staff -- of Shamir's office.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The third Israeli ambassador, [[Lenny Ben-David]], was appointed by Likud prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] to serve as the deputy chief of mission -- second in command -- at the Israeli embassy in Washington from 1997 until 2000. Ben-David had also held senior positions at the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] for 25 years and is now a consultant and lobbyist.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton, [http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9853.shtml Neo-cons, ex-Israeli diplomats push Islamophobic video], ''The Electronic Intifada'', 24 September 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding the Obsession Project?==&lt;br /&gt;
In the 23 October 2008 edition of the London Review of Books, EMET's founder [[Sarah Stern]] denies that EMET has been part of the Obsession Project, i.e., funding the film&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n20/letters.html Letters to the Editor], London Review of Books (LRB), Vol. 30 No. 20, 23 October 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.  EMET's website states that Stern has been showing this film to members of Congress. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Emet]', EMET website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Furthermore, Adam Shatz reports:&lt;br /&gt;
:If there is any confusion about Emet’s relationship to ‘Obsession’, it has been sown by Sarah Stern and her colleagues. I based my assertion that Emet had arranged the distribution of the film on an interview which [[Ari Morgenstern]], then identified as a spokesman for Emet, gave to Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton of the [[Inter Press Service]] news agency on 24 September, in which he said with undisguised pride that Emet organised and oversaw the distribution of ‘Obsession’. The ‘Obsession Project’, a partnership between Emet and the Clarion Fund, he told them, ‘costs a great deal – it’s a multimillion dollar effort.’ Now Sarah Stern says that ‘no exchange of money ever took place’ between Emet and the ‘Obsession Project’, and Morgenstern has not been heard from since. Two days after Morgenstern spoke to IPS, Stern told JTA, the online Global News Service of the Jewish People, that she’d never spoken to him. But on 29 September, after JTA obtained records of emails and phone conversations in which Stern compliments Morgenstern on his press release for ‘Obsession’ (‘soldier on!’ she encouraged him in an email sent on 23 September), she admitted that she’d spoken to Morgenstern and had been involved in the ‘Obsession Project’, though she insists that Emet hasn’t bankrolled its distribution. What, then, is the nature of the relationship? Any chance that Emet’s desire to distance itself from the film’s distribution has something to do with the complaint against the Clarion Fund which the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]] lodged with the Federal Election Commission?&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;LRB, ibid.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Activities==&lt;br /&gt;
EMET's website lists its activities as&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About EMET], Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;:&lt;br /&gt;
*Serving as a resource to members of congress, their staffers, administration officials, other policy makers, and the press.  EMET states: &amp;quot;EMET maintains a sophisticated, up-to-date website. It has come to our attention recently that many staffers on Capitol Hill regularly rely on this as a tool for insight and guidance regarding the Middle East.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, ibid.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*Public education and outreach to the foreign policy community , as well as to the community at large &lt;br /&gt;
*Dissemination of current information and white papers on Capitol Hill and to the media &lt;br /&gt;
*Speaking at various seminars, and on the radio, being sought out for an opinion by columnists &lt;br /&gt;
*Networking together with like-minded organizations to be “force multipliers”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Board===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sarah Stern]] - President | Ambassador [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]] *deceased | Ambassador [[Yossie Ben Aharon]] | Ambassador [[Yoram Ettinger]] | Ambassador [[Lenny Ben-David]] | [[James Woolsey]] | [[Frank Gaffney]] | [[Daniel Pipes]] | [[Caroline Glick]] | [[Gal Luft]] | [[Meyrav Wurmser]] | [[Rachel Ehrenfeld]] | [[Ariel Cohen]] | Dr. [[Emmanuel Navon]] | [[Martin Sherman]] | [[Walid Shoebat]] | [[Kenneth Timmerman]] | [[Larry Greenfield]] | [[Seth Mandel]] | [[Sherri Mandel]] | [[Ilka Schroeder]] | [[Bennett Zimmerman]] | [[Jim Hutchens]] | [[David Dalin]] | [[Don Gatswirth]]&lt;br /&gt;
===Principals===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;table border=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;white&amp;quot; cellspacing=&amp;quot;0&amp;quot; cellpadding=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;80%&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot;&amp;gt;EMET's Advisory Board&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Sarah Stern]] - President&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]*&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Yossie Ben Aharon]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Yoram Ettinger]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Lenny Ben-David]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[James Woolsey]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Frank Gaffney]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Daniel Pipes]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Caroline Glick]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Gal Luft]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Meyrav Wurmser]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Rachel Ehrenfeld]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ariel Cohen]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Emmanuel Navon]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Martin Sherman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Walid Shoebat]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Kenneth Timmerman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Seth Mandel|Seth]] and [[Sherri Mandel]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ilka Schroeder]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Bennett Zimmerman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Jim Hutchens]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[David Dalin]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Don Gatswirth]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot;&amp;gt;EMET Fellows&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ari Rudolph]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Michael Sharnoff]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;left&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;font-size:10pt&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;* = deceased &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About EMET] Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/table&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===links===&lt;br /&gt;
[[Sheldon Adelson]], the &amp;quot;richest Jew in America&amp;quot; and a fervent zionist, features in the name of EMET's lecture series (&amp;quot;Dr. Miriam and Sheldon  G. Adelson Policy Seminar Series&amp;quot;)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Connie Bruck, [http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=85578 The Brass Ring: A multibillionaire’s relentless quest for global influence], New Yorker, 30 June 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===EMET Endorsements===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Steve Emerson]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Us] Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Cal Thomas]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sam Brownback]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tom Lantos]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Robert E. Andrews]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact, References and Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W, 10th floor &lt;br /&gt;
