Difference between revisions of "Westbourne Communications"

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{{Template:Lobbying_Portal_badge}}'''Westbourne Communications''' is a lobbying firm co-founded and previously run by [[James Bethell]], the 5th Baron Bethell. It was sold to lobbying firm [[Cicero Consulting]] in June 2018, after which Bethell described himself as 'senior counsel' to the firm for two months (June-July). <ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbethell James Bethell], Linkedin profile, accessed July 2018</ref> His LinkedIn profile no longer includes any association with Westbourne. <ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbethell James Bethell], Linkedin profile, last accessed 8 November 2018</ref>
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Westbourne describes itself as a "small specialist agency that offers clients a fresh approach", placing strong emphasis on the need to change public opinion as a way of influencing decision-makers. 
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<blockquote style="background-color:#CEF2E0;border:1pt solid Darkgoldenrod;padding:1%;font-size:10pt">The traditional ways of conducting your communications are growing out of date. The economics of digital media have broken old monopolies on information. Scandals created suspicion about back-room decisions. Consumers expect choices.
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At Westbourne, we believe that decision-makers will be influenced less by secretive lobbying and more by changing opinion about your issues. Headlines and contacts are important but, increasingly, not enough. Nowadays it might be just as important to mobilise public supporters. Or else giving a voice to relevant specialist groups – experts, officials, professionals, locals, parents.
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That’s why you need a new combination of skills. Researching opinion. Presenting your case. Adapting to feedback. Direct communications, often over the internet. Mobilising support. Rebutting opposition.</blockquote>
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[[File:Westbourne.JPG|right|thumb|300px|Westbourne Comms, London, 17 Carlton House Terrace - on the same road as the [[Royal Academy of Engineering]]]]
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==Astroturfing==
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===Fracking===
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===='Students for shale'====
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{{‪Template:Fracking badge‬}}In 2015 Westbourne were forced to deny they set up an '[[astroturf]]' group in favour of fracking, to benefit their clients - [[Centrica]] and [[Cuadrilla]]. In June 2015, press releases, featured in the mainstream media, showed eight students holding a banner saying 'Students for Shale' on the steps of Lancashire Country Council, in anticipation of the councils' up and coming debate on whether to allow fracking in the area.
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The ''Morning Star'' claimed that the pro-shale students have vested interests in fracking because they are studying geology and hoping to get jobs in the industry. One of the students also attends [[Blackpool and Fylde College]], which was designated as the national training centre for the onshore gas sector in 2014. [[Centrica]] and [[Cuadrilla]] have 'supported' the college and fund the [[North West Energy Task Force]], which is led by Westbourne.
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Westbourne account director, [[Maurice Cousins]], denied deliberately using Lancashire geology students to coerce positive public opinion of fracking. He said 'We are in no way misrepresenting how students regard fracking. I do not understand what the issue is. We are transparent and not misleading. The students are within their rights to their opinions'. The ''Morning Star'' contacted Blackpool and Fylde College, after which Cousins demanded that only he be contacted for information on the issue. Cousins also accused the newspaper of 'harassing' students and said they were 'students, not activists'.<ref name="SH"> Lamiat Sabin and Solomon Hughes [http://morningstaronline.co.uk/a-eb8b-Fracking-Fakes#.VYvSIxNVikp Shady shale lobbyists accused of setting up sham grassroots group supporting drilling] ''Morning Star'', 24 June 2015, accessed 25 June 2015.</ref>
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===='North West Energy Task Force'====
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Westbourne employed ex-ministerial environment special adviser [[Tom Evans]] until January 2015 to work with clients such as the [[North West Energy Task Force]] (NWETF), a ‘local’ lobby group set up by Centrica and Cuadrilla to push the business case for fracking in Lancashire. Analysis by Greenpeace in 2015 revealed however that less than half of NWETF’s members were based in the county, and included an elderly care home and a Welsh fishing resort.
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Spinwatch highlights the benefits for lobbying firms such as Westbourne of employing former government advisers:
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<blockquote style="background-color:#CEF2E0;border:1pt solid Darkgoldenrod;padding:1%;font-size:10pt">
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:Emails released recently by [[Defra]] under freedom of information rules reveal that in May 2014 a Westbourne staffer wrote to [[Guy Robinson]], who was at the time a special adviser to former environment secretary [[Owen Paterson]] (now [[Liz Truss]]), to request a meeting on ‘shale gas and farming’.  The lobbyist, whose name is redacted but mentions NWETF is a client, was ‘working on a research paper exploring the potential benefits of shale gas developments to farmers’. He/she wanted ‘to discuss some of the findings’ over ‘some lunch or a brief coffee’ ahead of a launch event.
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:Within hours Robinson had replied, asking the lobbyist to set up a meeting with his diary office. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing whether they met – the emails don’t give any dates in the secretariat’s reply, or indicate if they arranged it by phone. Nor is it listed on Defra's most recent disclosed spads’ meetings dated 30 June 2014.
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:Guy Robinson, as it turns out, is an ex-lobbyist himself – he once worked for [[Crosby Textor]], the UK-Australian lobbying outfit co-owned by [[David Cameron]]’s infamous election spin doctor [[Lynton Crosby]].
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:Evans now works for a much bigger lobbying firm, [[Burson Marsteller]] (B-M), which handles the account of petrochemical giant and wannabe fracker [[Ineos]]. B-M used to employ [[Maria Allen]], now special adviser to energy and climate minister [[Amber Rudd]]. <ref> Melissa Jones and Andy Rowell, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5765-access-all-areas-frackers-lobbyists-and-the-revolving-door Access all areas: Westminster's (vast) fracking lobby exposed], 29 April 2015. </ref></blockquote>
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'''For more about the special access to the UK government enjoyed by the fracking industry, see the [[Fracking lobbying firms]]  and [[Fracking Spads]] pages on Powerbase.'''
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===Transport===
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In a report for Spinwatch by journalist [[Anna Minton]], Westbourne were accused of [[astroturfing]] to spin a campaign for high-speed rail to intimidate local opposition, or in the words of Westbourne managing director [[James Bethell]], 'shit them up'.<ref name="SH"/><ref> Anna Minton [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/blog/item/5486-anna-blog-on-westbourne Anna Minton on Westbourne's response to Spinwatch local lobbying and planning abuses report] ''Spinwatch'', 8 April 2013, accessed 25 June 2015.</ref>
  
