Weber Shandwick

Weber Shandwick is the UK subsidiary of Weber Shandwick Worldwide, one of the biggest global PR companies (owned by Interpublic). In 2006, the UK subsidiary had a fee income of £28 million.^[1] The company has strong ties to the Labour Party through its CEO Colin Byrne.

Weber Shandwick London, 2 Waterhouse Square

Weber Shandwick Worldwide Offices, Central Edinburgh. Photograph taken on the Spinwatch G8 Spinwalk, 1 July 2005

Campaigns

Below are just a few examples of Weber Shandwick's work for clients:

Pro-nuclear activity

This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.

Weber Shandwick has a long history of involvement with the nuclear industry. Documents released under FOI, show that the firm worked for BNFL in 2004 and 2005.^[2] In February 2006, the PR magazine O'Dwyer's also reported that Weber Shandwick was promoting BNFL's move to sell Westinghouse Electric to Japan's Toshiba for $5.4 billion. US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez had lobbied UK officials in favour of General Electric's bid for Westinghouse.^[3]^[4] BNFL remained a lobbying client in 2009.^[5] Former UK Weber Shandwick CEO, Philip Dewhurst, was recruited by BNFL in 2001. He was also the chair of the Nuclear Industry Association.^[6]

Weber Shandwick also worked for Nexia Solutions – a wholly owned subsidiary of BNFL providing technology services and solutions across the full nuclear fuel cycle mainly in the UK, but with an increasing overseas market. Nexia Solutions became the foundation of a new National Nuclear Laboratory when it was launched in July 2008. ^[7]

Working towards a nuclear new build

Weber Shandwick has been working with BNFL towards a new nuclear build in the UK since 2004. The Labour Party manifesto in 1997 had been opposed to new power stations, stating that there was no case for nuclear power.^[8] By 2006, Labour was claiming the opposite - that nuclear power needed to be part of the mix of energy supply for the UK. And in 2007, Tony Blair was linking new build to climate change: "If we want to have secure energy supplies and reduce CO2 emissions, we have got to put the issue of nuclear power on the agenda".^[9]

In 2004 - a year before the government annnounced its "official review" into nuclear power in the UK - Weber and BNFL were working on their own plan:

"To secure from the review a meaningful commitment to a programme of nuclear new build, underpinned by commitments to:
Provide the necessary market and fiscal framewrok for replacement build;
Begin a programme or review which deals with the question of disposal of nuclear waste from repalcement build;
Analyse and bring in the changes needed in the planning and regulation regime which to enable speedy decision-making and construction".^[10]

"Belief in the cause"

One question people ask is whether PR consultants are neutral on issues like nuclear power and just provide professional advice. One email from Weber to BNFL from September 2004 gives an answer. It said: "As you know, you have a group of people over here who believe in this cause - we would love to do this work, and already feel excited about it".^[11]

Using climate change to sell nuclear

One of the main PR strategies of the nuclear lobby has been to use the issue of climate change to push for a resumption in nuclear. The argument they put forward is that nuclear is a low emitter of greenhouse gases and should therefore be used as a key policy option to fight climate change. Part of Weber / BNFL's strategy has been to position nuclear as clean, safe, secure and climate-friendly (see also BNFL).

For example, in December 2004, Weber wrote a document “The Case for Nuclear Energy”, which reiterated the major themes that the nuclear industry is using to push for a revival – climate change and energy security. According to the document, nuclear's main selling points are:

• Nuclear energy can be competitive with gas, and may in the future be the cheapest form of electricity; • Nuclear power is essential in combating CO2 emissions; • Nuclear power offers substantial security of supply benefits; • Nuclear plants can be built to time and cost; • Nuclear waste issues should not be a barrier to building new stations; • The track record of safety and security in the nuclear industry is excellent; • The nuclear industry plays a key role in the UK economy; • The need for Government action to keep the nuclear option open is increasingly urgent; • Action needed now by Government.^[12]