:Washington, DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:Phone: (202) 772-4275&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@emetonline.org&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Notes===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Israel Lobby]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:US]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Endowment_for_Middle_East_Truth&amp;diff=87967</id>
		<title>Endowment for Middle East Truth</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Endowment_for_Middle_East_Truth&amp;diff=87967"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T11:00:53Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Principals */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Endowment for Middle East Truth''' (EMET) is a right-wing neoconservative/Zionist organisation seeking to &amp;quot;educate&amp;quot; the political class in the United States about the dangers of radical Islam.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Emet]&amp;quot;, EMET website, accessed October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; EMET was reportedly involved in the distribution of the film [[Obsession]], distributed by the millions before the US election. In the organisation's own words, &amp;quot;EMET has made it their business to distribute the movie, “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War against the West”, to every single congressional office.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Us] Accessed: 20 October 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=='Hard-line'==&lt;br /&gt;
Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton report in an article for ''The Electronic Intifada'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Like hard-line neo-conservatives, EMET opposes any land concessions to Palestinians and takes other hard-line positions identified with Israel's right-wing Likud Party and the &amp;quot;Settler Lobby&amp;quot; there. EMET's website says, &amp;quot;We regard ourselves as 'intellectual revolutionaries.'&amp;quot; The group's acronym, EMET, mirrors the name of a predecessor to the [[Foundation for the Defense of Democracies]], which was called [[Emet]]. The word means &amp;quot;truth&amp;quot; in Hebrew.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Two weeks ago, EMET sponsored a seminar series on Capitol Hill named for the controversial multi-billionaire casino and hotel magnate [[Sheldon Adelson]], a major donor to right-wing Zionist organizations in the US; the far-right lobby group, [[Freedom's Watch]]; and the [[Republican Jewish Coalition]] (RJC), whose efforts to persuade Jewish voters that Democratic presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] is aligned with radical anti-Israel forces in the Islamic world have drawn strong criticism from the mainstream Jewish press here.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:EMET's board of advisers includes a list of familiar neo-conservative figures, as well as three former Israeli diplomats, including a former deputy chief of mission in Israel's Washington embassy. The group is headed by [[Sarah Stern]], who began her activism on Israeli issues in opposition to the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestinians. She made a career out of her activism in the far-right [[Zionist Organization of America]] (ZOA) as its national policy coordinator from 1998 through 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Notable members of the advisory board include prominent hard-line neo-conservatives, including former American Ambassador to the UN the late [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]; [[Daniel Pipes]] of the [[Middle East Forum]]; and the [[Hudson Institute]]'s [[Meyrav Wurmser]], the Israeli-born spouse of Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]'s former top Middle East adviser, [[David Wurmser]]. Other prominent neo-conservative members of the board include [[Center for Security Policy]] (CSP) president [[Frank Gaffney]]; former CIA chief [[James Woolsey]]; and [[Heritage Foundation]] fellows [[Ariel Cohen]] and [[Nina Shea]], who has also served for years on the quasi-governmental [[US Commission for International Religious Freedom]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The US-born and -educated hard-line deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post and senior fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at Gaffney's CSP, [[Caroline Glick]], is also an adviser. Glick, Pipes, and [[Walid Shoebat]], a &amp;quot;reformed&amp;quot; terrorist and EMET adviser, are all featured as experts in [[Obsession]]. Also among the top names of listed advisers to EMET are three Israeli diplomats. Two of them, Ambassadors [[Yossi Ben Aharon]] and [[Yoram Ettinger]], were among the three Israeli ambassadors whom then-Israeli Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]] referred to as &amp;quot;the Three Musketeers&amp;quot; when they lobbied Washington in opposition to the Oslo accords. Indeed, Stern began her career at the behest of three unnamed Israeli diplomats who were based in Washington under Rabin's predecessor, Yitzhak Shamir, according to EMET's website. Ettinger was at one time the chairman of special projects and is still listed as a contributing expert at the [[Ariel Centre for Policy Research]], a hard-line Likudist Israeli think tank that opposes the peace process. Ben Aharon was the director general -- effectively the chief of staff -- of Shamir's office.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The third Israeli ambassador, [[Lenny Ben-David]], was appointed by Likud prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] to serve as the deputy chief of mission -- second in command -- at the Israeli embassy in Washington from 1997 until 2000. Ben-David had also held senior positions at the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] for 25 years and is now a consultant and lobbyist.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton, [http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9853.shtml Neo-cons, ex-Israeli diplomats push Islamophobic video], ''The Electronic Intifada'', 24 September 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding the Obsession Project?==&lt;br /&gt;
In the 23 October 2008 edition of the London Review of Books, EMET's founder [[Sarah Stern]] denies that EMET has been part of the Obsession Project, i.e., funding the film&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n20/letters.html Letters to the Editor], London Review of Books (LRB), Vol. 30 No. 20, 23 October 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.  EMET's website states that Stern has been showing this film to members of Congress. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Emet]', EMET website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Furthermore, Adam Shatz reports:&lt;br /&gt;
:If there is any confusion about Emet’s relationship to ‘Obsession’, it has been sown by Sarah Stern and her colleagues. I based my assertion that Emet had arranged the distribution of the film on an interview which [[Ari Morgenstern]], then identified as a spokesman for Emet, gave to Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton of the [[Inter Press Service]] news agency on 24 September, in which he said with undisguised pride that Emet organised and oversaw the distribution of ‘Obsession’. The ‘Obsession Project’, a partnership between Emet and the Clarion Fund, he told them, ‘costs a great deal – it’s a multimillion dollar effort.’ Now Sarah Stern says that ‘no exchange of money ever took place’ between Emet and the ‘Obsession Project’, and Morgenstern has not been heard from since. Two days after Morgenstern spoke to IPS, Stern told JTA, the online Global News Service of the Jewish People, that she’d never spoken to him. But on 29 September, after JTA obtained records of emails and phone conversations in which Stern compliments Morgenstern on his press release for ‘Obsession’ (‘soldier on!’ she encouraged him in an email sent on 23 September), she admitted that she’d spoken to Morgenstern and had been involved in the ‘Obsession Project’, though she insists that Emet hasn’t bankrolled its distribution. What, then, is the nature of the relationship? Any chance that Emet’s desire to distance itself from the film’s distribution has something to do with the complaint against the Clarion Fund which the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]] lodged with the Federal Election Commission?&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;LRB, ibid.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Activities==&lt;br /&gt;
