A letter to a Conservative Parliamentary candidate re Clarence Mitchell - and his reply

THE LETTER:

From: "ANTHONY BENNETT" <ajsbennett@btinternet.com>
To: halfon4harlow@roberthalfon.com

I wish to advise you of the dismay there is in many quarters that the Conservative Party has appointed Clarence Mitchell as your 'Media Monitor' for the election campaign.

Mitchell is best known in recent years as the public relations manager for the McCanns. Now I know this is controversial territory, but like millions of others I have never believed the McCanns' version of why Madeleine went missing. Indeed, in the one and only opinion poll on the subject in this country, by the Sunday Times in 2007, only 20% thought the McCanns were telling the truth about what really happened to Madeleine. A similar poll in Spain after the McCanns had a TV documentary devoted to their story registered 70% who thought they were lying on TV.

Clarence Mitchell was for years the Head of the government's media spinning operation, the C.O.I. Media Monitoring Unit. Here he headed up a 40-strong, highly paid team whose role he openly boasted was 'to control what comes out in the media'. In addition, do you know he now works for Matthew Freud's 'Freud Communications'? Matthew Freud is Rupert Murdoch's son-in-law.

That one of Blair's chief spinners should now be employed by David Cameron comes as a severe shock to my system, but please have a look at a sample range of comments below to see that I am not alone.

I left UKIP in 2005 and have not been a member of any political party for four years, so won't be opposing you again in the General Election.

On a personal level I wish you well in Harlow, but IMO the appointment of Clarence Mitchell is a terrible sign.

I should be pleased to receive your response to the comments below.

Sincerely

Tony Bennett
01279 635789

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

E.N - 04 March 2010

Well being a life long Tory voter, they have just lost my vote. I will not vote for anyone who has Clarence Mitchell on board. I would have to check night was day if he told me. I do not believe a word that comes out of his mouth.

I remember him saying "it was a British thing" that people neglected children in the UK. Well Mr Mitchell it might be your clients idea of child care, it is not mine or many other people in the UK.

M.M. - 04 March 2010

I agree Elizabeth word for word. to be honest i was thinking of voting Conservative this time, first time ever\(after been a lifelong Labour supporter) NO WAY NOW!!!! that is another vote gone, keep it up conservative, and it will be a landslide victory for Labour at this rarte!!


is this why the Mccanns have suddenly gone to Cameron for "help"?? hmmmm all adds up.

T.T. - 04 March 2010

Well, the Conservative party has just lost my vote. I can't believe this. I've only ever voted Tories and was looking forward to the general election because for the first time in years, it looked like we were in a strong position and now this! WHY?

M.T. - 04 March 2010

I like those tiles behind Clarence - very nice for creating a luxury feel in a shower room but thats about the only thing of interest he has to offer here....

R.P. - 04 March 2010

The Tories may as well have hired Gary Glitter. That's how strongly I feel about this appointment.

N.G. - 04 March 2010

I don't know a great deal about this man, why does he inspire such strong reactions?

K.B. - 04 March 2010

I would think it would be better to have someone unbiased as head of the MMU. How can a spokesperson for a family in the news be objective when articles about the family and the case are printed. I would not like to see stories being shaped regarding this matter.

A.A. - 04 March 2010

As a lifelong Labour voter, I had just about decided that David Cameron spoke a lot of sense and I am truly sick of NuLabour! However, anyone who would contemplate employing this spin merchant who has consistently helped make a small child a successful marketing project is not worth considering as far as I am concerned.

V.B. - 06 March 2010

I really must stand up for the Tory party hiring Clarence Mitchell.

We should be sympathetic for this poor man who has such a dreadful disability called 'foot in the mouth' disease.

He has an amusing personality \(most people laugh at him in complete derision when he speaks) and others say that he gives them a funny feeling when they see him on Television \(usually nausea). I'm sure he does have some fans somewhere in Britain \(his family maybe).

I never wanted the Tories or Labour to be our next Government but the Tories hiring Clarence Mitchell is a surest way of losing peoples votes.

Never mind Mr Cameron, I'm sure you can blame losing this coming election on Coulson, after all, it was him that hired Mitchell. Trouble is, who hired Coulson?

J.B. - 07 March 2010

veronica brilliant post i love it!!! you asked the question i wondered who hired Coulson, friends help friends dont they? i am still coming to terms over this write up when it is reported Mitchell is "well respected" excuse me while i lie down with the shock of that comment

AND THE REPLY:

Dear Anthony

Thank you for your email. This story has been a major tragedy for the family concerned and I don't wish to comment any further other than to wish all involved God's help in finding the whereabouts of the child.

Robert

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device

I won't be voting Conservative that's for sure.

Typical response from an MP - miss the point entirely.

Skirting round the issue as per usual. What else could we expect

I'm not sure he did miss the point actually.

We, as taxpayers (in the UK), pay good money to be brainwashed.

1/ Is our (we pay for it) Media Monitoring Unit Political or Civil Service?
2/ I’m quite astounded that a “40 strong” group of ‘brains’ (that we pay for) would have had CM as their leader/spokesman. Was he really the best of that bunch?
3/ Why won’t any of our MP’s discuss the discrepancies of this case?

I would like to learn more about our MMU – Any good links? – (or is it all kept secret from us, protected by some super-secret injunction?) Thanks.

vaguely1 wrote:I'm not sure he did miss the point actually.

so, according to you, what is the point he was making?

this one:

Thank you for your email. This story has been a major tragedy for the family concerned and I don't wish to comment any further other than to wish all involved God's help in finding the whereabouts of the child.


A dignified and measured response. Who couldn't wish that Madeleine's whereabouts is discovered? That is after all the most important thing.

aiyoyo wrote:

vaguely1 wrote:I'm not sure he did miss the point actually.

so, according to you, what is the point he was making?

I doubt he could say "Get Lost and leave the family alone you loon" could he. I think if you read his reply you will find the point he was making is quiet good.