Sovereign Strategy Ltd

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Sovereign Strategy Ltd. is a UK policy and lobbying shop, with strong connections to the Labour Party.

On its website, Sovereign makes much of its links with the Labour Party. On the 'Latest News' page in mid November 2004, every photograph was either of a senior Labour Party figure, or taken at a Labour Party event [1]. Alan J Donnelly, Sovereign's Executive Chairman, is a former Labour Party Leader in the European Parliament [2].

The entry in the Register of Members's Interests for Tony Blair's election coordinator Alan Milburn reveals that sometime in 2004, Sovereign Strategy paid him between £5,001 and £10,000 for a "speech and follow-up internal roundtable" [3].

History

According to the Donnelly:

The company has grown a lot over the previous five years, we started off with a £40,000 contract, operating from a converted bathroom in my house in South Shields, and now we've got offices in Brussels and Trafalgar Square, as well as one in the north east. We're expanding our office in Brussels and we have a new affiliate in the USA.[4]

Pro-nuclear work

Formula one racing controversy

In response to an FoI request on meeting between the DCMS and Sovereign Strtegy in the previsou year (issued 19 September 2005) the DCMS stated:

'there were two meetings between Richard Caborn and Alan Donnelly during the past 12 months: 23 November 2004 and 11 July 2005. Discussions at these meetings covered the following issues: a) an update on Silverstone and the potential development of the site b) the future of Formula 1 in the UK; and c) safety in motorsport.[5]

People

Sovereign has a number of very close Labour links, but also includes former Conservative representatives, such as the far right Lady Olga Maitland. From Sovereign's website as of 16 February 2006[6]:

  • Alan J Donnelly Executive Chairman Founder of Sovereign. Was Labour Party Leader in the European Parliament, and served as President of the Parliamentary Committee for Relations with the US Congress.
  • Iain Malcolm Chief Executive Career in local government. Previously Chief of Staff to the Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party.
  • Walter Brinkmann Non-Executive Director Over the last ten years created, built and managed for the Coca-Cola Company their European Affairs Office in Brussels and a European governmental affairs network within the EU and the candidate countries.
  • Freddie Fletcher Deputy Chairman Chief Executive of Newcastle United Football Club until May 2000. Consultant, Mercer Street Marketing Consulting, Non-Executive Director of Home Housing and Non-Executive Director of Metnor Plc.
  • Leslie Butterfield Associate Director Founder of Butterfield8, the strategic brand consultancy. Leslie is one of the UK advertising industry's most respected strategists.
  • Andrew Kelly Company Secretary Early career in the retail sector. Responsible for the company's financial affairs and overseeing Sovereign's Corporate Ethic strategy.
  • Michael Lloyd MA (Cantab) Associate Director Previously an Economic Advisor to the European Parliament on economic and monetary union. Deputy Director with responsibility for public policy and for the Alliance of Maritime Regional Interests in Europe (AMRIE).
  • Professor Tom Donnelly Associate Director Special Advisor on Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Public Safety.
  • Rudolf Beger Associate Director Senior consultant with vast experience in a number of key strategic fields including oil, chemical, automotive and financial services.
  • Hugh Morgan-Williams Associate Director A committed European with wide media, manufacturing and service sector business interests. A national figure in a diverse range of business-led organisations.
  • Neva Brahmbhatt London Office Manager Prior to joining Sovereign was the PA to the Secretary General of the European Parliamentary Labour Party from 1996 to 1999.
  • Mark Nellist Head of North East Operations Former Head of Communications to the Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party. Has considerable experience in local and national government affairs.
  • Rt Hon The Lord Jack Cunningham of Felling Non Executive Director As a senior Member of Parliament Jack Cunningham has held many prominent positions within both Opposition and Government. He joins the Board to advise the Executive Management Team on international, commercial affairs.
  • Lady Olga Maitland Associate Director Former Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam (1992-1997) Lady Olga Maitland is respected in the areas of both Politics and Journalism. Lady Olga is a specialist on the Middle East and International affairs in general. Founder and chair of Families for Defence and President of the Defence Security Forum.
  • Baroness Billingham Non-Executive Director Prominent member of The House of Lords and former MEP for Northampton and Blaby. Informal spokesperson for the Labour party on culture, media and sport. Was a member of the European Select Committee until 2005.
  • Carole Tongue Associate Director Former Member of the European Parliament and a former Parliamentary spokesperson on Media, Broadcasting, Education and Sport. Honorary Doctorate, University of Lincoln. Member of the UNESCO National Committee on Communication and Information Visiting Professor, University of the Arts
  • Alan Davidson Associate Director After working in the Labour Party's Corporate Relations and Fundraising unit, Alan was asked to set up the London public affairs operation of a US law firm. As well as establishing the UK company and office, he oversaw the press monitoring for clients' European matters and advised senior executives on political and media issues. resume
  • Cesar Scigliano Associate Director After graduating in marketing, Cesar Scigliano developed a diverse career in business management, foreign trade partnerships, industrial and commercial promotion. He has worked with the European Commission and many of the top companies, trade associations and trades unions in Brazil.
  • Jane Nottage Associate Director Jane Nottage is an international PR and media consultant specializing in Formula One and the car industry and advising several Formula One sponsors on their strategic communications programs.

Clients

From Sovereign's website as of 18 November, 2004 [7]:

Contact information

London office [8]:

60 Trafalgar Square,
London,
WC2N 5DS.
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7930 6353
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7839 4564
Email: alan.donnelly AT sovereignstrategy.com
Website: http://www.sovereignstrategy.com/

Notes

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