Anji Hunter
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This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch. |
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This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch. |
Anji Hunter is a former special adviser to the Labour Party [1] and a director of communications at oil giant BP. She now works as a consultant to the lobbying firm Edelman.
Background
Hunter (Angela Margaret Jane Hunter) was Prime Minister Tony Blair's primary aide while in office, and has worked closely with him since the 1980's. A Brighton Polytechnic graduate, she was the "middleclass country girl from a colonial family" who was "not averse to taking tea with generals and supper with district commissioners".[2] Hunter and Blair had been friends since age 15 and 17 respectively and were very close. [3] According to the Observer newspaper;
- "she is called 'the other woman in Tony Blair's life', 'the second most important woman in Downing Street', 'the gatekeeper' - because she decides who gets in to see Tony Blair and who does not" [4]
Daily Mail journalist Geoffrey Levy writes:
- Who would argue that reality has been in short supply at No 10 since Anji said farewell? Friends say she felt compelled to leave after attracting the jealous enmity of Blair's other key aides (Alastair Campbell, his partner Fiona Millar, and Baroness Morgan), as well as animosity from Cherie. Indeed, Cherie is said to have actively disliked Anji. The feelings were, apparently, mutual.[5]
In 2001, shortly after the election, she took over as Director of Communications at BP on a salary of £200,000/year [6]
In 2006 she married Sky News political editor Adam Boulton. Their wedding was attended by Tony Blair, former Home Secretary David Blunkett, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, former Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine amongst other media, political and popular culture celebrities. [7]
In 2009 she was appointed head of government and social affairs at South African mining group Anglo American, replacing Edward Bickham who was also previously a special adviser to various Conservative cabinet ministers. [8]
Contact, Resources, Notes
Notes
- ↑ Info-Dynamics Research, "Where are they now? The 1997/1998 Special Advisers to the Labour Government", GMB: April 2006 Briefing, p5, accessed 12.09.10
- ↑ Geoffrey Levy, "The woman who could have saved Tony Blair", The Daily Mail, 22.06.02
- ↑ Julia Langdon, The Observer Profile: Anji Hunter. 'Blair's Other Woman' April 1st, 2001. Accessed 02/04/10
- ↑ Julia Langdon, The Observer Profile: Anji Hunter. 'Blair's Other Woman' April 1st, 2001. Accessed 02/04/10
- ↑ Geoffrey Levy, "The woman who could have saved Tony Blair", The Daily Mail, 22.06.02
- ↑ Where are they now? The 1997/1998 Special Advisers to the Labour Government, briefing for GMB, April 2006, p.5.
- ↑ James Tapper 'Two weddings and a downpour' The Daily Mail, 23rd July 2006. Accessed 02/04/10
- ↑ David Singleton Anji Hunter joins South African mining group Anglo American PR Week, 26 May 2009, Accessed 02/04/10