 
==People==
 
==People==
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*[[James Bethell]] - founder
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*[[Luke Johnson]] - chairman since June 2015
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*[[Simon Barrow]] - 'people director' since September 2012.
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*[[Maurice Cousins]]
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*[[Lucy James]]
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*[[Jennifer Powers]]
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*[[Duncan Sedgewick]] - energy practice chair, joined in 2012
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*[[Jacqui Smith]], chair of public affairs practice, former Labour minister, joined 2015
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*[[Campbell Storey]]
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*[[Ashish Prashar]] - head of communications from 1 July 2013, previously head of media relations at [[Ipsos MORI]]
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====September 2016-November 2016====
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[[Victoria Adams]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Anouchka Burton]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Louisa Elliott]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Kate McFerran]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Laurence Raeburn-Smith]] | [[George Robinson]] | [[Matthew Sinclair]] | [[Jacqui Smith]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Ben Walker]] | [[Tom Wilkins]]
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====June 2016-August 2016====
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[[James Bethell]] | [[Anouchka Burton]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Louisa Elliott]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[Olivia Gleeson]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Kate McFerran]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[George Robinson]] | [[Matthew Sinclair]] | [[Jacqui Smith]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Ben Walker]] | [[James Wickett Whyte]]|  [[Tom Wilkins]] <ref name="Jun16"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/register/profile/?company=Westbourne%20Communications Westbourne Communications Register], ''APPC'', accessed 10 October 2016.</ref>
  
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*[[James Bethell]]<ref name="May 2012"> APPC Register Entry for 1 Mar 2012 to 31 May 2012, </ref>
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====March 2016-May 2016====
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*[[Maurice Cousins]]<ref name="May 2012"/>
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[[James Bethell]] | [[Anouchka Burton]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Louisa Elliott]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[Olivia Gleeson]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Kate McFerran]] | [[Paul Mills]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[George Robinson]] | [[Matthew Sinclair]] | [[Jacqui Smith]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Ben Walker]] | [[James Wickett Whyte]] | [[Tom Wilkins]] <ref name="Mar16"/>
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*[[Emily Hamilton]] - head of media<ref name="May 2012"/>
 
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*[[Lucy James]]<ref name="May 2012"/>
 
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*[[Nicola Minford]]<ref name="May 2012"/> - works on the [[Campaign for High Speed Rail]] and [[Siemens]] accounts,
 
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*[[Jennifer Powers]]<ref name="May 2012"/>
 
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*[[Thomas Ricketts]]<ref name="May 2012"/>
 
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*[[Adrian Shooter]]<ref name="May 2012"/>
 
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*[[Harry Spencer]]<ref name="May 2012"/>
 
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*[[Campbell Storey]]<ref name="May 2012"/>
 
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*[[Milly Doolan]] - Business Development Manager since June 2012<ref name="Nov 2012"> APPC Register Entry for 1 Sep 2012 to 30 Nov 2012 </ref>
 
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*[[Duncan Menzies]] <ref name="Nov 2012"/>
 
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*[[Duncan Sedgewick]] - Energy Practice Chair, joined in 2012
 
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*[[Simon Barrow]] - People Director
 
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*[[Portia Swales]] - Associate Development Director <ref name="current"> APPC Register Entry for 1 Sep 2012 to 30 Nov 2012, acc 8 April 2013 </ref>,
 
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*[[Dan Large]]<ref name="current"/> - joined Westbourne in September 2011 as campaign director for the Campaign for High-Speed Rail. He was formerly top aide to Conservative MP [[Edward Timpson]] MP, first working with him on his high-profile Crewe & Nantwich by-election victory in 2008. <ref> ''Public Affair News'', [http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/people-moves-september-2011-edition/130/ PEOPLE MOVES - September 2011 edition], 1 September 2011 </ref>
 
