Philip Dewhurst

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

Philip Dewhurst

Philip Dewhurst is a well-known heavyweight lobbyist, currently senior partner at The College Group, which he joined in October 2009 after a spell as head of public relations at Gazprom.

Background

Dewhurst was British Nuclear Fuels's Group Corporate Affairs Director from April 2001 and Chairman of the Nuclear Industry Association for two years from December 2004 until December 2006, and board member for three years.

Ex-President of the Institute of Public Relations. He is a Visiting Fellow of the Media School of Bournemouth University. Before joining BNFL, Philip was UK Chief Executive of Shandwick International.

Spinning Nuclear

It is Dewhurst's belief that the nuclear "industry has to do more to spell out the benefits of nuclear". He says the main ways to positively spin the case nuclear for nuclear are the "security of supply, avoiding CO2 emissions and therefore helping in the fight against global warming while supplying safe and reliable energy".

Spreading the Message Via Third Parties

Interviewed by PR Week in February 2006, Dewhurst, admitted that BNFL had been using the classsic PR technique of using a third party to push the nuclear message. He said that it had taken considerable effort to persuade the public to reconsider the nuclear option. Said Dewhurst: "five years ago the reputation of nuclear was at an all-time low. MI5 said a terrorist attack on Sellafield with a hijacked aircraft 'could not be prevented', and that destroyed public confidence."

Dewhurst added: "Now we use a company called Strategic Awareness, which uses in-depth research to help us develop our message. We spread that via third-party opinion because the public would be suspicious if we started ramming pro-nuclear messages down their throats".