But what about those who deny climate change? They could, by default, undermine the case for nuclear: In September 2004 a letter appeared in The Times signed by Lord Lawson, and known climate sceptics Wilfred Beckerman as well as Julian Morris from the International Policy Network, among others that attacked the need for action on climate: It said:

"Sir, Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition made major speeches last week on climate change and the policies that are supposedly required to deal with it (reports, September 14 and 15). It appears that, in this area, Tony Blair and Michael Howard are of one mind. They hold the same alarmist view of the world, and call for much the same radical -and costly programme of action ... There are no solid grounds for assuming, as Messrs Blair and Howard do, that global warming demands immediate and far-reaching action".

On reading this, Weber Shandwick emailed BNFL:

"Times letter today from Nigel Lawson and others which seems to be pooh-poohing climate change - anyone know anything about where this lot have popped up from?"... "Any intellgence (sic) gratefully received before we set to work here at WS end trying to find out what's going on..."^[13]

Using third parties to push nuclear

Philip Dewhurst of the Nuclear Industry Association, and former CEO of Weber Shandwick, told PR Week in 2006 that BNFL was spreading its messages "via third-party opinion because the public would be suspicious if we started ramming pro-nuclear messages down their throats"^[14] In the summer of 2005, the NIA and BNFL had approached key academics and independent researchers to attend a media training workshop, along with staff from BNFL and NIA, to be run by Weber Shandwick. Although a date for July and August was proposed for the training, the NIA's chief executive, Keith Parker, said in an email: "If, as we expect, the energy review is announced before parliamentary recess in July, we need to be well prepared to hit the airwaves confidently."^[15]

Good news in Labour's 2005 manifesto

When Labour's 2005 manifesto was published, the spin doctors were quick to pick up on the following paragraph:

"We have a major programmme to promote renewable energy, as part of a strategy of having a mix of energy sources from nuclear power stations to clean coal to micro generators."

Weber Shandwick sent a note to BNFL:

" To me, at least, this is a step towards a declared pro-nuclear position".

BNFL replied:

"Wow...good news indeed".^[16]

Smoothing over human rights abuses?

In November 2006, The Independent reported how political comedian Mark Thomas had criticised Weber Shandwick for accepting work with the Colombian government, whose human rights record is appalling. For example, some 460 trade unionists have been killed in the country since 2003. “Colombia is the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist,” said Thomas. “The government is found wanting. So for someone to come along and say, ‘We'll show you how to do good PR’ is disgraceful. Where will people draw the line? Would Weber Shandwick want to see the swastikas before deciding not to work with someone?”^[17]

Pro-whaling

During the July 2000 meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Australia, Shandwick undertook a high-profile PR campaign for the Japanese Whaling Association including newspaper adverts in local media entitled "Whaling the facts," which claimed that "all whales aren't endangered”. They also distributed a leaflet that claimed that whale meat is to Japanese what meat pies are to Australians. “Don't interfere in our culture and we won't interfere in yours”, it said.^[18]^[19]

Pro-logging

Shandwick led a multi-million-dollar PR campaign to “neutralize” environmentalists opposed to rainforest logging in New Zealand. Leaked documents showed that a central part of the PR strategy was to stigmatise their opponents as “extremists”, who had “limited” support and who spread “misinformation”. Shandwick allegedly also spied on their green critics and infiltrated opposition groups.^[20]

Working for Big Oil

The company has worked for Shell for a number of years, including countering criticism over its role in Nigeria at the time of the execution of writer Ken Saro-Wiwa.^[21] In 2004 Weber Shandwick was said to be “handling the 'greening” of ExxonMobil by promoting an alliance forged between the energy giant and Earth 911, a government/private sector entity with the motto of 'making every day Earth Day'".^[22]