EMET's website lists its activities as&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About EMET], Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;:&lt;br /&gt;
*Serving as a resource to members of congress, their staffers, administration officials, other policy makers, and the press.  EMET states: &amp;quot;EMET maintains a sophisticated, up-to-date website. It has come to our attention recently that many staffers on Capitol Hill regularly rely on this as a tool for insight and guidance regarding the Middle East.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, ibid.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*Public education and outreach to the foreign policy community , as well as to the community at large &lt;br /&gt;
*Dissemination of current information and white papers on Capitol Hill and to the media &lt;br /&gt;
*Speaking at various seminars, and on the radio, being sought out for an opinion by columnists &lt;br /&gt;
*Networking together with like-minded organizations to be “force multipliers”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Board===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sarah Stern]] - President | Ambassador [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]] *deceased | Ambassador [[Yossie Ben Aharon]] | Ambassador [[Yoram Ettinger]] | Ambassador [[Lenny Ben-David]] | [[James Woolsey]] | [[Frank Gaffney]] | [[Daniel Pipes]] | [[Caroline Glick]] | [[Gal Luft]] | [[Meyrav Wurmser]] | [[Rachel Ehrenfeld]] | [[Ariel Cohen]] | Dr. [[Emmanuel Navon]] | [[Martin Sherman]] | [[Walid Shoebat]] | [[Kenneth Timmerman]] | [[Larry Greenfield]] | [[Seth Mandel]] | [[Sherri Mandel]] | [[Ilka Schroeder]] | [[Bennett Zimmerman]] | [[Jim Hutchens]] | [[David Dalin]] | [[Don Gatswirth]]&lt;br /&gt;
===Principals===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;table border=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;white&amp;quot; cellspacing=&amp;quot;0&amp;quot; cellpadding=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;80%&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot;&amp;gt;EMET's Advisory Board&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Sarah Stern]] - President&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]*&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Yossie Ben Aharon]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Yoram Ettinger]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Lenny Ben-David]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[James Woolsey]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Frank Gaffney]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Daniel Pipes]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Caroline Glick]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Gal Luft]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Meyrav Wurmser]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Rachel Ehrenfeld]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ariel Cohen]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Emmanuel Navon]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Martin Sherman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Walid Shoebat]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Kenneth Timmerman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Seth Mandel|Seth]] and [[Sherri Mandel]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ilka Schroeder]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Bennett Zimmerman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Jim Hutchens]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[David Dalin]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Don Gatswirth]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot;&amp;gt;EMET Fellows&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ari Rudolph]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Michael Sharnoff]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;left&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;font-size:10pt&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About EMET] Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;* = deceased&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/table&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===links===&lt;br /&gt;
[[Sheldon Adelson]], the &amp;quot;richest Jew in America&amp;quot; and a fervent zionist, features in the name of EMET's lecture series (&amp;quot;Dr. Miriam and Sheldon  G. Adelson Policy Seminar Series&amp;quot;)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Connie Bruck, [http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=85578 The Brass Ring: A multibillionaire’s relentless quest for global influence], New Yorker, 30 June 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===EMET Endorsements===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Steve Emerson]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Us] Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Cal Thomas]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sam Brownback]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tom Lantos]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Robert E. Andrews]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact, References and Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W, 10th floor &lt;br /&gt;
:Washington, DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:Phone: (202) 772-4275&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@emetonline.org&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Notes===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Israel Lobby]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:US]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Endowment_for_Middle_East_Truth&amp;diff=87964</id>
		<title>Endowment for Middle East Truth</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Endowment_for_Middle_East_Truth&amp;diff=87964"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:57:41Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* References */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Endowment for Middle East Truth''' (EMET) is a right-wing neoconservative/Zionist organisation seeking to &amp;quot;educate&amp;quot; the political class in the United States about the dangers of radical Islam.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Emet]&amp;quot;, EMET website, accessed October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; EMET was reportedly involved in the distribution of the film [[Obsession]], distributed by the millions before the US election. In the organisation's own words, &amp;quot;EMET has made it their business to distribute the movie, “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War against the West”, to every single congressional office.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Us] Accessed: 20 October 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=='Hard-line'==&lt;br /&gt;
Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton report in an article for ''The Electronic Intifada'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Like hard-line neo-conservatives, EMET opposes any land concessions to Palestinians and takes other hard-line positions identified with Israel's right-wing Likud Party and the &amp;quot;Settler Lobby&amp;quot; there. EMET's website says, &amp;quot;We regard ourselves as 'intellectual revolutionaries.'&amp;quot; The group's acronym, EMET, mirrors the name of a predecessor to the [[Foundation for the Defense of Democracies]], which was called [[Emet]]. The word means &amp;quot;truth&amp;quot; in Hebrew.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Two weeks ago, EMET sponsored a seminar series on Capitol Hill named for the controversial multi-billionaire casino and hotel magnate [[Sheldon Adelson]], a major donor to right-wing Zionist organizations in the US; the far-right lobby group, [[Freedom's Watch]]; and the [[Republican Jewish Coalition]] (RJC), whose efforts to persuade Jewish voters that Democratic presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] is aligned with radical anti-Israel forces in the Islamic world have drawn strong criticism from the mainstream Jewish press here.