Lynton Crosby
Lynton Crosby is a spin doctor who helped former Australian Prime Minister John Howard's Liberal Party win four consecutive elections between 1996 and 2004.[1] Crosby has advised various leaders of the Conservative Party including Iain Duncan Smith[2], Michael Howard[3].
Contents
2003 Address to the Conservative Party
In 2003 Crosby addressed a shadow cabinet meeting held by the Conservative Party, he was invited to speak by the party's leader at the time Iain Duncan Smith.[4]
2004 Advisor to Michael Howard
In 2004 Crosby was hired as an advisor to the Conservative Party under Michael Howard's leadership.[5]. He was the election campaign manager for Howard's failed attempt at election in 2005.[6].
Crosby clashed with Liam Fox and Lord Saatchi during the 2005 campaign, he argued that Saatchi's election strategy was '20 years out of date'.[7]. A Conservative Party insider was sacked for leaking details of the rift to the press.[8].
Crosby and Saatchi had made amends by January of the following year, the two men wrote a joint letter to The Times which read as follows:
- Sir, Your report (January 24) under the headline "Election is lost already, top adviser tells Howard" is totally untrue.
- Anyone who knows either of us and what we have achieved in our careers should know that "second place" does not enter our vocabulary.
- We are in the business of winning an overall majority at the general election and we believe that this objective is achievable. In line with our strategy, Conservative policies are being continually rolled out, as we saw last week with those on tax and value for money and this week with our policies on immigration and asylum-seekers.
- It is vital in the national interest that there is a Conservative government led by Michael Howard.[9].
The Conservatives lost the election after paying Crosby a reported £441,146.[10].
2005 CrosbyTextor
In 2005 following the failure of Michael Howard's election campaign Crosby turned to consultancy. His firm CrosbyTextor contacted 'potential clients offering them the benefits of a carefully targeted communications strategy'. They argued that:
- 'We know how to target people. This approach is a legacy of our political heritage' adding that 'Every engagement...was driven by specific objectives. Each is rooted in a clear understanding of what the target audience thinks and how to make that audience change its opinion.'[11]
2005 Conservative Party Fringe Event
In October 2005 Crosby addressed a fringe meeting of the Countryside Alliance at the Conservative Party conference.[12]
2008 Boris Johnson Mayoral Campaign
In 2008 Crosby orchestrated Boris Johnson's successful election as the Mayor of London.[13]
Affiliations
CrosbyTextor | Conservative Party
Notes
- ↑ P.27, Howard's Way, The Daily Telegraph, 13-September-2003
- ↑ P.27, Howard's Way, The Daily Telegraph, 13-September-2003
- ↑ Nicholas Watt, (John) Howard's way: Tories sign up Australian strategist, The Guardian, 20-October-2004
- ↑ P.27, Howard's Way, The Daily Telegraph, 13-September-2003
- ↑ Nicholas Watt, (John) Howard's way: Tories sign up Australian strategist, The Guardian, 20-October-2004
- ↑ Andrew Grice, TORIES HIRE JOHN HOWARD'S RIGHT-HAND MAN, The Independent, 20-October-2004
- ↑ Tom Baldwin and Philip Webster, Senior Tory steps up power struggle, The Times, 15-December-2004
- ↑ Home News, Official sacked over Tory row, The Times, 17-December-2004
- ↑ Lord Saatchi and Lyton Crosby, Tories aim for victory, The Times, 25-January-2005
- ↑ David Charter and Sam Coates, The Price of Spin, The Times, 25-April-2006
- ↑ Andrew Pierce, Targeting strategy is wide of the mark, The Times, 11-August-2005
- ↑ Home News, Conference agenda, The Times, 3-October-2005
- ↑ Olga Craig and Melissa Kite, ANALYSIS The Tory mayor signs in with a new image as he prepares to get serious about London, write Olga Craig and Melissa Kite, The Sunday Times, 2-May-2008
