Stephen Morrison (Scottish Tory activist and PR operative)
Stephen Morrison is a right wing activist.[1]
Morrison was active on the right of the Federation of Conservative Students in the early 1980s and became an Edinburgh councillor in the Marchmont ward[2] for the Tories in the mid to late 1980s.[3] He was the Conservative candidate for the constituency of Edinburgh Leith in the 1992 election but withdrew before the election.[4]
Contents
FCS role
- The influence of the FCS is most conspicuous in Scotland, where Brian Monteith, former national federation chairman, runs Leith Communications, a public relations company, with Stephen Morrison, once an FCS national committee member. Monteith was Scots YC chairman last year, and Morrison, also an Edinburgh councillor, is his successor. The pair work commercially for numerous constituency associations, and organised the successful anti-devolution campaign at the last Scottish Tory conference. Their agency - whose clients include the South African consul in Edinburgh - has reached a shortlist of four for a lucrative Scottish Office contract to popularise government policy north of the border. The political adviser to Malcolm Rifkind, the Scottish Secretary, is Graham Carter, another former FCS activist who stays in close touch with Morrison and Monteith.[5]
PR role
- Morrison joins Hall Associates from Leith Communications and his previous experience includes works in Sweden and America. He will start on the Gates Rubber Company and the Campbell Lee computer accounts. According to Nora Farrell, Halls managing director, Morrison's political contacts are a bonus. 'He will be working on mainstream public relations activities as part of our expansion and a growing client portfolio.' Hall Associates public relations staff has grown to 14 and new clients include the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service and the Swilkan Golf Company.[6]
Affiliations
- Federation of Conservative Students
- European Democrat Students Vice-chairman 1982/3, Executive director 1983/4 (the same year as his then future colleague at Leith Communications Brian Monteith was a vice-president)[7]
- Leith Communications 1986-1989
Notes
- ↑ There is a Stephen Morrison who is the Agriculture and Environment 'spokesman' for the far right Veritas party formed by Robert Kilroy-Silk on splitting from the United Kingdom Independence Party, but he seems not to be the same person.
- ↑ The Times (London) July 16 1989, Sunday Young politicians have right image; Scotland BYLINE: ROBERT COLQUHOUN SECTION: Issue 8605.
- ↑ The Guardian (London) August 28, 1989 Commentary: Out, damned spotlight seekers BYLINE: By DENIS FORMAN
- ↑ The Herald (Glasgow) January 18, 1992 Tories plan review of candidates BYLINE: Kirsty Scott SECTION: Pg. 2
- ↑ The Guardian (London) November 4, 1988 Banned Tory students re-emerge to continue the rightwing struggle / The fall and rise of members of the abolished Federation of Conservative Students find posts close to the heart of political power BYLINE: By DAVID ROSS
- ↑ The Times (London) July 16 1989, Sunday Young politicians have right image; Scotland BYLINE: ROBERT COLQUHOUN SECTION: Issue 8605.
- ↑ EDS Garrick Club, accessed 5 May 2008
