Conservative Party hires Clarence Mitchell

by ufercoffy Thu 04 Mar 2010, 12:51 pm

Mitchell will join the Tory comms operation, reporting directly to director of communications Andy Coulson.

Mitchell, who was the director of the Government's media monitoring unit for two years (2005-2007) will take a back room role, monitoring the progress of the Tories' campaign in the media.

PR Week understands that Mitchell will not be an active spokesman for the party.

The appointment of the well-respected Mitchell is a boost to the Conservatives' campaign, which has lost ground in the opinion polls in recent weeks, despite last weekend's Spring Conference.

Since September 2008 Mitchell has balanced his role as spokesman for the McCanns and the parents of murdered teenager Jimmy Mizen, with a crisis management role at Freud Communications.

Mitchell is known to be close to Coulson, who was a former editor of News of the World. Late last year Mitchell expressed an interest in standing as a Conservative MP. He began his career as a reporter on the Hendon and Finchley Times in 1982. Since then he has worked for The Sunday Express, BBC Radio Sheffield and as a correspondent and presenter on BBC TV News.

by Ruby Thu 04 Mar 2010, 2:47 pm

They're welcome to the angel/kiss of death.

by vaguely1 Thu 04 Mar 2010, 2:58 pm

I thought he was owned by Gordon Brown and therefore privy to the undercover high powered government involvement with the McCanns.

Did he sell him?

by ufercoffy Thu 04 Mar 2010, 3:01 pm

I bet Labour encouraged the Cons to have him so that people wouldn't vote for them thus ensuring Labour stay in.

Clever move. big grin

Who is there to vote for now?

by **Tony Bennett** Thu 04 Mar 2010, 3:20 pm

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Bang goes a few hundred potential Conservative votes.

by Guest Thu 04 Mar 2010, 3:34 pm

The appointment of the well-respected Mitchell is a boost to the Conservatives' campaign, which has lost ground in the opinion polls in recent weeks, despite last weekend's Spring Conference

is it April 1st, is this a joke laugh

by justagrannynow 1 Thu 04 Mar 2010, 3:35 pm

Tony Bennett wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Bang goes a few hundred potential Conservative votes.

Tony I have merged your topic as it was already being discussed on this thread

by **Tony Bennett** Thu 04 Mar 2010, 3:40 pm

Wasn't Conservative Shadow Chancellor George Osborne on the same wealthy bloke's yacht off the coast of Crete last summer with his chum Peter Mandelson, and others amongst the 'great and the good' who rule us?

The General Election will merely re-arrange a few deckchairs.

Clarence Mitchell could even be back in government soon as...The Head of the government's Media Monitoring Unit.