Promoting the City's interests

In April 2009, Weber Shandwick UK was hired by International Financial Services London, now known as TheCityUK to promote the interests of the financial services sector in the City of London, for example on "key issues such as keeping markets open in the [then] current global crisis".^[23] IFSL's press release announced that the account would be supported by Priti Patel, then "Director, Weber Shandwick Public Affairs" who will "provide additional counsel". Patel is now a Conservative MP. The then CEO of IFSL said: "Bringing the team at Weber Shandwick on board will help us establish IFSL's voice in the public debate on how financial services companies can best navigate the currently troubled economic waters." (Note the link to the IFSL press release is broken; Weber Shandwick's press release was changed in the run up to the 2010 general election, with Priti Patel's name removed. Patel's election campaign focused on her support for small business. According to her campaign website: “Her career outside of politics means she has an innate understanding about the issues faced by small businesses”).

Fracking clients

Weber Shandwick represents Tamboran Resources and Rathlin Energy.

This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

People

Colin Byrne Chief Executive Officer, Weber Shandwick UK. Byrne is the former flat-mate of Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson. He was Labour’s Chief Press Officer up to the 1992 election, working with Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on media relations. He also worked for Labour’s election manager, Peter Mandelson in 1997 and for Labour on the 2001 election. Clients include BNFL
Jon McLeod, chairman UK corporate, financial and public affairs. McLeod went into public affairs in 1997, having spent six years in financial and legal journalism.

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

December 2013-February 2014

September 2013-November 2013

June 2013-August 2013

March 2013-May 2013

December 2012-February 2013

Former staff

Andrew Brown, Former director of media strategy. Ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown's brother. He moved to energy company EDF from Weber Shandwick in 2004.
Jim Donaldson, Former executive vice-president: Donaldson joined WS early in 2011 from Hill and Knowlton. His responsibilities spanned WS's corporate, financial and public affairs practices.^[33]
Nora Farrell, Former Managing Director of the Edinburgh office
Conall McDevitt, was CEO of Weber Shandwick's Belfast office from 2007-2009 when he quit to pursue a political career. He was elected as an SLDP and MLA in 2010. He resigned in September 2013 after it emerged that he had breached the Northern Ireland assembly's code by failing to disclose payments from his former employer in 2010.
David Yelland Former Senior Vice Chairman, Weber Shandwick - UK
Alex Deane, former head of public affairs, ex-director of pressure group Big Brother Watch (BBW), former chief of staff to David Cameron and held the same role for Tim Collins, himself now managing director at Bell Pottinger Public Affairs, when Collins was a Conservative shadow cabinet member. Deane joined WS from Bell Pottinger Public Affairs, where he worked for less than a year.^[34] Is now managing director of public affairs at FTI Consulting.^[35]
Michael Prescott, former director corporate communications and public affairs at WS. Is now director of corporate affairs at the BT Group.

Clients

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

December 2013-February 2014

September 2013-November 2013

June 2013-August 2013

March 2013-May 2013

December 2012-February 2013

2011

2008

Other

Contact

Address: 3 Grosvenor Gardens

London

SW1W 0BD

T: 44 20 7067 0000

http://www.webershandwick.co.uk

Resources

Weber Shandwick, UK Clients, PRCA Yearbook 2004

Further Resources

Antony Barnett, Ned Temko and Gaby Hinsliff, "Lobbying firm linked to academies row", The Observer, April 23, 2006

