Re: PINKIE MITCHELL, short listed! **UPDATE** Now selected

by Praiaaa 28.07.13 8:36

Well researched, Tony. This is what I meant when I said he would not win - Brighton will not elect him. Maybe this is a return of favours form the Conservatives - chuck him a constituency to fight, but not one that is actually winnable.

by plebgate 28.07.13 8:43

I was thinking the same thing Praiaaa.

Yes Tony good research there and I cannot see a constituency such as B & H electing him, especially when the newspaper does not seem to be too keen.

It will be fun watching what the Opposition have to say if they quote from the newspaper. big grin

I wonder if any of the electorate have questions about what happened to Maddie - wasn't Mitchell of the opinion that such people were nutters?

by **PeterMac** 28.07.13 9:07

It would be poetic if he lost his £ 500 deposit. He will need 5% of the votes.

by Angelique 28.07.13 9:16

TB

Politically I am a nerd in the nicest possible way. But this "A PR man with the right connections for hire - whatever the cause" is why he was positioned there in B & H?

There is something they want to influence.

by **Tony Bennett** 28.07.13 9:33

Angelique wrote:TB

Politically I am a nerd in the nicest possible way. But this "A PR man with the right connections for hire - whatever the cause" is why he was positioned there in B & H?

There is something they want to influence.

It is all very curious.

Most of us on here would regard Clarence Mitchell as, at the least, a 'risky' choice for the Conservaties to make.

Without doubt, Mitchell would have to have been approved at the highest level in the Conservative Party to be even eligble for selection - and his selection by the B & H Constituency Association would have to be approved by the Prime Minister and Party Chairman anyway.

The Conservative Party has made great efforts to select 'politically correct' candidates e.g. black and women candidates - but have had some failures: Lord Taylor and Louise Mensch to name but two.

You wrote: There is something they want to influence.

Yes. Or to put it even more broadly: there has to be a reason.

It's often a good idea to ask the old Latin question: CUI BONO? = Who benefits?

Clarence Mitchell, for a start. He will get even more attention than he is doing at the moment. It's a very high profile seat, with Labour and the Liberals also fighting to oust Caroline Lucas (first Green Party MP).

Arguably the McCanns will also benefit - as putting Mitchell in the spotlight also will help to keep their campaign to find Madeleine in the headlines.

What is the benefit to the Conservative Party?

That's a question I find very difficult to answer - not much, judging by the reaction so far of Brighton residents.

by Guest 28.07.13 9:39

I presume now that Clarence Mitchell will no longer work as the McCanns PR? Who will be their spokesperson now in all the newspaper articles, media etc.?

by plebgate 28.07.13 9:46

Apparently he has stated that he will continue to work with Mr. anbd Mrs. when required?

If he does become an MP I can't see how he would be able to still be their spokesperson, but we shall see as he wont be elected imo.

by Guest 28.07.13 9:49

MPs often have fingers in many pies - very unsavoury ones in some cases - even full-time employment elsewhere. I can't see how a man of such character and stamina as Mr Mitchell will have any problems continuing to represent his worthy clients in the unlikely event of him being elected.

by Angelique 28.07.13 9:54

But if by some chance he is elected it won't be the first time a parachute was worked.

I agree it is very curious. There has to be some reason why they want him to be an MP if its not for reward. The Salary/Pension/property/expenses/Directorships/lobby work/golden goodbye/kids expenses etc, etc is a serious boost.

by plebgate 28.07.13 10:03

An MP working for a couple who used Fund money to make mortgage repayments. Would the gen. public be happy with that state of affairs? IIRC it did not go down too well when that was revealed. It may well have been within the rules of the Fund, but it still annoys me to this day.

Wonder if the Oppostion will raise the matter during the election campaign?

by Angelique 28.07.13 10:08

plebgate wrote:An MP working for a couple who used Fund money to make mortgage repayments. Would the gen. public be happy with that state of affairs? IIRC it did not go down too well when that was revealed. It may well have been within the rules of the Fund, but it still annoys me to this day.

Wonder if the Oppostion will raise the matter during the election campaign?

plebgate

I doubt it will even get mentioned. But Pinkies PR experience - connections may make it a fait acompli. But as TB suggests there may be something connected to it.

by Guest 28.07.13 10:09

In recent times we've had the expenses scandal with claims being made for the most inappropriate items, one MP claiming rent allowance for the house he lived in with his partner (and which was owned by the latter) and another claiming that her family home was her second home used in connection with her duties as an MP.

Some might say that Clarence is less corrupt!

by plebgate 28.07.13 10:13

Yes it is a murky business he is trying to get into NFWTD.

Angelique - I think maybe a few voters will raise the quesiton at the time, let's hope so. The Opposition can be very sneaky at times and put "plants" in to do their bidding. Let's hope that's the case here, but I don't think he will get in anyway. smilie

by **Tony Bennett** 28.07.13 10:16

Surely the sheer fact that for years Clarence Mitchell headed up Tony Blair's sinister Media Monitoring Unit - never mind his career for the past two decades amounting to nothing more than 'I'm for hire' reputation management - should make even the most dyed-in-the-wool 'true blue Tory' search for another name on the ballot paper before casting his/her vote?