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:EMET's board of advisers includes a list of familiar neo-conservative figures, as well as three former Israeli diplomats, including a former deputy chief of mission in Israel's Washington embassy. The group is headed by [[Sarah Stern]], who began her activism on Israeli issues in opposition to the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestinians. She made a career out of her activism in the far-right [[Zionist Organization of America]] (ZOA) as its national policy coordinator from 1998 through 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Notable members of the advisory board include prominent hard-line neo-conservatives, including former American Ambassador to the UN the late [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]; [[Daniel Pipes]] of the [[Middle East Forum]]; and the [[Hudson Institute]]'s [[Meyrav Wurmser]], the Israeli-born spouse of Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]'s former top Middle East adviser, [[David Wurmser]]. Other prominent neo-conservative members of the board include [[Center for Security Policy]] (CSP) president [[Frank Gaffney]]; former CIA chief [[James Woolsey]]; and [[Heritage Foundation]] fellows [[Ariel Cohen]] and [[Nina Shea]], who has also served for years on the quasi-governmental [[US Commission for International Religious Freedom]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The US-born and -educated hard-line deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post and senior fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at Gaffney's CSP, [[Caroline Glick]], is also an adviser. Glick, Pipes, and [[Walid Shoebat]], a &amp;quot;reformed&amp;quot; terrorist and EMET adviser, are all featured as experts in [[Obsession]]. Also among the top names of listed advisers to EMET are three Israeli diplomats. Two of them, Ambassadors [[Yossi Ben Aharon]] and [[Yoram Ettinger]], were among the three Israeli ambassadors whom then-Israeli Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]] referred to as &amp;quot;the Three Musketeers&amp;quot; when they lobbied Washington in opposition to the Oslo accords. Indeed, Stern began her career at the behest of three unnamed Israeli diplomats who were based in Washington under Rabin's predecessor, Yitzhak Shamir, according to EMET's website. Ettinger was at one time the chairman of special projects and is still listed as a contributing expert at the [[Ariel Centre for Policy Research]], a hard-line Likudist Israeli think tank that opposes the peace process. Ben Aharon was the director general -- effectively the chief of staff -- of Shamir's office.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The third Israeli ambassador, [[Lenny Ben-David]], was appointed by Likud prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] to serve as the deputy chief of mission -- second in command -- at the Israeli embassy in Washington from 1997 until 2000. Ben-David had also held senior positions at the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] for 25 years and is now a consultant and lobbyist.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton, [http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9853.shtml Neo-cons, ex-Israeli diplomats push Islamophobic video], ''The Electronic Intifada'', 24 September 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding the Obsession Project?==&lt;br /&gt;
In the 23 October 2008 edition of the London Review of Books, EMET's founder [[Sarah Stern]] denies that EMET has been part of the Obsession Project, i.e., funding the film&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n20/letters.html Letters to the Editor], London Review of Books (LRB), Vol. 30 No. 20, 23 October 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.  EMET's website states that Stern has been showing this film to members of Congress. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Emet]', EMET website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Furthermore, Adam Shatz reports:&lt;br /&gt;
:If there is any confusion about Emet’s relationship to ‘Obsession’, it has been sown by Sarah Stern and her colleagues. I based my assertion that Emet had arranged the distribution of the film on an interview which [[Ari Morgenstern]], then identified as a spokesman for Emet, gave to Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton of the [[Inter Press Service]] news agency on 24 September, in which he said with undisguised pride that Emet organised and oversaw the distribution of ‘Obsession’. The ‘Obsession Project’, a partnership between Emet and the Clarion Fund, he told them, ‘costs a great deal – it’s a multimillion dollar effort.’ Now Sarah Stern says that ‘no exchange of money ever took place’ between Emet and the ‘Obsession Project’, and Morgenstern has not been heard from since. Two days after Morgenstern spoke to IPS, Stern told JTA, the online Global News Service of the Jewish People, that she’d never spoken to him. But on 29 September, after JTA obtained records of emails and phone conversations in which Stern compliments Morgenstern on his press release for ‘Obsession’ (‘soldier on!’ she encouraged him in an email sent on 23 September), she admitted that she’d spoken to Morgenstern and had been involved in the ‘Obsession Project’, though she insists that Emet hasn’t bankrolled its distribution. What, then, is the nature of the relationship? Any chance that Emet’s desire to distance itself from the film’s distribution has something to do with the complaint against the Clarion Fund which the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]] lodged with the Federal Election Commission?&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;LRB, ibid.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Activities==&lt;br /&gt;
EMET's website lists its activities as&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About EMET], Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;:&lt;br /&gt;
*Serving as a resource to members of congress, their staffers, administration officials, other policy makers, and the press.  EMET states: &amp;quot;EMET maintains a sophisticated, up-to-date website. It has come to our attention recently that many staffers on Capitol Hill regularly rely on this as a tool for insight and guidance regarding the Middle East.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, ibid.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*Public education and outreach to the foreign policy community , as well as to the community at large &lt;br /&gt;
*Dissemination of current information and white papers on Capitol Hill and to the media &lt;br /&gt;
*Speaking at various seminars, and on the radio, being sought out for an opinion by columnists &lt;br /&gt;
*Networking together with like-minded organizations to be “force multipliers”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Board===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sarah Stern]] - President | Ambassador [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]] *deceased | Ambassador [[Yossie Ben Aharon]] | Ambassador [[Yoram Ettinger]] | Ambassador [[Lenny Ben-David]] | [[James Woolsey]] | [[Frank Gaffney]] | [[Daniel Pipes]] | [[Caroline Glick]] | [[Gal Luft]] | [[Meyrav Wurmser]] | [[Rachel Ehrenfeld]] | [[Ariel Cohen]] | Dr. [[Emmanuel Navon]] | [[Martin Sherman]] | [[Walid Shoebat]] | [[Kenneth Timmerman]] | [[Larry Greenfield]] | [[Seth Mandel]] | [[Sherri Mandel]] | [[Ilka Schroeder]] | [[Bennett Zimmerman]] | [[Jim Hutchens]] | [[David Dalin]] | [[Don Gatswirth]]&lt;br /&gt;
