David Mencer

David Mencer is a public relations and lobbying consultant and a former director of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI).

Background

A biography on the LFI site, accessed via the internet archive, August 2003 states:

Having attended Hasmonean High School in London, David Mencer went on to spend a year of study in Jerusalem, focusing on Middle Eastern historical, religious and political culture. He was in Israel during the Gulf War of 1991, and was able to volunteer for a short time in the Israel Defence Forces.

On returning to the UK, David attended the London Guildhall University, where he studied Politics and Government. He completed his final year dissertation on the vexed question of the sovereignty of Jerusalem within the context of the Middle East Peace Process.

Activities

Political career

The biography continues:

David initially went into the House of Commons in 1995 as a research assistant to Joan Walley MP, when she was the Shadow Transport Minister. He subsequently worked for a number of shadow ministers, working finally for Gwyneth Dunwoody, Chairman of the Transport Select Committee and President of LFI.

As Mrs Dunwoody's political aide and, following that, her electoral agent, David orchestrated her 1997 General Election campaign in Crewe and Nantwich, where her majority was raised from 2,000 to 16,000.

A short time after the 1997 General Election, David replaced his freelance political consultancy work for a full-time position as a Public Affairs Executive at The Waterfront Partnership. There, he was able to provide public affairs advice to a number of leading companies in the transport and food sector.

Labour Friends of Israel

David Mencer became the Director of LFI in July 1998. He held the post for six years until May 2004.

He describes his role as: 'Leading the largest foreign policy pro-peace lobbying organisation in the Labour Party at the Labour Friends of Israel. Led over 70 Labour MPs and Ministers across the Middle East. Wrote speeches and press articles for Prime Minister, Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, Cabinet and other Ministers on various subjects.'

He also reports work 'Advising business icon Gerald Ronson as the Executive Director, Community Security Trust, highly regarded charity'.

According to a blog in the Independent by Labour MP Chris Bryant, Mencer regards Israel President Shimon Peres, whom he met on an LFI trip to Israel, as a 'hero'.

Weber Shandwick

According to his profile on LinkedIn, Mencer worked at public relations firm Weber Shandwick as Director of the Department for Education Account between January 2005 and March 2008. He claims to have 'directed two of the firm's biggest clients, Department of Children Schools and Families and Save Darfur Coalition.

Raphael Consulting

He then worked as a Senior Consultant in the Central Office of Information from March 2008 – March 2010.

In January 2008 he set up his own PR firm Raphael Consulting, to 'provide high-level strategic and bespoke advice on public affairs, high value business to business, corporate-Government partnerships, fundraising and communications'.

Mencer describes himself as:

A senior practitioner and accomplished professional communications specialist with extensive experience and considerable knowledge of public affairs and corporate communications. With sixteen years experience, particular expertise in reputation management, stakeholder relations, media relations, crisis comms, media training, workings of Parliament, Whitehall, politics in Brussels, Paris and Rome and fundraising. With an acclaimed record of promoting misunderstood and difficult causes as well as profile raising, directly to Government, stakeholders and media.

At Raphael Consulting he has worked for Maitland Consultancy, where he is listed as one of their lobbyists in the September 2014-November 2014 APPC register.