  
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===Infrastructure practice===
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====December 2015-February 2016====
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*[[Adrian Shooter]], former chairman of [[Chiltern Railways]], was made chairman of the practice in May 2012 <ref name="Week"> [http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/1132153/Public-Affairs-Week-Lobbying/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying],  prweek.com, Friday, 18 May 2012, 12:00am, acc 7 April 2013 </ref><ref name="May 2012"/>
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[[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Louisa Elliott]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[Olivia Gleeson]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Kate McFerran]] | [[Paul Mills]] | [[Johannes Pelkonen]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[George Robinson]] | [[Jacqui Smith]] |  [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Christiaan Weiland]] | [[James Wickett Whyte]] | [[Tom Wilkins]] <ref name="Dec15">[http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Westbourne Communications Westbourne Communications staff, Register 1st December 2015-28th February 2016], ''APPC'', accessed 8 April 2016</ref>
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*[[Paul Chapman]], former MD of [[High Speed 1]], was also made associate partner in May 2012 <ref name="Week"/>
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====September 2015-November 2015====
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[[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Matthew Colledge]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] |  [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[Olivia Gleeson]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Kate McFerran]] | [[Paul Mills]]  | [[Johannes Pelkonen]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Jacqui Smith]] |  [[Doniya Soni]] | [[Campbell Storey]] |  [[Christiaan Weiland]] | [[James Wickett-Whyte]] | [[Tom Wilkins]] <ref>[http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Westbourne%20Communications Westbourne Communications staff, Sep-Nov15], ''APPC.org'', accessed 3 February 2016</ref>
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====June 2015-August 2015====
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[[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Matthew Colledge]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[Olivia Gleeson]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Kate McFerran]] |[[Paul Mills]] | [[Johannes Pelkonen]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Jacqui Smith]] | [[Doniya Soni]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Christian Weiland]] | [[James Wickett Whyte]] | [[Tom Wilkins]]<ref name="March15">[http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Westbourne Register 1st July 2015-August 2015]''APPC'', accessed 28 September 2015</ref>
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====March 2015-May 2015====
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[[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Matthew Colledge]] | [[Tom Conroy]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garatt]] | [[Olivia Gleeson]] | [[John Higginson]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Jack Lewis]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Kate McFerren]] | [[Paul Mills]] | [[Johannes Pelkonen]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Jacqui Smith]] | [[Doniya Soni]] | [[James Wickett Whyte]] | [[Tom Wilkins]] <ref name="Mar15"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MAY-2015-REGISTER-FINAL.pdf Register 1st March 2015-31st May 2015]''APPC'', accessed 29 September 2015 </ref>
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====December 2014-February 2015====
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[[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Matthew Colledge]] | [[Tom Conroy]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Tom Evans]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[John Higginson]] | [[Bernard Hughes]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Jack Lewis (lobbyist)| Jack Lewis]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Rebecca Lury]] | [[Paul Mills]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Jacqui Smith]] | [[Doniya Soni]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Christiaan Weiland]] | [[James Wickett Whyte]] | [[Amy Yiannitsarou]]<ref name="Dec14"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Westbourne%20Communications Register 1st December 2014 - 28th February 2015] ''APPC'', accessed 9 March 2015 </ref>
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====September 2014-November 2014====
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[[Ben Abbotts]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Matthew Colledge]] | [[Tom Conroy]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Tom Evans]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[John Higginson]] | [[Bernard Hughes]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Rebecca Lury]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Doniya Soni]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Alex White]] | [[James Wicket Whyte]] | [[Amy Yiannitsarou]]<ref name="sept"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/NOV-14-REGISTER-5.12.14.pdf Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 16 January 2015 </ref>
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====June 2014-August 2014====
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[[Ben Abbotts]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clarke]] | [[Matthew Colledge]] | [[Tom Conroy]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Tom Evans]] | [[James Garland]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[John Higginson]] | [[Bernard Hughes]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Rebecca Lury]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Alex White]] | [[James Wicket Whyte]] | [[Amy Yiannitsarou]]<ref name="June"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/AUG-14-REGISTER-28.11.14.pdf Register 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 17 October 2014 </ref>
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====March 2014-May 2014====
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[[Ben Abbotts]] | [[Joseph Ampah]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clark]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Mark Evans]] | [[Helena Frisby]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[Hannah Hatt]] | [[John Higginson]] | [[Bernard Hughes]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Rebecca Lury]] | [[Richard Martyn Hemphill]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Portia Swales]] | [[James Wicket Whyte]] | [[Chloe Williams Wynne]] | [[Amy Yiannitsarou]] <ref name="MP"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MAY-14-REGISTER-1.9.14.pdf Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 1 October 2014 </ref>
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====December 2013-February 2014====
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[[Ben Abbotts]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[James Clark]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Mark Evans]] | [[Helena Frisby]] | [[Ben Garratt]] | [[Dominic Haldane]] | [[John Higginson]] | [[Bernard Hughes]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Annabel Roycroft]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Portia Swales]] | [[Mark Thompson]] | [[James Wicket Whyte]] | [[Danny Wilkinson]] | [[Amy Yiannitsarou]] <ref name="MR"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/FEB-14-REG-7.3.1411.pdf Register for 1st December 2013 - 28th February 2014] ''APPC'', accessed 1 October 2014 </ref>
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====September 2013-November 2013====
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[[Ben Abbotts]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[Bernard Hughes]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Nicola Minford]] | [[Jennifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Adrian Shooter]] | [[Campbell Storey]] | [[Portia Swales]] <ref name="MS"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/13-NOV-REGISTER-26.2.1411.pdf Register for 1st September 2013 - 30th November 2013] ''APPC'', accessed 1 October 2014 </ref>
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====June 2013-August 2013====
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[[Portia Swales]] | [[Ben Abbotts]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Milly Doolan]] | [[Emily Hamilton]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Dan Large]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Duncan Menzies]] | [[Nichola Minford]] | [[Jenniifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Adrian Shooter]] | [[Campbell Storey]] <ref name="MT"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Register-August-2014-FINAL11.pdf Register for 1st June 2013 - 31st August 2013] ''APPC'', accessed 1 October 2014 </ref>
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====March 2013-May 2013====
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[[Portia Swales]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Milly Doolan]] | [[Emily Hamilton]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Dan Large]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Duncan Menzies]] | [[Nichola Minford]] | [[Jenniifer Powers]] | [[Christopher Rees]] | [[Thomas Ricketts]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Adrian Shooter]] | [[Campbell Storey]] <ref name="MU"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/13-MAY-REGISTER-FINAL-FINAL11.pdf Register for 1st March 2013 - 31st May 2013] ''APPC'', accessed 1 October 2014 </ref>
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====December 2012-February 2013====
 +
[[Portia Swales]] | [[James Bethell]] | [[Paul Chapman]] | [[Maurice Cousins]] | [[Milly Doolan]] | [[Emily Hamilton]] | [[Lucy James]] | [[Dan Large]] | [[Alex Linden]] | [[Duncan Menzies]] | [[Nichola Minford]] | [[Jenniifer Powers]] | [[Thomas Ricketts]] | [[Duncan Sedgwick]] | [[Adrian Shooter]] | [[Campbell Storey]] <ref name="MV"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/latest-register_1Dec2012_28Feb2013.pdf Register for 1st December 2012 - 28th February 2013] ''APPC'', accessed 1 October 2014 </ref>
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====Infrastructure practice====
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*[[Adrian Shooter]], former chairman of [[Chiltern Railways]], was made chairman of the practice in May 2012 <ref name="Week"> [http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/1132153/Public-Affairs-Week-Lobbying/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying],  prweek.com, Friday, 18 May 2012, 12:00am, acc 7 April 2013 </ref>
 +
*[[Paul Chapman]], former MD of [[High Speed 1]], was also made associate partner in May 2012  
  
 
===Former staff===
 
===Former staff===
 
*[[James Frayne]] was a partner at Westbourne until he left to join the [[Department for Education]] as Director of Communications in March 2011 <ref> Public Affair News, [http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/people-moves-march-2011-edition/130/ People Moves - March 2011 edition] </ref>
 
*[[James Frayne]] was a partner at Westbourne until he left to join the [[Department for Education]] as Director of Communications in March 2011 <ref> Public Affair News, [http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/people-moves-march-2011-edition/130/ People Moves - March 2011 edition] </ref>
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*[[James Wickett-Whyte]] <ref name="May 2012"/>, worked on the Yes to High Speed Rail campaign, no longer listed as Westbourne staff on the APPC register as of April 2013, now a consultant at [[Curtin & Co]] on the community consultation team <ref> [http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/james-wickett-whyte/57/931/416  James Wickett-Whyte], LinkedIn profile, acc April 2013 </ref> <ref> [http://communityconsultation.curtinandco.com/our-people/james-wickett-whyte/?ptype=ajax James Wickett-Whyte], Curtis & Co website, acc 8 April 2013 </ref>
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*[[James Wickett-Whyte]], worked on the Yes to High Speed Rail campaign, no longer listed as Westbourne staff on the APPC register as of April 2013, now a consultant at [[Curtin & Co]] on the community consultation team <ref> [http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/james-wickett-whyte/57/931/416  James Wickett-Whyte], LinkedIn profile, acc April 2013 </ref> <ref> [http://communityconsultation.curtinandco.com/our-people/james-wickett-whyte/?ptype=ajax James Wickett-Whyte], Curtis & Co website, acc 8 April 2013 </ref>
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*[[Harry Spencer]] - was an intern and researcher at Westbourne, is now an account executive at [[Edelman]] <ref> [http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/harry-spencer/39/b94/a7a Harry Spencer], LinkedIn, acc 8 April 2013 </ref>
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*[[Emily Hamilton]] - head of press from April 2011 – July 2013. Now corporate communications manager at [[Bupa]], held since August 2013.
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*[[Nicola Minford]]-  worked as an account executive and senior account executive between April 2012 and November 2013 - worked on the [[Campaign for High Speed Rail]] and [[Siemens]] accounts. Is now. Is now Public Affairs Officer at [[Thames Tideway Tunnel]], November 2013-present.
 +
*[[Thomas Ricketts]] - former senior account executive from February 2012 to August 2013. Then appointed government affairs adviser and now media relations adviser at the [[British Bankers Association]].
 +
*[[Duncan Menzies]]
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*[[Portia Swales]] - Associate development director between December 2012 and April 2014.
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*[[Dan Large]] - Campaign director for the Campaign for High-Speed Rail between May 2011 and January 2012. He was formerly top aide to Conservative MP [[Edward Timpson]] MP, first working with him on his high-profile Crewe & Nantwich by-election victory in 2008. <ref> ''Public Affairs News'', [http://www.publicaffairsnews.com/no_cache/home/uk-news/news-detail/newsarticle/people-moves-september-2011-edition/130/ PEOPLE MOVES - September 2011 edition], 1 September 2011 </ref> Then held roles as campaign director of [[Freedom To Marry UK]] (October 2012 – February 2013) and senior associate of [[Crest Advisory]] (June 2012 – January 2014). Is currently director of [[By&Large Campaign Strategy]], August 2010 – Present.
 +
*[[Milly Doolan]] - Account manager, March 2013 was formerly business development manager since June 2012.<ref> [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/madoolan Milly Doolan] ''Linkedin'', accessed 16 January 2015 </ref>
  