Notes

↑ PR Week, “Madeleine, Mills and M&A Madness,” December 14, 2007, p23
↑ Paying to be propagandised, Chris Grimshaw, Corporate Watch, 10 October 2006
↑ "Weber Shandwick Gudes Nuke Deal"O'Dwyers PR Daily, February 6, 2006. - requires subscription
↑ P. Simpson (2002)WSW Picks Up BNFL Public Affairs Work, PR Week, 22 April
↑ APPC register, to Nov 2008, accessed Feb 2009
↑ Nuclear Industry Association website
↑ Nexia Solutions Press Release, “Nexia Solutions Welcomes Announcement of UK National Nuclear Laboratory”, 24 October, 2006.
↑ Government accused of U-turn on nuclear energy, Independent, 5 November 2001
↑ BBC News, 24 May 2007
↑ NewBuild Proposal, Email from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, September 16, 2004
↑ NewBuild Proposal, Email from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, September 16, 2004
↑ The Case for Nuclear, Email Sent from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, December 15, 2004
↑ Email from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, September 24, 2004.
↑ Plugging the gap, The Guardian, 3 May 2006
↑ Plugging the gap, The Guardian, 3 May 2006
↑ Email from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, April 13, 2005.
↑ Oliver Duff, “Comedian Starts PR War About Spin in the Jungle”, The Independent, November 7, 2006
↑ Andy Rowell, "Cutting edge", The Guardian, 29 September 1999, accessed February 2009
↑ Shandwick Works to Save the Fox, Kill the Whale, PR Watch, 1st Quarter 2001
↑ Andy Rowell, "Cutting edge", The Guardian, 29 September 1999, accessed February 2009
↑ PR Watch, First Quarter 2001, Volume 8, No. 1
↑ O'Dwyers PR Daily, September 2004, quoted on Sourcewatch
↑ IFSL press release, 3 April 2009, link broken
↑ ^24.0 ^24.1 Register 1st December 2014 - 28th February 2015 APPC, accessed 9 March 2015
↑ ^25.0 ^25.1 Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 16 January 2015
↑ ^26.0 ^26.1 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014 APPC, accessed 17 October 2014
↑ ^27.0 ^27.1 Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014, APPC, accessed September 2014
↑ ^28.0 ^28.1 Register for 1st December 2013 - 28th February 2014 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014
↑ ^29.0 ^29.1 Register for 1st September 2013 - 30th November 2013 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014
↑ ^30.0 ^30.1 Register for 1st June 2013 - 31st August 2013 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014
↑ ^31.0 ^31.1 Register for 1st March 2013 - 31st May 2013 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014
↑ ^32.0 ^32.1 Register for 1st December 2012 - 28th February 2013 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014
↑ [pointer=4&cHash=caac475601 Weber Shandwick lures ex-Cameron aide Alex Deane from Bell Pottinger], Public Affairs News, 15 Sept 2011
↑ [pointer=4&cHash=caac475601 Weber Shandwick lures ex-Cameron aide Alex Deane from Bell Pottinger], Public Affairs News, 15 sept 2011
↑ Rod Muir Lib Dem lobbyist steps up at WS Public Affairs News, 22 September 2014, accessed 8 October 2014
↑ APPC register, 1 September 2011 to 30 November 2011
↑ APPC register, to Nov 2008, accessed Feb 2009
↑ White's/Shandwick, A Slide Presentation to British American Tobacco of White's/Shandwick International, 13 June 2000, accessed 19 Feb 2010, p.8
↑ White's/Shandwick, A Slide Presentation to British American Tobacco of White's/Shandwick International, 13 June 2000, accessed 19 Feb 2010, p.8

[1] PR Week, “Madeleine, Mills and M&A Madness,” December 14, 2007, p23

[2] Paying to be propagandised, Chris Grimshaw, Corporate Watch, 10 October 2006

[3] "Weber Shandwick Gudes Nuke Deal"O'Dwyers PR Daily, February 6, 2006. - requires subscription

[4] P. Simpson (2002)WSW Picks Up BNFL Public Affairs Work, PR Week, 22 April

[5] APPC register, to Nov 2008, accessed Feb 2009

[6] Nuclear Industry Association website

[7] Nexia Solutions Press Release, “Nexia Solutions Welcomes Announcement of UK National Nuclear Laboratory”, 24 October, 2006.