===Principals===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;table border=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;white&amp;quot; cellspacing=&amp;quot;0&amp;quot; cellpadding=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;80%&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot;&amp;gt;EMET's Advisory Board&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Sarah Stern]] - President&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]*&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Yossie Ben Aharon]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Yoram Ettinger]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Lenny Ben-David]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[James Woolsey]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Frank Gaffney]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Daniel Pipes]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Caroline Glick]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Gal Luft]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Meyrav Wurmser]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Rachel Ehrenfeld]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ariel Cohen]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Emmanuel Navon]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Martin Sherman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Walid Shoebat]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Kenneth Timmerman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Seth Mandel|Seth]] and [[Sherri Mandel]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ilka Schroeder]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Bennett Zimmerman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Jim Hutchens]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[David Dalin]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Don Gatswirth]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot;&amp;gt;EMET Fellows&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ari Rudolph]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Michael Sharnoff]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;left&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;font-size:10pt&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About EMET] Accessed: 18 October 2008&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;* = deceased&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/table&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===links===&lt;br /&gt;
[[Sheldon Adelson]], the &amp;quot;richest Jew in America&amp;quot; and a fervent zionist, features in the name of EMET's lecture series (&amp;quot;Dr. Miriam and Sheldon  G. Adelson Policy Seminar Series&amp;quot;)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Connie Bruck, [http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=85578 The Brass Ring: A multibillionaire’s relentless quest for global influence], New Yorker, 30 June 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===EMET Endorsements===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Steve Emerson]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Us] Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Cal Thomas]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sam Brownback]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tom Lantos]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Robert E. Andrews]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact, References and Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W, 10th floor &lt;br /&gt;
:Washington, DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:Phone: (202) 772-4275&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@emetonline.org&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Notes===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Israel Lobby]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:US]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Endowment_for_Middle_East_Truth&amp;diff=87962</id>
		<title>Endowment for Middle East Truth</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Endowment_for_Middle_East_Truth&amp;diff=87962"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:56:51Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Funding the Obsession Project? */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Endowment for Middle East Truth''' (EMET) is a right-wing neoconservative/Zionist organisation seeking to &amp;quot;educate&amp;quot; the political class in the United States about the dangers of radical Islam.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;&amp;quot;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Emet]&amp;quot;, EMET website, accessed October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; EMET was reportedly involved in the distribution of the film [[Obsession]], distributed by the millions before the US election. In the organisation's own words, &amp;quot;EMET has made it their business to distribute the movie, “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War against the West”, to every single congressional office.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Us] Accessed: 20 October 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=='Hard-line'==&lt;br /&gt;
Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton report in an article for ''The Electronic Intifada'':&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Like hard-line neo-conservatives, EMET opposes any land concessions to Palestinians and takes other hard-line positions identified with Israel's right-wing Likud Party and the &amp;quot;Settler Lobby&amp;quot; there. EMET's website says, &amp;quot;We regard ourselves as 'intellectual revolutionaries.'&amp;quot; The group's acronym, EMET, mirrors the name of a predecessor to the [[Foundation for the Defense of Democracies]], which was called [[Emet]]. The word means &amp;quot;truth&amp;quot; in Hebrew.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Two weeks ago, EMET sponsored a seminar series on Capitol Hill named for the controversial multi-billionaire casino and hotel magnate [[Sheldon Adelson]], a major donor to right-wing Zionist organizations in the US; the far-right lobby group, [[Freedom's Watch]]; and the [[Republican Jewish Coalition]] (RJC), whose efforts to persuade Jewish voters that Democratic presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] is aligned with radical anti-Israel forces in the Islamic world have drawn strong criticism from the mainstream Jewish press here.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:EMET's board of advisers includes a list of familiar neo-conservative figures, as well as three former Israeli diplomats, including a former deputy chief of mission in Israel's Washington embassy. The group is headed by [[Sarah Stern]], who began her activism on Israeli issues in opposition to the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestinians. She made a career out of her activism in the far-right [[Zionist Organization of America]] (ZOA) as its national policy coordinator from 1998 through 2004.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Notable members of the advisory board include prominent hard-line neo-conservatives, including former American Ambassador to the UN the late [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]; [[Daniel Pipes]] of the [[Middle East Forum]]; and the [[Hudson Institute]]'s [[Meyrav Wurmser]], the Israeli-born spouse of Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]'s former top Middle East adviser, [[David Wurmser]]. Other prominent neo-conservative members of the board include [[Center for Security Policy]] (CSP) president [[Frank Gaffney]]; former CIA chief [[James Woolsey]]; and [[Heritage Foundation]] fellows [[Ariel Cohen]] and [[Nina Shea]], who has also served for years on the quasi-governmental [[US Commission for International Religious Freedom]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The US-born and -educated hard-line deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post and senior fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at Gaffney's CSP, [[Caroline Glick]], is also an adviser. Glick, Pipes, and [[Walid Shoebat]], a &amp;quot;reformed&amp;quot; terrorist and EMET adviser, are all featured as experts in [[Obsession]]. Also among the top names of listed advisers to EMET are three Israeli diplomats. Two of them, Ambassadors [[Yossi Ben Aharon]] and [[Yoram Ettinger]], were among the three Israeli ambassadors whom then-Israeli Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]] referred to as &amp;quot;the Three Musketeers&amp;quot; when they lobbied Washington in opposition to the Oslo accords. Indeed, Stern began her career at the behest of three unnamed Israeli diplomats who were based in Washington under Rabin's predecessor, Yitzhak Shamir, according to EMET's website. Ettinger was at one time the chairman of special projects and is still listed as a contributing expert at the [[Ariel Centre for Policy Research]], a hard-line Likudist Israeli think tank that opposes the peace process. Ben Aharon was the director general -- effectively the chief of staff -- of Shamir's office.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:The third Israeli ambassador, [[Lenny Ben-David]], was appointed by Likud prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] to serve as the deputy chief of mission -- second in command -- at the Israeli embassy in Washington from 1997 until 2000. Ben-David had also held senior positions at the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] for 25 years and is now a consultant and lobbyist.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton, [http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9853.shtml Neo-cons, ex-Israeli diplomats push Islamophobic video], ''The Electronic Intifada'', 24 September 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Funding the Obsession Project?==&lt;br /&gt;