 
==Clients==
 
==Clients==
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As of April 2013:
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===Registrar of consultant lobbyists===
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*[[APPG for High Speed Rail]]
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'''Westbourne Communications''' has been registered since January 2016. The register documents those clients for whom lobbying agencies have met with ministers, and Westbourne's 2015 listings are as follows:  
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*[[Birmingham Airport]]
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====January - March 2015====
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*[[Campaign for High Speed Rail]]
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[[BAM Nuttall Ltd]] | [[Birmingham Airport Ltd]] | [[ComplyServe Ltd]] | [[GB Railfreight Ltd]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] | [[HS2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal and General plc]] | [[LinkedIn Technology UK Ltd]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company]] | [[Uber B.V.]] | [[US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform]]
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*[[Core Cities]]
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====April - June 2015====
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*[[Euston Estate]] Limited
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[[BAM Nuttall Ltd]] | [[Birmingham Airport Ltd]] | [[Centrica]] | [[ComplyServe Ltd]] | [[GB Railfreight Ltd]] | [[Green Deal Finance Company]] | [[Hitachi]] | [[HS2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn Technology UK Ltd]] | [[Opus Energy]] | [[SAP]] | [[Society of Chief Librarians]] | [[Uber]]
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*[[GB Railfreight]]
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====July - September 2015====
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*[[Healthlogistics]]
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[[BAM Nuttall Ltd]] | [[Birmingham Airport Ltd]] | [[Circle Housing]] | [[ComplyServe Ltd]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] | [[HS2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn Technology UK Ltd]] | [[Opus Energy]] | [[SAP]] | [[Society of Chief Librarians]]
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*[[Ingeus UK]]
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====October - December 2015====
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*[[Legal & General]]
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[[LinkedIn Technology UK Ltd]] <ref>[https://registerofconsultantlobbyists.force.com/CLR_Public_Profile?id=00124000005zqpeAAA Westbourne Communications profile 2015], ''Registrar of consultant lobbyists'', accessed 5 February 2016</ref>
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*[[Siemens PLC]]  
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====January - March 2016====
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* The [[Society of Chief Librarians]]
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No clients reported.
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<ref> [http://www.appc.org.uk/en/register/current-register.cfm/westbourne-communications http://www.appc.org.uk/en/register/current-register.cfm/westbourne-communications], acc 8 April 2013 </ref>
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====April - June 2016====
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===Feb 2013===
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No clients reported.
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As above, but breakdown of clients involved in the [[APPG for High Speed Rail]] included- [[TSSA]], [[Bruntwood]], [[South West Trains]], [[Abellio]], [[Eurotunnel]], [[Core Cities]]
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====July 2016-September 2016====
−
===March - May 2012===
+
No clients reported.
−
*[[50p Tax Campaign]] | [[Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy]] | [[Atkins Global] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Birmingham City Council]] | [[Campaign for High Speed Rail]] | [[Cheviot Asset Management Limited]] | [[Electralink Limited]] | [[First Group PLC]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Policy Exchange]] - (The [[Wolfson Economics Prize]]) | [[Railway Industry Association]] | [[Siemens PLC]] | [[Stagecoach Group]] | [[Sydney & London Properties]] Ltd | [[Systra UK]]
+
 
 +
===APPC lobbying register===
 +
====March 2018 - May 2018====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association]] | [[Civil Nuclear Police Federation]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Geobear]] | [[Green Biofuels]] | [[Hs2]] | [[Ingeus]] UK | [[Legal & General]] | [[Legatum Group]] | [[Legatum Institute]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[Police Federation]] | [[RSL Land]] | [[Santander]] | [[UK Finance]] | [[Wales and West Utilities]]
 +
 
 +
====Sept 2017 - Nov 2017====
 +
[[Agilitas Private Equity]] | [[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association]] | [[Civil Nuclear Police Federation ]] | [[Core Cities]] | [[Doddle]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[HS2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[Northern Powergrid]] | [[Oxbotica]] | [[Palmers Green Investments]] | [[Philip Callan Associates]] | [[Police Federation]] | [[Portakabin]] | [[RSL Land]] | [[UK Finance]] | [[Urban Vision]] | [[Wales and West Utilities]]
 +
 
 +
====September 2016-November 2016====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Burberry]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Circle Housing]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hs2]] Ltd | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[MHI Vestas]] | [[Northern Rail]] | [[One Housing Group]] | [[Open Energi]] | [[Oxbotica]] | [[Peabody]] | [[pensionsync]] | [[Platinum Property Partners]] | [[Police Federation]] | [[Prospects]] | [[SilverRail]] | [[Triton Knoll]] | [[Urban Vision]] | [[Wolfson Economics Prize]] | [[Woodland Trust]]
 +
 
 +
====June 2016-August 2016====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Burberry]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Circle Housing]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd]] | [[Hs2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[MHI Vestas]] | [[Open Energi]] | [[Peabody]] | [[pensionsync]] | [[Platinum Property Partners]] | [[Prospects]] | [[Shelter]] | [[Triton Knoll]] <ref name="Jun16"/>
 +
 
 +
====March 2016-May 2016====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] |  [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Circle Housing Comply]] | [[Serve]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd]] | [[Hs2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[Open Energi]] | [[Opus Energy]] | [[Peabody]] | [[Platinum Property Partners]] | [[Prospects]] | [[Shelter]] <ref name="Mar16> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/APPC-Register-May-2016-13.6.16.pdf Register for 1st March 2016 - 31st May 2016], ''APPC'', accessed 24 November 2016. </ref>
 +
 
 +
====December 2015-February 2016====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Circle Housing Comply]] | [[Serve]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[Food and Drink Federation]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]]Ltd | [[Hs2]]Ltd | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[Open Energi]] | [[Opus Energy]] | [[Peabody]] | [[SAP]] | [[Shelter]] <ref name="Dec15"/>
 +
 
 +
====September 2015-November 2015====
 +
[[BAM Nutall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Circle Housing]] | [[ComplyServe]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[Food and Drink Federation]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd]] | [[Hs2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[Maximus]] | [[OpusEnergy]] | [[Peabody]] | [[SAP]] <ref>[http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Westbourne%20Communications Westbourne Communications clients, Sep-Nov15], ''APPC.org'', accessed 2 February 2016</ref>  
 +
 
