Talk:Weber Shandwick

Previously on Colin Byrne page:

Control the Dialogue

Although thought of as somewhere between business and government simple analysis of their reports reveal Shandwick's modus operandi. Their report on Anti-American sentiments suggests an action plan in which US multi-nationals should 'emphasise local roots... Stress corporate responsibility in light of the anti-globalisation movement’s scepticism of large, multi-national companies... Avoid political messages — or use only with great care given the divisiveness domestically of the U.S. war against Iraq and its widespread unpopularity abroad' and that 'U.S.-based brands should avoid strongly linking themselves to U.S. foreign policy... Stress positive universal values over materialism ...The phenomenon of anti-Americanism and its impacts is expected to last three to five years.' The advice is clear: Corporations should dissemble in their dealings in Europe.

Shandwick's action plan involves:

Step 1: Design the Outcome

Step 2: Build the Team

Step 3: Leverage the Knowledge

Step 4: Control the Dialogue

Step 5: Drive the Campaign

Step 6: Assess the Outcome

The fourth point - really 'compel a monologue' - advises on what to say, how to say it and who to say it to.

David Blunkett has had a close relationship and Weber Shandwick have offered him a guiding hand: 11 March 2005, fee for speech at communications seminar organised by Weber Shandwick. (£2,000) (Up to £5,000) (Registered 1 November 2005). 16 March 2005, fee for speech at event organised by Weber Shandwick. (£2,000) (Up to £5,000) (Registered 1 November 2005), 5 April 2005, fee for facilitation discussion on business links with tertiary education organised by BT. (£5,001-£10,000) (Registered 1 November 2005) This became controversial after Blunkett was disgraced and the lobbying industry's regulatory body reviewed its code of conduct after revelations that David Blunkett was paid by Weber Shandwick to speak at a dinner convened by the agency.

They might talk to a Mrs Siddiqi, 37, who employed Blunkett as a director of the firm run by her and her husband (DNA Bioscience), who says "Mr Blunkett's own paternity battle had made him an asset to the firm. She tells how her husband met him through lobbying firm Weber Shandwick, which also invited Mr Siddiqi to "lunches and breakfast meetings" with leading Labour figures including Geoff Hoon and Geoffrey Robinson."

Their relationship began on March 15 at a business dinner arranged by the influential PR firm Weber Shandwick, whose director is Colin Byrne, a former senior communications chief for the Labour Party. Mr Siddiqi had spotted the potential of DNA testing 18 months before and bought 75 per cent of the shares in DNA Bioscience with money from an offshore trust.

Weber Shandwick was vying to win DNA Bioscience as a client, and serving up senior New Labour figures for dinner was one way to impress them. On a separate occasion the Cabinet Minister Geoff Hoon was offered as a guest. "We recognised that people like Boris Becker, Mick Jagger and David Blunkett, who'd had brushes with DNA through paternity cases, would be great people to endorse the company," said Mr Siddiqi. "Becker wanted £250,000 for a two-year contract." 'Then Prescott got back and said, 'He's interested in everything

Mrs Siddiqi, who was on the DNA Bioscience board, said: "It was the run-up to the General Election and there was a lot of networking. Invitations were arriving thick and fast and one turned out to be for a private dinner for David Blunkett hosted by Weber Shandwick. We decided to send Tariq because socially he's very good." Mr Siddiqi said: "Although David Blunkett wasn't a Cabinet Minister at the time, the secret service still came in to check the place out before he came in. I asked him, 'What's your view on DNA?' He said, 'Tariq, you've got an ulterior motive, haven't you? You're involved in DNA.'

"I said, 'Yes I am.' And I thought, I've said something wrong. Let the others do the talking. Weber Shandwick executives Colin Byrne and Michael Prescott were very friendly with David. "So at the end of the dinner I said to Michael, 'I really would like to have David talk about DNA to DNA Bioscience. Could you have a word with him?' Then I just threw in, a bit tongue in cheek, 'if he ever wants a non-executive post and a shareholding, I'm sure we can facilitate it.' "I didn't expect anything to happen, but then I got an e-mail from Michael on March 16" - the very next day.

The e-mail from Mr Prescott, a one-time political reporter, said that Mr Blunkett was "interested and intrigued" by the offer, but "wanted to do a bit of research" before taking a decision. Mr Siddiqi continued: "Then Prescott got back and said, 'He's interested in everything.' I was in shock. Weber Shandwick was still continuing to invite us to other business lunches. We still hadn't given them the account. But, I thought, if they are going to get us David Blunkett we're indebted to them."

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Note: Tamboran section to be added (MJ)