In the 23 October 2008 edition of the London Review of Books, EMET's founder [[Sarah Stern]] denies that EMET has been part of the Obsession Project, i.e., funding the film&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n20/letters.html Letters to the Editor], London Review of Books (LRB), Vol. 30 No. 20, 23 October 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;.  EMET's website states that Stern has been showing this film to members of Congress. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Emet]', EMET website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  Furthermore, Adam Shatz reports:&lt;br /&gt;
:If there is any confusion about Emet’s relationship to ‘Obsession’, it has been sown by Sarah Stern and her colleagues. I based my assertion that Emet had arranged the distribution of the film on an interview which [[Ari Morgenstern]], then identified as a spokesman for Emet, gave to Ali Gharib and Eli Clifton of the [[Inter Press Service]] news agency on 24 September, in which he said with undisguised pride that Emet organised and oversaw the distribution of ‘Obsession’. The ‘Obsession Project’, a partnership between Emet and the Clarion Fund, he told them, ‘costs a great deal – it’s a multimillion dollar effort.’ Now Sarah Stern says that ‘no exchange of money ever took place’ between Emet and the ‘Obsession Project’, and Morgenstern has not been heard from since. Two days after Morgenstern spoke to IPS, Stern told JTA, the online Global News Service of the Jewish People, that she’d never spoken to him. But on 29 September, after JTA obtained records of emails and phone conversations in which Stern compliments Morgenstern on his press release for ‘Obsession’ (‘soldier on!’ she encouraged him in an email sent on 23 September), she admitted that she’d spoken to Morgenstern and had been involved in the ‘Obsession Project’, though she insists that Emet hasn’t bankrolled its distribution. What, then, is the nature of the relationship? Any chance that Emet’s desire to distance itself from the film’s distribution has something to do with the complaint against the Clarion Fund which the [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]] lodged with the Federal Election Commission?&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;LRB, ibid.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Activities==&lt;br /&gt;
EMET's website lists its activities as&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About EMET], Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;:&lt;br /&gt;
*Serving as a resource to members of congress, their staffers, administration officials, other policy makers, and the press.  EMET states: &amp;quot;EMET maintains a sophisticated, up-to-date website. It has come to our attention recently that many staffers on Capitol Hill regularly rely on this as a tool for insight and guidance regarding the Middle East.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;About Us, ibid.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*Public education and outreach to the foreign policy community , as well as to the community at large &lt;br /&gt;
*Dissemination of current information and white papers on Capitol Hill and to the media &lt;br /&gt;
*Speaking at various seminars, and on the radio, being sought out for an opinion by columnists &lt;br /&gt;
*Networking together with like-minded organizations to be “force multipliers”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==People==&lt;br /&gt;
===Advisory Board===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sarah Stern]] - President | Ambassador [[Jeane Kirkpatrick]] *deceased | Ambassador [[Yossie Ben Aharon]] | Ambassador [[Yoram Ettinger]] | Ambassador [[Lenny Ben-David]] | [[James Woolsey]] | [[Frank Gaffney]] | [[Daniel Pipes]] | [[Caroline Glick]] | [[Gal Luft]] | [[Meyrav Wurmser]] | [[Rachel Ehrenfeld]] | [[Ariel Cohen]] | Dr. [[Emmanuel Navon]] | [[Martin Sherman]] | [[Walid Shoebat]] | [[Kenneth Timmerman]] | [[Larry Greenfield]] | [[Seth Mandel]] | [[Sherri Mandel]] | [[Ilka Schroeder]] | [[Bennett Zimmerman]] | [[Jim Hutchens]] | [[David Dalin]] | [[Don Gatswirth]]&lt;br /&gt;
===Principals===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;table border=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;white&amp;quot; cellspacing=&amp;quot;0&amp;quot; cellpadding=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; width=&amp;quot;80%&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;center&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot;&amp;gt;EMET's Advisory Board&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Sarah Stern]] - President&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Jeane Kirkpatrick]]*&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Yossie Ben Aharon]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Yoram Ettinger]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Lenny Ben-David]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[James Woolsey]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Frank Gaffney]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Daniel Pipes]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Caroline Glick]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Gal Luft]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Meyrav Wurmser]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Rachel Ehrenfeld]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ariel Cohen]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Emmanuel Navon]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Martin Sherman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Walid Shoebat]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Kenneth Timmerman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Seth Mandel|Seth]] and [[Sherri Mandel]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ilka Schroeder]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Bennett Zimmerman]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Jim Hutchens]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[David Dalin]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Don Gatswirth]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot;&amp;gt;EMET Fellows&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Ari Rudolph]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;td&amp;gt;[[Michael Sharnoff]]&amp;lt;/td&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/tr&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;th colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; bgcolor=&amp;quot;goldenrod&amp;quot; align=&amp;quot;left&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;font-size:10pt&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About EMET] Accessed: 18 October 2008&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;* = deceased&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/th&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;/table&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===links===&lt;br /&gt;
[[Sheldon Adelson]], the &amp;quot;richest Jew in America&amp;quot; and a fervent zionist, features in the name of EMET's lecture series (&amp;quot;Dr. Miriam and Sheldon  G. Adelson Policy Seminar Series&amp;quot;)&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Connie Bruck, [http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=85578 The Brass Ring: A multibillionaire’s relentless quest for global influence], New Yorker, 30 June 2008.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===EMET Endorsements===&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Steve Emerson]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.emetonline.org/about.html About Us] Accessed: 18 October 2008&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Cal Thomas]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Sam Brownback]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Tom Lantos]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Robert E. Andrews]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Contact, References and Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
===Contact===&lt;br /&gt;
:1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W, 10th floor &lt;br /&gt;