 +
====June 2015-August 2015====
 +
[[BAM Nutall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Circle Housing]] | [[ComplyServe]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[GDFC]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd]] | [[Hs2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[Opus Energy]] | [[SAP]]<ref name="Jun2015">[http://www.appc.org.uk/members/register/register-profile/?company=Westbourne Register 1st June-31st August 2015]APPC.Org, accessed 28 September 2015</ref>
 +
 
 +
====March 2015-May 2015====
 +
[[BAM Nutall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[ComplyServe]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd]] | [[Hs2 Ltd]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[Opus Energy]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd]] | [[Uber]] <ref name="Mar15"> [http://www.appc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MAY-2015-REGISTER-FINAL.pdf Register 1st March 2015-31st May 2015]''APPC'', accessed 29 September 2015 </ref>
 +
 
 +
====December 2014-February 2015====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[ComplyServe]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[G Plus Europe]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] Ltd | [[Hs2]] Ltd | [[Ingeus]] UK | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[LinkedIn]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company]] Ltd | [[Uber]]<ref name="Dec14"/>
 +
 
 +
====September 2014-November 2014====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Crest Nicholson]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[G Plus Europe]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] Ltd | [[Hs2]] Ltd | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Manchester City Council]] | [[Marsh Insurance]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company]] Ltd | [[The Wolfson Prize]] | [[Uber]] | [[UKOOG]]<ref name="sept"/>
 +
 
 +
====June 2014-August 2014====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Crest Nicholson]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[ERSA]] | [[G Plus Europe]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] Ltd | [[Hs2]] Ltd | [[IBI Group]] | [[Ingeus]] UK | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Manchester City Council]] | [[Marsh Insurance]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company]] Ltd | [[The Wolfson Prize]] | [[Uber]] | [[UKOOG]]<ref name="June"/>
 +
 
 +
====March 2014-May 2014====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Crest Nicholson]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[ERSA]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] Ltd | [[Hs2]] Ltd | [[IBI Group]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Institute for Legal Reform]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Marketing Birmingham]] | [[The Freight Alliance]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company]] Ltd | [[The Wolfson Prize]] | [[Uber]] | <ref name="MP"/>
  
−
==Former clients==
+
====December 2013-February 2014====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Centrica Energy]] | [[Crest Nicholson]] | [[Cuadrilla Bowland]] | [[ERSA]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] Ltd | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Marketing Birmingham]] | [[The Dearman Engine Company]] | [[The Freight Alliance]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company]] Ltd | [[The Wolfson Prize]] | [[Utilita]] <ref name="MR"/>
 +
 
 +
====September 2013-November 2013====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] Ltd | [[The Dearman Engine Company]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company]] Ltd | [[Utilita]] <ref name="MS"/>
 +
 
 +
====June 2013-August 2013====
 +
[[BAM Nuttall]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Hitachi Rail Europe]] Ltd | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Siemens]] | [[The Dearman Engine Company]] | [[The Green Deal Finance Company]] Ltd <ref name="MT"/>
 +
 
 +
====March 2013-May 2013====
 +
[[All Party Parliamentary Group on High Speed Rail]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Campaign for High Speed Rail]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Healthlogistics]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Shelter]] | [[Siemens]] | [[The Dearman Engine Company]] <ref name="MU"/>
 +
 
 +
====December 2012-February 2013====
 +
[[APPG for High Speed Rail]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Campaign for High Speed Rail]] | [[Core Cities]] | [[Euston Estate Limited]] | [[GB Railfreight]] | [[Healthlogistics]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Siemens]] | [[The Society of Chief Librarians]] <ref name="MV"/>
 +
 
 +
====March - May 2012====
 +
*[[50p Tax Campaign]] | [[Alliance for Affordable Solar Energy]] | [[Atkins Global]] | [[Birmingham Airport]] | [[Birmingham City Council]] | [[Campaign for High Speed Rail]] | [[Cheviot Asset Management Limited]] | [[Electralink Limited]] | [[First Group PLC]] | [[Ingeus UK]] | [[Legal & General]] | [[Policy Exchange]] - (The [[Wolfson Economics Prize]]) | [[Railway Industry Association]] | [[Siemens PLC]] | [[Stagecoach Group]] | [[Sydney & London Properties]] Ltd | [[Systra UK]]
 +
 
 +
===Former clients===
 +
Westbourne's website displays the following companies' logos on its 'about Westbourne' page:
 
*[[New Schools Network]]
 
*[[New Schools Network]]
 
*[[Private Equity Foundation]]
 
*[[Private Equity Foundation]]
Line 54: Line 198:
 
*[[Bain Capital]]
 
*[[Bain Capital]]
 
*[[Sino-Bridge]]
 
*[[Sino-Bridge]]
−
*[[abellio]]
+
*[[Abellio]]
 
*[[Stagecoach]] Group
 
*[[Stagecoach]] Group
 
*[[Network Rail]]
 
*[[Network Rail]]
 
*[[Deloitte]]
 
*[[Deloitte]]
 
*[[Yingli Solar]]
 
*[[Yingli Solar]]
−
*[[Cheviot]]
+
*[[Cheviot Asset Management]]<ref> [http://changeopinion.com/about-westbourne/ About Westbourne], acc 8 April 2013 </ref>
−
<ref> [http://changeopinion.com/about-westbourne/ About Westbourne], acc 8 April 2013 </ref>
+
 
 +
==Publications and pamphlets==
 +
*Westbourne Communications, 'Know your campaigners: rethinking the way that organisations engage with campaigners', undated leaflet, written by Westbourne research [[Dominic Haldene]]
 +
 
 +
==Affiliations==
 +
*[[Nothing British]] - Westbourne's founder Bethell set up this campaign against the [[BNP]], drawing upon support from powerful British military figures
 +
*[[Doctors for Reform]] - launched this campaign which represented 1000 medical practitioners backing government plans to overhaul the NHS and which was supported by Reform, the free-market thinktank that has received funding from private healthcare companies. <ref> Jamie Doward, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/06/high-speed-rail-hs2-nimbys ],  ''The Observer'', Saturday 6 April 2013 22.35 BST, acc same day </ref>
  
 
==Contact, Resources and Notes==
 
==Contact, Resources and Notes==
 +
 +
'''Westbourne Comms Company''' was incorporated as a private limited company (No. 06936185) on 17 June 2009. Its registered address is 17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH. Founder [[James Bethell]] is the sole company director. <ref> Companies House, Webcheck, acc 8 April 2013 </ref>
 +
 
===Contact===
 
===Contact===
  
−
:Address:17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
+
:Address:17 [[Carlton House Terrace]], London, SW1Y 5AH
 
