Don't blame the spin-doctor - blame his boss, Mr Brown

Article Abstract:

Charlie Whelan, press secretary to UK Chancellor Gordon Brown, has been accused by the government of releasing details about former Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Mandelson's home-loan arrangements. It is true that Whelan does not hesitate to make enemies, but it is wrong to regard him as being solely to blame for this crisis. He is merely the most public manifestation of the continued conflict between Prime Minister Tony Blair and Brown. It is clear that Whelan would not have acted entirely on his own initiative in attacking Mandelson, a very well protected target.

United Kingdom, Column, Political aspects, Public officers, Government officials, Whelan, Charlie

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Who's backing who: an insider's guide to the rival wings of New Labour

Article Abstract:

The official line of the UK Labour party is that Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown are in very close agreement on key areas of policy. However, there are indications that Brown is actually accumulating support on the left wing of the party. He is not considering challenging Blair for the leadership of the party, but he is clearly taking care to cultivate support from a range of sources, including trade unions. Some observers believe that he now also has an ally in every government department.

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Fixers with a hot line to Westminster

Article Abstract:

It is becoming increasingly clear that political lobbyists have become very influential among top members of the UK Labour party. Indeed, more than 40 former Labour employees or senior party figures are now working for public affairs consultancies connected with the government. All the leading lobbying firms have at least one Labour insider working for them. These people are able to benefit from privileged access to senior Labour officials.

Influence, Lobbyists

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