Ameet Gill

From Powerbase
(Redirected from Ameetpal Gill)
Jump to: navigation, search
Ameet Gill via LinkedIn

Ameet Gill served as director of strategy to the former Prime Minister David Cameron from 2015 until summer 2016.[1] He now runs his own lobbying consultancy firm, Hanbury Strategy.

Career

Gill was a long serving adviser to Cameron, having started working for him in 2006. Prior to joining Cameron's team, he worked as a researcher for the historian Niall Ferguson, assisting him with some of his documentaries. [2]

In 2015, after the general election, Gill was promoted from head of strategic communications to Steve Hilton's former role as director of strategy.[3]

Cameron's terrorism speech

Ameet Gill was reportedly the main writer of the speech in which Cameron described the fight against terrorism as the 'struggle of our generation'. According to the reports, most of Cameron's speech was an expression of Gill's thoughts.

'Extremists do not represent Islam. But, because the Islamists self-identify as Muslims, we need to challenge them. And that needs help from Muslim communities, and from Muslim scholars who can say they are wrong. [...] It is right to say these people have nothing to do with the true nature of Islam. But that, on its own, is not enough. We need to go further'. [4]

Revolving Door

Brexit badge.png Part of the Powerbase Brexit Portal.

Gill resigned from his post in the summer of 2016. In October 2016 he came under fire for launching a lobbying firm and accepting clients without getting clearance from ACOBA, a government watchdog responsible for monitoring the business appointments of former civil servants. The consulting agency he launched is called Hanbury Strategy and has a focus on Brexit. The firm was launched with the Vote Leave PR lead, Paul Stephenson. [5]

The committee expressed its concern about his behaviour in a damning letter to civil service chief John Manzoni.

I would like to register the Committee’s concern that Mr Gill’s consultancy and the fact that it had already secured clients was announced before the Committee had had the opportunity to offer its advice. [...] To fulfill the remit given to it by government the committee needs to be able to consider an application fully and freely before offering its advice. It is impossible to do this in a way that will command public confidence if an appointment has already been announced and taken up.'

ACOBA noted that Gill would have to gain approval for every new client the company wins over the next two years. [6] [7]

Commissions approved by ACOBA

Initially, Gill sought advice from ACOBA about commissions with the following companies:

The Committee’s advice letter was sent in March 2017 and the commissions were announced in April 2017.

Gill subsequently sought advice about commissions with:

  • The Red Tape Initiative - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in May 2017, and the commission was taken up the following month.
  • Barclays PLC - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in June 2017, and the commission was taken up later that month.
  • Second Home Ltd - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in June 2017, and the commission was taken up later that month.
  • Bulb Energy Ltd - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in June 2017, and the commission was taken up later that month.
  • AggregateIQ Data Services Ltd - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in June 2017, and the commission was taken up later that month.
  • KPMG LLP - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in August 2017, and the commission was taken up later that month.
  • UK Policy Group - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in August 2017, and the commission was taken up later that month.
  • Elton John AIDs Foundation - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in November 2017, and the commission was taken up later that month.
  • Coalition for Global Prosperity - the Committee’s advice letter was sent in November 2017, and the commission was taken up later that month. [8]

Spad days

As Cameron's adviser, Gill earned an annual salary of £80,000.

Notes

  1. ↑ Special advisers in post, 30 November 2014 GOV.UK, accessed 28 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Tim Walker David Cameron's voice, Ameet Gill, finally speaks The Telegraph, 24 November 2010, accessed 9 October 2014
  3. ↑ Frances Perraudin Sunday Times columnist Camilla Cavendish to head No 10 policy unit Guardian 21 May 2015, accessed 26 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Sam Burne James, Ameet Gill is the Indian-origin man behind David Cameron's anti-extremism speech, Economic Times, July 27, 2015. Accessed October 20 2016
  5. ↑ [http://www.prweek.com/article/1408476/vote-leave-pr-lead-camerons-former-strategy-chief-join-forces-new-agency?utm_content=buffer597b8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer Vote Leave PR lead and Cameron's former strategy chief join forces in new agency Read more at http://www.prweek.com/article/1408476/vote-leave-pr-lead-camerons-former-strategy-chief-join-forces-new-agency#VVZSMzlbq9ziLok5.99], PR Week, September 12, 2016. Accessed October 20 2016
  6. ↑ Ex-Cameron aide launches lobby group… without govt watchdog’s approval, RT News, October 12 2016. Accessed October 20 2016
  7. ↑ David Singleton, Another aide of David Cameron gets into hot water over lobbying rules,totalpolitics, October 12 2016. Accessed October 20 2016
  8. ↑ ACOBA, Decision: Summary of business appointments applications - Ameetpal Gill, Updated 7 February 2018, accessed 7 February 2018

Category:Brexit - lobbyists-for-hire||Gill, Ameet]]

Retrieved from "https://powerbase.info/index.php?title=Ameet_Gill&oldid=250920"