:Email:jennifer.powers@westbournecoms.com
 
:Email:jennifer.powers@westbournecoms.com
 
:Website: www.changeopinion.com  
 
:Website: www.changeopinion.com  
  
 
Previously:
 
Previously:
−
:[[55 Tufton Street]]
+
:55 [[Tufton Street]]
 
:London SW1P 3QL
 
:London SW1P 3QL
 
:Tel: 02033970100
 
:Tel: 02033970100
Line 76: Line 229:
  
 
===Resources===
 
===Resources===
 +
*See: [[Fracking lobbying firms]]
 +
*See: [[Fracking Spads]]
 +
*Melissa Jones and Andy Rowell, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5765-access-all-areas-frackers-lobbyists-and-the-revolving-door Access all areas: Westminster's (vast) fracking lobby exposed], 29 April 2015.
 +
*Jamie Doward, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/apr/06/high-speed-rail-hs2-nimbys High-speed rail opponents 'portrayed as posh nimbys' by Tory peer's lobbying firm: PR agency accused of scare tactics and invoking the class divide in a 'coldly calculated' campaign to push coalition's case for HS2 network] ''The Observer'' (England), April 7, 2013, OBSERVER HOME NEWS PAGES; Pg. 3, 957 words.
 +
*Anna Minton, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/component/k2/item/5458-the-local-lobby-and-the-failure-of-democracy New report: Scaring the living daylights out of people], ''Spinwatch'', 27 March 2013.
 +
*Anna Minton [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/blog/item/5486-anna-blog-on-westbourne Anna Minton on Westbourne's response to Spinwatch local lobbying and planning abuses report], ''Spinwatch'',  08 April 2013.
  
 
===Notes===
 
===Notes===
Line 84: Line 243:
 
[[Category: APPC Register]]
 
[[Category: APPC Register]]
 
     [[Category: Lobbying firms]]
 
     [[Category: Lobbying firms]]
 +
[[Category: Financial sector lobbying]]
 +
[[Category: Fracking]]
 
         [[Category: Nuclear PR, lobbying and consultancy firms]]
 
         [[Category: Nuclear PR, lobbying and consultancy firms]]
 
     [[Category: Revolving Door]]
 
     [[Category: Revolving Door]]

Latest revision as of 06:32, 27 June 2019

Twenty-pound-notes.jpg This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

Westbourne Communications is a lobbying firm co-founded and previously run by James Bethell, the 5th Baron Bethell. It was sold to lobbying firm Cicero Consulting in June 2018, after which Bethell described himself as 'senior counsel' to the firm for two months (June-July). [1] His LinkedIn profile no longer includes any association with Westbourne. [2]

Westbourne describes itself as a "small specialist agency that offers clients a fresh approach", placing strong emphasis on the need to change public opinion as a way of influencing decision-makers.

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

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

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

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


Contents

Astroturfing

Fracking

'Students for shale'

FrackWell.png This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

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

The Morning Star claimed that the pro-shale students have vested interests in fracking because they are studying geology and hoping to get jobs in the industry. One of the students also attends Blackpool and Fylde College, which was designated as the national training centre for the onshore gas sector in 2014. Centrica and Cuadrilla have 'supported' the college and fund the North West Energy Task Force, which is led by Westbourne.

Westbourne account director, Maurice Cousins, denied deliberately using Lancashire geology students to coerce positive public opinion of fracking. He said 'We are in no way misrepresenting how students regard fracking. I do not understand what the issue is. We are transparent and not misleading. The students are within their rights to their opinions'. The Morning Star contacted Blackpool and Fylde College, after which Cousins demanded that only he be contacted for information on the issue. Cousins also accused the newspaper of 'harassing' students and said they were 'students, not activists'.[3]

'North West Energy Task Force'

Westbourne employed ex-ministerial environment special adviser Tom Evans until January 2015 to work with clients such as the North West Energy Task Force (NWETF), a ‘local’ lobby group set up by Centrica and Cuadrilla to push the business case for fracking in Lancashire. Analysis by Greenpeace in 2015 revealed however that less than half of NWETF’s members were based in the county, and included an elderly care home and a Welsh fishing resort.

Spinwatch highlights the benefits for lobbying firms such as Westbourne of employing former government advisers:

Emails released recently by Defra under freedom of information rules reveal that in May 2014 a Westbourne staffer wrote to Guy Robinson, who was at the time a special adviser to former environment secretary Owen Paterson (now Liz Truss), to request a meeting on ‘shale gas and farming’. The lobbyist, whose name is redacted but mentions NWETF is a client, was ‘working on a research paper exploring the potential benefits of shale gas developments to farmers’. He/she wanted ‘to discuss some of the findings’ over ‘some lunch or a brief coffee’ ahead of a launch event.
Within hours Robinson had replied, asking the lobbyist to set up a meeting with his diary office. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing whether they met – the emails don’t give any dates in the secretariat’s reply, or indicate if they arranged it by phone. Nor is it listed on Defra's most recent disclosed spads’ meetings dated 30 June 2014.
Guy Robinson, as it turns out, is an ex-lobbyist himself – he once worked for Crosby Textor, the UK-Australian lobbying outfit co-owned by David Cameron’s infamous election spin doctor Lynton Crosby.
Evans now works for a much bigger lobbying firm, Burson Marsteller (B-M), which handles the account of petrochemical giant and wannabe fracker Ineos. B-M used to employ Maria Allen, now special adviser to energy and climate minister Amber Rudd. [4]

For more about the special access to the UK government enjoyed by the fracking industry, see the Fracking lobbying firms and Fracking Spads pages on Powerbase.

Transport

In a report for Spinwatch by journalist Anna Minton, Westbourne were accused of astroturfing to spin a campaign for high-speed rail to intimidate local opposition, or in the words of Westbourne managing director James Bethell, 'shit them up'.[3][5]

People

September 2016-November 2016

Victoria Adams | James Bethell | Anouchka Burton | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Maurice Cousins | Louisa Elliott | James Garland | Ben Garratt | Lucy James | Kate McFerran | Jennifer Powers | Laurence Raeburn-Smith | George Robinson | Matthew Sinclair | Jacqui Smith | Campbell Storey | Ben Walker | Tom Wilkins

June 2016-August 2016

James Bethell | Anouchka Burton | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Maurice Cousins | Louisa Elliott | James Garland | Ben Garratt | Olivia Gleeson | Lucy James | Kate McFerran | Jennifer Powers | George Robinson | Matthew Sinclair | Jacqui Smith | Campbell Storey | Ben Walker | James Wickett Whyte| Tom Wilkins [6]

March 2016-May 2016

James Bethell | Anouchka Burton | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Maurice Cousins | Louisa Elliott | James Garland | Ben Garratt | Olivia Gleeson | Lucy James | Kate McFerran | Paul Mills | Jennifer Powers | George Robinson | Matthew Sinclair | Jacqui Smith | Campbell Storey | Ben Walker | James Wickett Whyte | Tom Wilkins [7]