:Washington, DC 20036&lt;br /&gt;
:Phone: (202) 772-4275&lt;br /&gt;
:Email: info@emetonline.org&lt;br /&gt;
===Resources===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===References===&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Israel Lobby]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:US]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Endowment for Middle East Truth&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87958</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87958"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:48:03Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Resources */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Members==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]]: &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, i-uk.com, &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20071023234936rn_1/www.i-uk.com/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1006977150691 i-uk.com], web archive accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but purportedly has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]: [http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Minutes &amp;amp; Strategy(2002 - 2006) of the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] : '[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87956</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87956"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:47:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Members==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]]: &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, i-uk.com, &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://web.archive.org/web/20071023234936rn_1/www.i-uk.com/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1006977150691 i-uk.com], web archive accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but purportedly has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]: [http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Minutes &amp;amp; Strategy(2002 - 2006) of the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] : '[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87954</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87954"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:46:03Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Members==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]]: &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, i-uk.com, was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but purportedly has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]: [http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Minutes &amp;amp; Strategy(2002 - 2006) of the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] : '[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87947</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87947"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:35:19Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Members==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]]:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, [[i-uk.com]], was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]: [http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Minutes &amp;amp; Strategy(2002 - 2006) of the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] : '[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87946</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87946"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:34:59Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Members===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]]:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, [[i-uk.com]], was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]: [http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Minutes &amp;amp; Strategy(2002 - 2006) of the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] : '[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87945</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87945"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:33:47Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Resources */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Members===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]]:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, [[i-uk.com]], was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]: [http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Minutes &amp;amp; Strategy(2002 - 2006) of the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] : '[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87944</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87944"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:32:25Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Members===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the [[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]]:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, [[i-uk.com]], was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]:&lt;br /&gt;
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] Minutes (2002 - 2006) &amp;amp; Strategy &lt;br /&gt;
*'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87943</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87943"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:31:12Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: /* Members */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Members===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the Public Diplomacy Strategy Board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, [[i-uk.com]], was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]:&lt;br /&gt;
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] Minutes (2002 - 2006) &amp;amp; Strategy &lt;br /&gt;
*'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87942</id>
		<title>Britain Abroad Task Force</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Britain_Abroad_Task_Force&amp;diff=87942"/>
		<updated>2009-05-02T10:30:13Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Kyle McCallum: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Britain Abroad Task Force''' was created as a result of one of the recommendations of [[Panel 2000]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force was discussed in the House of Commons on 12 December, 2000, as follows: &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
:Panel 2000 has produced a total of 21 recommendations. A key proposal was the creation of a &amp;quot;Britain abroad task force&amp;quot;, to foster more co-ordinated presentation and projection of the UK. We are now establishing such a group. A joint Chair has been appointed as well as a Director and two staff, and an initial strategy for the new organisation is planned to be produced in March 2001. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmhansrd/vo001212/text/01212w13.htm Hansard Written Answers], UK Parliament website, (12 Dec 2000 : Column: 122-3W)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Britain Abroad Task Force consists of four different elements:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Ministerial Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This is led by [[Baroness Symons]], Minister of State for Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Affairs, and brings together ministers from key government departments and non-departmental bodies involved in the promotion of the United Kingdom abroad. Members include:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* Baroness Symons (Co-Chair) - Foreign and Commonwealth Office/British Trade International&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Blackstone]] - Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Margaret Hodge]] - Department for Education and Skills (DFES)&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Alan Wilson]] - Deputy Minister Sports and Culture for the Scottish Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* Ms [[Jenny Randerson]] - Minister for Culture, Sport and Welsh Language at the Welsh Assembly&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Reg Empey]] - Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the Northern Ireland Executive&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Baroness Kennedy]] - Chair, [[British Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
* [[David Quarmby]] - Chairman, British Tourist Authority&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[Christopher Frayling]] - Chairman, Design Council&lt;br /&gt;
