Media House boss labels Brown bullying allegations "disastrous"
Media House boss labels Brown bullying allegations "disastrous"Jack Irvine, founder of PR consultancy Media House, discusses bullying allegations against Gordon Brown and the PM's PR operation.
Irvine spoke to The Drum following widespread reports that the National Bullying Helpline had issued guidance to members of the Prime Minister’s staff, with its chief executive Christine Pratt heavily quoted in the press.
The veteran communications expert said that he believed that the allegations would damage the Prime Minister, but that the charity helpline would also be adversely affected.
“I think these allegations will damage him,” Irvine explained to The Drum.
“The whole PR operation behind Brown is disastrous. Piers Morgan’s interview, although it gave him a lift in the polls, in the long-term I don’t think it will have done him much good. I think it was a shockingly bad piece of judgement and this bullying story has confirmed what people have suspected for a long time, which is that he is an ugly individual, possibly a sociopath in many ways.”
Irvine continued to say that he does not believe that Brown is able to relate to the public and cited his predecessor Tony Blair and former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as people who “could engage” with the public.
“Brown looks as though he wants to be somewhere else. This bullying claim is only the latest. There will be more to come in the coming months. At the moment there are endless nails being placed in his coffin and it’s horrendous for him,” he added.
Discussing the effects that the story will have on the helpline itself, Irvine said that he believed that there was a positive in that the issue of bullying in the workplace would be highlighted, and explained that he had experienced the problem himself while working in newspapers, despite his own tenacious image.
“This highlights the fact that bullying goes on in all walks of life, in Government, in Commerce, in Newspapers. That could be the one good thing. But it’s certainly not good for the charity that this woman has spoken directly about it. That’s been handled rather badly. Maybe they should have a clean out of the stables as well and have a look at how they run the helpline, as this has not been a clever move.”
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or the fact that the body copy tells us "although it gave him a lift in the poles."
Since when did the opinions of a pile of penguins and polar bears matter to our glorious leader?
not sure how the poles would feel about Gordon Brown being lifted into them either
"Brown looks as though he wants to be somewhere else."
He will be soon.
Anyone else detect a touch of chauvinism and/or misogyny in Mr Irvine's use of the phrase ..."this woman...." to describe Christine Pratt?
Nice one Jack. Who's the 'ugly sociopath' now?
Wow. Some brilliant, insightful comments there Jack. Sounds like the PM could use a new PR consultant. Could you recommend one?
Come on everyone. Name your best advertising industry bully!
bye bye Gordon - i was starting to worry that you might not get booted out......
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"...this bullying story has confirmed what people have suspected for a long time, which is that he is an ugly individual, possibly a sociopath in many ways.”
If you're going to comment as a "veteran communications expert" surely there should be some understanding that comments from industry insiders should stay away from the personal and at least give the impression of impartiality. Otherwise nobody's going to take what you say seriously. Everyone has an agenda - the skill is not making it as thumpingly obvious as Mr Irvine does.
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What he said. Shamone!!
Interesting points by Irivine... though perhaps research might be in order...
"Irvine continued to say that he does not believe that Brown is able to relate to the public and cited his predecessor Tony Blair and former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as people who “could engage” with the public."
Thatcher? Relate to the people? Thatcher came in on the back of major dissatisfaction with Labour (winter of discontent 77/78 etc) and thanks to the Thorpe expose (pre 78) there was no way the Liberals would ever have a shout.
In 83 when she went back to the polls it was the little matter of the Falklands and an opposition in total disarray that enabled her to sweep back to power.
Remember this woman who could relate to society is the same woman who was villified for stopping free milk in schools, stating that society no longer existed had a cabinet minister who told people 'to get on their bikes and find a job' during some pretty harsh recessions.
Anyone old enough to remember the riots?
Don't get me wrong she got a lot right but saying she could connect with the public? No I don't think so. She was viewed as the only option available. We switched to Maggie because we'd run out of alternatives.
Blair came into power because the electorate had a belief that Labour had sorted it's backyard out and the tories were giving each other slaps on the back and back handers. Who says politics doesn't move in circles?
In the last few years we've seen the tables turned. The Tories in total disarray and now through the 'golden child' Cameron reborn in a Blair-like fashion.
Expect to potentially see Labour go through the same cycle over the next few years. Unless as I hope we have a hung parliament.
Now back to the bullying issue, can I just point out that no one has actually proved he was a bully. Saying you were bullied is not the same as being proven to be bullied. And I do not condone bullying.
I think the biggest concern should be how come a confidential help service can divulge this kind of information?
On a side note, can anyone name a PM who didn't 'bully' cabinet ministers, civil servants etc? Read the Crossman diaries, take a look at how Thatcher and Blair conducted their work.
The issue here is more a case of how politics has been devolved in to the petty arena of personalities rather than policies.
Speaking of which, anyone seen the recent Tory outdoor campaign? I did, then I spent half an hour cleaning sick off my lap.
Furthermore I agree with Irvine's comments that it is disastrous. But in the same way that I would agree that the Pope is a Catholic and bears do defecate in the woods.
So hang on...The Thick of It is accurate then? But I thought politicians were nice.
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