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'''Lexington Communications''' is a PR and lobbying company based in London. 
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[[Image:Connection-out.jpg|300px|right|thumb]] ''The view out to High Holborn from the Connection''
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==Campaigns==
===Pro-biotech===
Lexington provides PR and lobbying services to a slew of genetically modified (GM) crop companies: [[BASF]], [[Syngenta]], [[Novartis]], the umbrella group the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] (see below), as well as the [[Crop Protection Association]], which represents the interests of the pesticides industry. 

====Biotech front groups====
In 2003, Lexington was hired by the corporate front group the [[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] (ABC). ABC's founder members are [[Monsanto]], [[Bayer CropScience]], [[BASF]], [[Dow Agrosciences]], [[Dupont]] and [[Syngenta]]<ref>[http://www.abcinformation.org/index.php ABC website], undated, accessed March 2006</ref>. At the same time Lexington hired [[Bernard Marantelli]], a PR operative from [[Monsanto]]. Part of his job in 2003 was to run a pro-GM PR campaign for the ABC to educate 'regulators, legislators, retailers and consumer groups'. The budget was £250,000, the same amount of money that was originally proposed for the whole national Public Debate on GM in the UK, held in 2003.<ref>Andy Rowell, "[http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,921537,00.html The alliance of science]", The Guardian, March 26, 2003</ref> 

The name of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council also succeeded in creating confusion in the public's mind because of its similarity to the government-appointed Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission.<ref>Andy Rowell, "[http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,921537,00.html The alliance of science]", The Guardian, March 26, 2003</ref> 

In early 2008 it was revealed that GM food companies had lobbied the government department responsible for GM to be allowed to hide the locations of crop trials. Lexington confirmed its involvement in this as part of its work covering “all aspects of external communications” for the ABC.<ref>[http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/article/785698/Lexington-linked-biotech-body/ Lexington linked to biotech body], PR Week, February 21 2008</ref>

Lexington also works for GM industry lobbying group, [[CropLife International]] and was working for [[CropGen]], another biotech front organisation which was run by [[Countrywide Porter Novelli]]. The Chair of [[CropGen]] is [[Vivian Moses]] who is also on the advisory board of the [[Scientific Alliance]], another pro-biotech front organisation.<ref>Andy Rowell, "[http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,921537,00.html The alliance of science]", The Guardian, March 26, 2003</ref>

===Pro-nanotech===
[[Bernard Marantelli]] also convinced about 30 companies to come to a meeting to explore setting up a nanotechnology equivalent of the ABC. The [[Nanotech Association]], which is run out of the same offices as Lexington, was launched in February 2005.<ref>"[http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2077 Lobby and PR groups go for nano honeypot]", Corporate Watch, Newsletter 26, October/November 2005</ref>

===Working for the developers===
Lexington is also involved in lobbying government on behalf of developers and the house-building sector, providing services to, among others, Tesco, Peel Holdings, Wharf Land Investment, Places for People Developments, BeeBee Developments and Gladedale. Lexington is able to provide inside political knowledge of the sector at both a national and local level: Directot [[Jo-Anne Daniels]] previously spent nine years as a senior civil servant at the Treasury, was an advisor to [[Gordon Brown]], and managed and published the significant Barker Review on housing in 2004.<ref>[http://www.lexcomm.co.uk/team_jad.htm Lexington website], accessed Nov 2008</ref>  Also [[Richard Thomas]], who joined in 2008, was previously Cabinet Member for Regeneration on Southwark Council, with political responsibility for one of London’s largest regeneration programmes, the redevelopment of Elephant & Castle. On taking the job, Thomas agreed with Lexington not to work on matters relating to his previous role with Southwark Council. <ref>[http://www.lexcomm.co.uk/team_rt.htm Lexington website], accessed Nov 2008</ref>   