[8] Government accused of U-turn on nuclear energy, Independent, 5 November 2001

[9] BBC News, 24 May 2007

[10] NewBuild Proposal, Email from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, September 16, 2004

[11] NewBuild Proposal, Email from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, September 16, 2004

[12] The Case for Nuclear, Email Sent from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, December 15, 2004

[13] Email from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, September 24, 2004.

[14] Plugging the gap, The Guardian, 3 May 2006

[15] Plugging the gap, The Guardian, 3 May 2006

[16] Email from Weber Shandwick to BNFL, April 13, 2005.

[17] Oliver Duff, “Comedian Starts PR War About Spin in the Jungle”, The Independent, November 7, 2006

[18] Andy Rowell, "Cutting edge", The Guardian, 29 September 1999, accessed February 2009

[19] Shandwick Works to Save the Fox, Kill the Whale, PR Watch, 1st Quarter 2001

[20] Andy Rowell, "Cutting edge", The Guardian, 29 September 1999, accessed February 2009

[21] PR Watch, First Quarter 2001, Volume 8, No. 1

[22] O'Dwyers PR Daily, September 2004, quoted on Sourcewatch

[23] IFSL press release, 3 April 2009, link broken

[Dec14-24] 24.0 ^24.1 Register 1st December 2014 - 28th February 2015 APPC, accessed 9 March 2015

[sept-25] 25.0 ^25.1 Register 1st September 2014 - 30th November 2014 APPC, accessed 16 January 2015

[June-26] 26.0 ^26.1 1st June 2014 - 31st August 2014 APPC, accessed 17 October 2014

[MP-27] 27.0 ^27.1 Register for 1st March 2014 - 31st May 2014, APPC, accessed September 2014

[MR-28] 28.0 ^28.1 Register for 1st December 2013 - 28th February 2014 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014

[MS-29] 29.0 ^29.1 Register for 1st September 2013 - 30th November 2013 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014

[MT-30] 30.0 ^30.1 Register for 1st June 2013 - 31st August 2013 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014

[MU-31] 31.0 ^31.1 Register for 1st March 2013 - 31st May 2013 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014

[MV-32] 32.0 ^32.1 Register for 1st December 2012 - 28th February 2013 APPC, accessed 30 September 2014

[33] [pointer=4&cHash=caac475601 Weber Shandwick lures ex-Cameron aide Alex Deane from Bell Pottinger], Public Affairs News, 15 Sept 2011

[34] [pointer=4&cHash=caac475601 Weber Shandwick lures ex-Cameron aide Alex Deane from Bell Pottinger], Public Affairs News, 15 sept 2011

[35] Rod Muir Lib Dem lobbyist steps up at WS Public Affairs News, 22 September 2014, accessed 8 October 2014

[36] APPC register, 1 September 2011 to 30 November 2011

[37] APPC register, to Nov 2008, accessed Feb 2009

[38] White's/Shandwick, A Slide Presentation to British American Tobacco of White's/Shandwick International, 13 June 2000, accessed 19 Feb 2010, p.8

[39] White's/Shandwick, A Slide Presentation to British American Tobacco of White's/Shandwick International, 13 June 2000, accessed 19 Feb 2010, p.8

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Weber Shandwick

Contents

Campaigns

Pro-nuclear activity

Working towards a nuclear new build

"Belief in the cause"

Using climate change to sell nuclear

Using third parties to push nuclear

Good news in Labour's 2005 manifesto

Smoothing over human rights abuses?

Pro-whaling

Pro-logging

Working for Big Oil

Promoting the City's interests

Fracking clients

People

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

December 2013-February 2014

September 2013-November 2013

June 2013-August 2013

March 2013-May 2013

December 2012-February 2013

Former staff

Clients

December 2014-February 2015

September 2014-November 2014

June 2014-August 2014

March 2014-May 2014

December 2013-February 2014

September 2013-November 2013

June 2013-August 2013

March 2013-May 2013

December 2012-February 2013

2011

2008

Other

Contact

Resources

Further Resources

Notes

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