Gregor Poynton
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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. |
Gregor Poynton is a lobbyist and partner at giant PR and lobbying agency Portland Communications.
He has held many positions in the Labour Party, and was even considered a prospective candidate for parliament in Falkirk until his involvement in a 'cash for votes' scandal was exposed.[1]
He was the director of external engagement to the Scottish Labour Party and Jim Murphy in 2015.
Career
During his time at university, Poynton worked as campaigns and press officer to Catherine Stihler MEP from February 2002 to October 2003 and a researcher to the Scottish Parliament Labour Resource Centre from December 2002 to March 2003.
In October 2003 he began working for the Labour Party, first as the Scottish organiser of the Scottish Labour Party, where he was a part of the team that developed and rolled out the organisational strategy for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections. In May 2007 he was a local government and elections organisation officer, where he wrote documents explaining the new campaigning and organisation techniques and rolled out a programme of training for all key stakeholders for local government elections. And in September 2007 he was appointed election strategy manager, a role he held until May 2009.
Poynton then began working for Blue State Digital, first as a senior account director and then as UK political director.
In July 2014 he was appointed an associate director at international PR and lobbying consultancy Portland Communications.[2]
In January 2015 he was appointed director of external engagement to the Scottish Labour Party and will be working closely with Jim Murphy during his election campaign..[1]
Controversies
Before the 2013 Falkirk by-election, caused by the resignation of Eric Joyce, Poynton was believed to be in the running to be the candidate for the Labour Party. However, it was found he had paid for 11 members to join the party with a single cheque, with two of those members claiming a deal had been struck that Poynton or members of his family would pay for them to join if they would vote for him at a selection meeting. Poynton responded to the allegations by stating that he did not recruit the members in order that they should vote for him and was sure that they all repaid their membership fees in cash.[1]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Victoria Weldon Murphy appoints new comms team, including two with controversial past Herald Scotland, 21 January 2015, accessed 26 January 2015
- ↑ Gregor Poynton Linkedin, accessed 26 January 2015