* Sir [[David Wright]] - Trade Partners UK and Invest UK&lt;br /&gt;
* [[John Sorrell]] - Britain Abroad Co-chair&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Dickie Stagg]] - [[Britain Abroad]] Chair of the Management Group&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Jonathan Griffin]] - Britain Abroad Executive Director&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Creative Strategy Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together leading creative people from the private sector with the public sector to look at how the UK is presented overseas. This is chaired by [[John Sorrell]], the founder of Newell and Sorrell and former chairman of the Design Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===A Management Group===&lt;br /&gt;
This brings together senior members of the main public sector bodies to ensure that everyone is working to a common agenda. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20021209033508/www.batf.org.uk/groups.htm What does the Britain Abroad Task Force consist of?]', BATF website.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Members==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Members have included [[Peter Wallis]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Also of interest here is the Public Diplomacy Strategy Board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Michael Jay]] (Chair) — FCO Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service&lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Bill Rammell]] — FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Zeinab Badawi]] — Broadcaster - BBC  &lt;br /&gt;
•  Sir [[Stephen Brown]] — British Trade International - Group Chief Executive    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Byford]] — BBC World Service – Director   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Elvidge]] — Scottish Executive – Head of Finance &amp;amp; Central Services    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[David Green]] — British Council - Director General         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Barry Ireton]] — Department for International Development, Director-General, Knowledge-sharing &amp;amp; Special Initiatives              &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Mark Leonard]] — [[Foreign Policy Centre]] – Director, also [[Centre for European Reform]]         &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Eric Peacock]] — Hertfordshire Business Link – Chief Executive   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Sorrell]] — Britain Abroad Task Force - Co-Chair &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tom Wright]] — British Tourist Authority - Chief Executive Secretariat    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Dickie Stagg]]  (Secretary) FCO — Director of Information   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[John Buck]] — FCO Head, [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]]    &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Tim Flear]]  — FCO Public Diplomacy Policy Department   &lt;br /&gt;
•  [[Jane Clarke]] — FCO  [[Public Diplomacy Policy Department]] &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/PDSBMinutes28Oct2002,0.pdf Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Wilton Review]] recommended the creation of an overarching public diplomacy strategy.  The Public Diplomacy Strategy Board brought together key public diplomacy players and tasked them with the development of a collective public diplomacy strategy for the first time.   In financial terms, around £340 million of direct expenditure is allocated to the three organisations for public diplomacy activities. This covers the grants in aid to the British Council and the World Service, as well as the FCO’s public diplomacy production costs and staffing costs in the UK. One key influence here was the work of the Foreign Policy Centre — It was agreed by the board to distribute copies of the Foreign Policy Centre’s report entitled Public Diplomacy. &amp;lt;reg&amp;gt;'[http://fpc.org.uk/topics/public-diplomacy/ Public Diplomacy]', Foreign Policy Centre website, accessed 2 May, 2009.&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The FCO's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board has several components, which are reflected in the make-up of the board:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1. A website, [[i-uk.com]], was launched in October 2002.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
2. [[BBC World Service]]: it is funded primarily through grant-in-aid from the FCO but has complete editorial independence.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
3. The British Council.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
4. [[British Satellite News]] (BSN) is a TV news service provided by the FCO which has a particular focus on the Islamic and Arab world. BSN material is regularly used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 450 worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
5. Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers to study in the UK.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
6. The FCO produces a wide range of publications and displays for use overseas.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
7. The FCO also commissions and produces TV features and documentaries, which are broadcast in over 120 countries.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
8. The FCO's [[Public Diplomacy Challenge Fund]] has been established to support projects that promote and support FCO Aims and Objectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
9. The bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics was won on 6 July by London. &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182423/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395249 Promoting the UK]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===An Executive===&lt;br /&gt;
This manages the work of the Task Force.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== The PR Companies ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the British Council's ''Crossing Over'' Magazine, which is an example of public diplomacy targeted at young people in the Netherlands, page 7 states:&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;quot;To lead and design this study for the British Council and our partners, the British Embassy in the Netherlands, we have commissioned [[Peter Wallis]] of the management consultancy group Strategic Research Unit, [[SRU]]. Under his consultancy we will be looking to develop a very sensitive understanding of what the UK actually means to the successor generation in the Netherlands – not just what they say about it but how they actually feel about it.&amp;quot; &amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;'[http://www.britishcouncil.org/netherlands-aboutus-crossing-over-5.pdf Crossing Over]', British Council website, June, 2003. (Accessed 2 May, 2009)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
SRU's contacts to the government go back a long way, to the early 70s, and its other founder along with Wallis was [[Lord Stevenson]], who was also a [[British Council]] member and has been a government advisor to [[Peter Walker]] and [[Tony Blair]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Resources==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Organisational Structure of the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]]:&lt;br /&gt;
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20080109182418/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1007029395240 Organisational Chart]', Foreign and Commonwealth Office website of 9 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Public Diplomacy Strategy Board]] Minutes (2002 - 2006) &amp;amp; Strategy &lt;br /&gt;
*'[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120135818/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&amp;amp;c=Page&amp;amp;cid=1035898725758 Public Diplomacy Board]', Foreign &amp;amp; Commonwealth Office website of 20 January, 2008. (Web archive accessed 2 May, 2009)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Notes ==&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;references/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:British Propaganda]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Kyle McCallum</name></author>
	</entry>
</feed>