==People==
*[[Mike Craven]], founding partner. Craven is a former adviser to the UK's Deputy Prime Minister, [[John Prescott]], and former chief media spokesperson for the [[Labour Party]]. Craven is also a former boss of [[GPC Market Access]]. It was accused by transparency campaigners in Brussels [[Corporate Europe Observatory]] of waging a 'massive disinformation campaign' over its campaign on patenting genes.<ref>"[http://www.corporateeurope.org/observer1/patents.html Industry and the EU Life Patent Directive]", Corporate Europe Observatory Newsletter, No. 1, May 1998</ref> 
*[[Ian Kennedy]], founding partner. He specialises in issues management and lobbying. He is a former [[Labour party]] adviser who worked for senior government ministers while Labour was in Opposition. He worked on both the 1992 and the 1997 Election campaigns.<ref>[http://www.lexcomm.co.uk/team_ik.htm Lexington website], accessed Feb 2009</ref> 
*[[Sarah Doyle]], director specialising in advising companies based in the health, science and pharmaceutical sectors. Doyle is also a founder of the science think tank [[Newton's Apple]].<ref>[www.newtons-apple.org.uk Newton's Apple think tank website], accessed Feb 2009</ref>

==Clients==
Lobbying clients listed in 2009:<ref>[http://www.appc.org.uk/index.cfm/pcms/site.ourclients.register_home/ APPC register], to Nov 2008</ref><br>
[[Agricultural Biotechnology Council]] | [[Alexandra Palace Authority]] | [[Advertising Association]] | [[Balfour Beatty]] | [[BeeBee Developments]] | [[British Airways]] | [[Crop Protection Association]] | [[Design and Artists’ Copyright Society]] | [[Disasters Emergency Committee]] | [[EdExcel]] | [[Ethical Medicines Industry Group]] | [[Ford]] | [[CropLife International]] | [[Goldman Sachs]] | [[Green Property]] | [[Gladedale Group]] | [[HNJV Ltd]] | [[Kraft]] Foods UK Ltd | [[Landmark Information Group]] | [[Livingstone Group]] | [[Merck Sharp & Dohme]] | [[Mars]] UK | [[National Australia Group]] | [[National Heritage Lottery Fund]] | [[NBC Universal Pictures]] | [[Novartis]] | [[Places for People]] | [[Phonographic Performance Limited]] | [[Prudential Corporation]] | [[Pye Homes]] | [[Royal & SunAlliance]] | [[RAL]] | [[AEA/Scottish Power]] | [[SEGRO Plc]] | [[Solicitors Regulation Authority]] | [[Syngenta]] | [[Tesco]] | [[The Christie NHS Foundation Trust]] | [[Trainline Holdings]] | [[Travelodge]] | [[UCB Pharna]] | [[UPS]] Europe | [[Whaftland Investments]]

==Contacts==
The Connection, 198 High Holborn, London<br>
http://www.lexcomm.co.uk

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[[Image:Connection-in.jpg|300px|right|thumb]] ''The Connection, view from High Holborn''
</div>Lexington is based on the top two floors of The Connection, Dragon Lane, Covent Garden, London, a new 3,500 sq.m. office building located between High Holborn and Stukeley Street, wrapped around the southern flank of the old Holborn Town Hall.<ref>[http://www.christiangarnett.com/CGP_Projects/PR490/PR_pages/PR490_P1.html Christian Garnett Partners website - The Connection], undated, accessed March 2006</ref>

==Resources==
*[[Lexington UK Staff and Clients 30.11.03 - 31.05.04]]
*[[Lexington UK Staff and clients, 1 June 2005 to 30 Nov 2005]]
* {{note|MCbiog}} [http://www.lexcomm.co.uk/team_mc.htm Lexington website - Mike Craven], undated, accessed March 2006
* {{note|founders}} [http://www.abcinformation.org/index.php ABC website], undated, accessed March 2006 
* {{note|connection}} [http://www.christiangarnett.com/CGP_Projects/PR490/PR_pages/PR490_P1.html Christian Garnett Partners website - The Connection], undated, accessed March 2006

===Articles===
* {{note|rowell}} Andy Rowell, [http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,921537,00.html "The alliance of science"], ''The Guardian'', March 26, 2003
* {{note|nano}} Corporate Watch [http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2077 "Lobby and PR groups go for nano honeypot"], October/November 2005
* {{note|disinfo}} Corporate Europe Observatory, [http://www.corporateeurope.org/observer1/patents.html "Industry and the EU Life Patent Directive"], May 1998

===Notes===
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[[Category:Lobbying firms]]
[[Category:Food lobbyists and PR consultants]]
[[Category:PR Operators (GM)]]
[[Category:GM]]
[[Category: Financial sector lobbying]]