December 2015-February 2016

James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Maurice Cousins | Louisa Elliott | James Garland | Ben Garratt | Olivia Gleeson | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Kate McFerran | Paul Mills | Johannes Pelkonen | Jennifer Powers | George Robinson | Jacqui Smith | Campbell Storey | Christiaan Weiland | James Wickett Whyte | Tom Wilkins [8]

September 2015-November 2015

James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Maurice Cousins | James Garland | Ben Garratt | Olivia Gleeson | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Kate McFerran | Paul Mills | Johannes Pelkonen | Jennifer Powers | Jacqui Smith | Doniya Soni | Campbell Storey | Christiaan Weiland | James Wickett-Whyte | Tom Wilkins [9]

June 2015-August 2015

James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Maurice Cousins | James Garland | Ben Garratt | Olivia Gleeson | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Kate McFerran |Paul Mills | Johannes Pelkonen | Jennifer Powers | Jacqui Smith | Doniya Soni | Campbell Storey | Christian Weiland | James Wickett Whyte | Tom Wilkins[10]

March 2015-May 2015

James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Tom Conroy | Maurice Cousins | James Garland | Ben Garatt | Olivia Gleeson | John Higginson | Lucy James | Jack Lewis | Alex Linden | Kate McFerren | Paul Mills | Johannes Pelkonen | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Jacqui Smith | Doniya Soni | James Wickett Whyte | Tom Wilkins [11]

December 2014-February 2015

James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Tom Conroy | Maurice Cousins | Tom Evans | James Garland | Ben Garratt | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Jack Lewis | Alex Linden | Rebecca Lury | Paul Mills | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Jacqui Smith | Doniya Soni | Campbell Storey | Christiaan Weiland | James Wickett Whyte | Amy Yiannitsarou[12]

September 2014-November 2014

Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Tom Conroy | Maurice Cousins | Tom Evans | James Garland | Ben Garratt | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Rebecca Lury | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Doniya Soni | Campbell Storey | Alex White | James Wicket Whyte | Amy Yiannitsarou[13]

June 2014-August 2014

Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clarke | Matthew Colledge | Tom Conroy | Maurice Cousins | Tom Evans | James Garland | Ben Garratt | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Rebecca Lury | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Campbell Storey | Alex White | James Wicket Whyte | Amy Yiannitsarou[14]

March 2014-May 2014

Ben Abbotts | Joseph Ampah | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clark | Maurice Cousins | Mark Evans | Helena Frisby | Ben Garratt | Hannah Hatt | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Rebecca Lury | Richard Martyn Hemphill | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Campbell Storey | Portia Swales | James Wicket Whyte | Chloe Williams Wynne | Amy Yiannitsarou [15]

December 2013-February 2014

Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | James Clark | Maurice Cousins | Mark Evans | Helena Frisby | Ben Garratt | Dominic Haldane | John Higginson | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Annabel Roycroft | Duncan Sedgwick | Campbell Storey | Portia Swales | Mark Thompson | James Wicket Whyte | Danny Wilkinson | Amy Yiannitsarou [16]

September 2013-November 2013

Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | Bernard Hughes | Lucy James | Alex Linden | Nicola Minford | Jennifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Adrian Shooter | Campbell Storey | Portia Swales [17]

June 2013-August 2013

Portia Swales | Ben Abbotts | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | Maurice Cousins | Milly Doolan | Emily Hamilton | Lucy James | Dan Large | Alex Linden | Duncan Menzies | Nichola Minford | Jenniifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Duncan Sedgwick | Adrian Shooter | Campbell Storey [18]

March 2013-May 2013

Portia Swales | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | Maurice Cousins | Milly Doolan | Emily Hamilton | Lucy James | Dan Large | Alex Linden | Duncan Menzies | Nichola Minford | Jenniifer Powers | Christopher Rees | Thomas Ricketts | Duncan Sedgwick | Adrian Shooter | Campbell Storey [19]

December 2012-February 2013

Portia Swales | James Bethell | Paul Chapman | Maurice Cousins | Milly Doolan | Emily Hamilton | Lucy James | Dan Large | Alex Linden | Duncan Menzies | Nichola Minford | Jenniifer Powers | Thomas Ricketts | Duncan Sedgwick | Adrian Shooter | Campbell Storey [20]

Infrastructure practice

Former staff

Clients

Registrar of consultant lobbyists

Westbourne Communications has been registered since January 2016. The register documents those clients for whom lobbying agencies have met with ministers, and Westbourne's 2015 listings are as follows:

January - March 2015

BAM Nuttall Ltd | Birmingham Airport Ltd | ComplyServe Ltd | GB Railfreight Ltd | Hitachi Rail Europe | HS2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Legal and General plc | LinkedIn Technology UK Ltd | The Green Deal Finance Company | Uber B.V. | US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform

April - June 2015

BAM Nuttall Ltd | Birmingham Airport Ltd | Centrica | ComplyServe Ltd | GB Railfreight Ltd | Green Deal Finance Company | Hitachi | HS2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn Technology UK Ltd | Opus Energy | SAP | Society of Chief Librarians | Uber

July - September 2015

BAM Nuttall Ltd | Birmingham Airport Ltd | Circle Housing | ComplyServe Ltd | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe | HS2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn Technology UK Ltd | Opus Energy | SAP | Society of Chief Librarians

October - December 2015

LinkedIn Technology UK Ltd [28]

January - March 2016

No clients reported.

April - June 2016

No clients reported.

July 2016-September 2016

No clients reported.

APPC lobbying register

March 2018 - May 2018

BAM Nuttall | British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association | Civil Nuclear Police Federation | GB Railfreight | Geobear | Green Biofuels | Hs2 | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Legatum Group | Legatum Institute | LinkedIn | Police Federation | RSL Land | Santander | UK Finance | Wales and West Utilities

Sept 2017 - Nov 2017

Agilitas Private Equity | BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association | Civil Nuclear Police Federation | Core Cities | Doddle | GB Railfreight | HS2 Ltd | Ingeus | Legal & General | LinkedIn | Northern Powergrid | Oxbotica | Palmers Green Investments | Philip Callan Associates | Police Federation | Portakabin | RSL Land | UK Finance | Urban Vision | Wales and West Utilities

September 2016-November 2016

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Burberry | Centrica Energy | Circle Housing | Cuadrilla Bowland | GB Railfreight | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | LinkedIn | MHI Vestas | Northern Rail | One Housing Group | Open Energi | Oxbotica | Peabody | pensionsync | Platinum Property Partners | Police Federation | Prospects | SilverRail | Triton Knoll | Urban Vision | Wolfson Economics Prize | Woodland Trust

June 2016-August 2016

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Burberry | Centrica Energy | Circle Housing | Cuadrilla Bowland | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | LinkedIn | MHI Vestas | Open Energi | Peabody | pensionsync | Platinum Property Partners | Prospects | Shelter | Triton Knoll [6]

March 2016-May 2016

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Circle Housing Comply | Serve | Cuadrilla Bowland | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn | Open Energi | Opus Energy | Peabody | Platinum Property Partners | Prospects | Shelter [7]

December 2015-February 2016

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport Centrica Energy | Circle Housing Comply | Serve | Cuadrilla Bowland | Food and Drink Federation | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail EuropeLtd | Hs2Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn | Open Energi | Opus Energy | Peabody | SAP | Shelter [8]

September 2015-November 2015

BAM Nutall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Circle Housing | ComplyServe | Cuadrilla Bowland | Food and Drink Federation | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn | Maximus | OpusEnergy | Peabody | SAP [29]

June 2015-August 2015

BAM Nutall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Circle Housing | ComplyServe | Cuadrilla Bowland | GB Railfreight | GDFC | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn | Opus Energy | SAP[30]

March 2015-May 2015

BAM Nutall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | ComplyServe | Cuadrilla Bowland | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn | Opus Energy | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | Uber [11]

December 2014-February 2015

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | ComplyServe | Cuadrilla Bowland | G Plus Europe | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | LinkedIn | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | Uber[12]

September 2014-November 2014

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Crest Nicholson | Cuadrilla Bowland | G Plus Europe | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | Manchester City Council | Marsh Insurance | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | The Wolfson Prize | Uber | UKOOG[13]

June 2014-August 2014

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Crest Nicholson | Cuadrilla Bowland | ERSA | G Plus Europe | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | IBI Group | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | Manchester City Council | Marsh Insurance | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | The Wolfson Prize | Uber | UKOOG[14]

March 2014-May 2014

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Crest Nicholson | Cuadrilla Bowland | ERSA | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Hs2 Ltd | IBI Group | Ingeus UK | Institute for Legal Reform | Legal & General | Marketing Birmingham | The Freight Alliance | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | The Wolfson Prize | Uber | [15]

December 2013-February 2014

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | Centrica Energy | Crest Nicholson | Cuadrilla Bowland | ERSA | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Marketing Birmingham | The Dearman Engine Company | The Freight Alliance | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | The Wolfson Prize | Utilita [16]

September 2013-November 2013

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | The Dearman Engine Company | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd | Utilita [17]

June 2013-August 2013

BAM Nuttall | Birmingham Airport | GB Railfreight | Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Siemens | The Dearman Engine Company | The Green Deal Finance Company Ltd [18]

March 2013-May 2013

All Party Parliamentary Group on High Speed Rail | Birmingham Airport | Campaign for High Speed Rail | GB Railfreight | Healthlogistics | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Shelter | Siemens | The Dearman Engine Company [19]

December 2012-February 2013

APPG for High Speed Rail | Birmingham Airport | Campaign for High Speed Rail | Core Cities | Euston Estate Limited | GB Railfreight | Healthlogistics | Ingeus UK | Legal & General | Siemens | The Society of Chief Librarians [20]

March - May 2012

Former clients

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

Publications and pamphlets

  • Westbourne Communications, 'Know your campaigners: rethinking the way that organisations engage with campaigners', undated leaflet, written by Westbourne research Dominic Haldene

Affiliations

  • Nothing British - Westbourne's founder Bethell set up this campaign against the BNP, drawing upon support from powerful British military figures
  • Doctors for Reform - launched this campaign which represented 1000 medical practitioners backing government plans to overhaul the NHS and which was supported by Reform, the free-market thinktank that has received funding from private healthcare companies. [32]

Contact, Resources and Notes

Westbourne Comms Company was incorporated as a private limited company (No. 06936185) on 17 June 2009. Its registered address is 17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH. Founder James Bethell is the sole company director. [33]

Contact

Address:17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
Email:jennifer.powers@westbournecoms.com
Website: www.changeopinion.com

Previously:

55 Tufton Street
London SW1P 3QL
Tel: 02033970100
Email: campbell.storey@westbournecoms.com

Resources

Notes

  1. ↑ James Bethell, Linkedin profile, accessed July 2018
  2. ↑ James Bethell, Linkedin profile, last accessed 8 November 2018
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lamiat Sabin and Solomon Hughes Shady shale lobbyists accused of setting up sham grassroots group supporting drilling Morning Star, 24 June 2015, accessed 25 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Melissa Jones and Andy Rowell, Access all areas: Westminster's (vast) fracking lobby exposed, 29 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Anna Minton Anna Minton on Westbourne's response to Spinwatch local lobbying and planning abuses report Spinwatch, 8 April 2013, accessed 25 June 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Westbourne Communications Register, APPC, accessed 10 October 2016.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Register for 1st March 2016 - 31st May 2016, APPC, accessed 24 November 2016.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Communications Westbourne Communications staff, Register 1st December 2015-28th February 2016, APPC, accessed 8 April 2016
  9. ↑ Westbourne Communications staff, Sep-Nov15, APPC.org, accessed 3 February 2016
  10. ↑ Register 1st July 2015-August 2015APPC, accessed 28 September 2015
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Register 1st March 2015-31st May 2015APPC, accessed 29 September 2015
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Register 1st December 2014 - 28th February 2015 APPC, accessed 9 March 2015
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 16 January 2015
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Register 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014 APPC, accessed 17 October 2014
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014 APPC, accessed 1 October 2014
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Register for 1st December 2013 - 28th February 2014 APPC, accessed 1 October 2014
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Register for 1st September 2013 - 30th November 2013 APPC, accessed 1 October 2014
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Register for 1st June 2013 - 31st August 2013 APPC, accessed 1 October 2014
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Register for 1st March 2013 - 31st May 2013 APPC, accessed 1 October 2014
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Register for 1st December 2012 - 28th February 2013 APPC, accessed 1 October 2014
  21. ↑ Public Affairs: The Week in Lobbying, prweek.com, Friday, 18 May 2012, 12:00am, acc 7 April 2013
  22. ↑ Public Affair News, People Moves - March 2011 edition
  23. ↑ James Wickett-Whyte, LinkedIn profile, acc April 2013
  24. ↑ James Wickett-Whyte, Curtis & Co website, acc 8 April 2013
  25. ↑ Harry Spencer, LinkedIn, acc 8 April 2013
  26. ↑ Public Affairs News, PEOPLE MOVES - September 2011 edition, 1 September 2011
  27. ↑ Milly Doolan Linkedin, accessed 16 January 2015
  28. ↑ Westbourne Communications profile 2015, Registrar of consultant lobbyists, accessed 5 February 2016
  29. ↑ Westbourne Communications clients, Sep-Nov15, APPC.org, accessed 2 February 2016
  30. ↑ Register 1st June-31st August 2015APPC.Org, accessed 28 September 2015
  31. ↑ About Westbourne, acc 8 April 2013
  32. ↑ Jamie Doward, [1], The Observer, Saturday 6 April 2013 22.35 BST, acc same day
  33. ↑ Companies House, Webcheck, acc 8 April 2013
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