A really good UKIP candidate might pick up many of those Conservative votes...

by Angelique 28.07.13 10:20

Tony Bennett wrote:Surely the sheer fact that for years Clarence Mitchell headed up Tony Blair's sinister Media Monitoring Unit - never mind his career for the past two decades amounting to nothing more than 'I'm for hire' reputation management - should make even the most dyed-in-the-wool 'true blue Tory' search for another name on the ballot paper before casting his/her vote?

A really good UKIP candidate might pick up many of those Conservative votes...

Yes I agree wholeheartedly but............as much as I would love a UKIP ........well here goes, it's what instructions come down from above. Are they getting their "ducks in a row"?

by **PeterMac** 28.07.13 10:29

Tony Bennett wrote:
Arguably the McCanns will also benefit - as putting Mitchell in the spotlight also will help to keep their campaign to find Madeleine in the headlines.

Or possibly not.
He will have to make himself available to the local and national press for interviews; ( and we have seen what locals and others are already saying in the local press, which has still not been silenced !)
he will have to make himself available for public debates with other candidates; he will have to meet the public whilst canvassing.
And at every stage there will be questions about his involvement with the Mccanns, and about the Mccanns themselves.
And the response that he is not able to talk for "operational reasons" will not wash, certainly not in two years time.
He will be exposed as a "Blackadder" style twisty turney thing, more slippery than an eel in a tub of super-slippery olive oil.
And the public are getting tired of that. They now prefer straight talking, even if they don't fully agree with the message.
His profile is to high that the national media are going to want to put him "on trial". How will he be able to resist ?

I have great confidence that this could finish his career, and could damn the McCanns for all time. (even further than they already are - obviously)

by aiyoyo 28.07.13 20:42

Pass the Pink Bucket - I just want to puke into it.

Whose idea was it to nominate him I wonder? Cameron?

by Guest 29.07.13 0:19

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by Guest 29.07.13 0:22

One's not enough - here's some more!

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by Guest 29.07.13 0:25

Enough for all of us titter

May need these as well [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

by jeanmonroe 30.07.13 11:35

OH DEAR!
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Vote Tory and you GET a LABOUR spin doctor!

"Read The Tory campaign in Brighton Pavilion: not getting off to a Grand start"
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The Tory campaign in Brighton Pavilion: not getting off to a Grand start
The newly selected Conservative candidate for Brighton Pavilion, Clarence
Mitchell, has not got off to the most auspicious of starts. This afternoon he tweeted a picture a photo of Brighton beach, taken from his hotel window at the Grand Hotel:
"A Grand View of Brighton"
It's a curious tweet, and suggests a certain lack of knowledge of the citys politics:
Brighton and Hove currently has a Green-led minority council, and one Green and two Tory MPs. Labour are the third party on the council.
Labour Fail seems like an odd way of putting it.Moreover, Mitchell compounded the error by his response to people who pointed out that the Grand Hotel was not exactly representative of a city in which low pay and high living costs are endemic that he was supporting the local economy.
The Grand is not locally owned; dozens of more modest hotels are local businesses. A better-briefed, more serious candidate would know that.Its all a bit surprising for someone who works in PR.
It reinforces the impression that, in 2015, the Tories will be also-rans. the comedic support for a fascinating battle between Purna Sen for Labour and incumbent Green MP Caroline Lucas, candidates of real substance with proven track records:
Clarence Mitchells selection suggests that this battle will powerfully highlight the difference between celebrity and achievement.

by Lostfridge 30.07.13 11:41

jeanmonroe wrote:OH DEAR!
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Vote Tory and you GET a LABOUR spin doctor!

Doh!!

by jeanmonroe 30.07.13 11:54

CM:
"On a summer's day, where better?"

Erm, try PDL, Portugal, actually 'searching' for Madeleine?

by plebgate 31.07.13 9:44

Lostfridge wrote:
jeanmonroe wrote:OH DEAR!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Vote Tory and you GET a LABOUR spin doctor!

Doh!!

Another Tory own goal. laughat

by **Tony Bennett** 03.08.13 22:47

CLARENCE...MEET YOUR VOTERS! > > >

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by deafoldbat 04.08.13 8:05

On BBC South East news bulletin, they were interviewing the "Conservatives at Pride" contingent as they marched with their banner - a very vocal man was interviewed - with a rather embarrassed and silent Clarence Mitchell beside him!

by **PeterMac** 04.08.13 8:40

deafoldbat wrote:On BBC South East news bulletin, they were interviewing the "Conservatives at Pride" contingent as they marched with their banner - a very vocal man was interviewed - with a rather embarrassed and silent Clarence Mitchell beside him!

Is Pinkie one ?

by **tigger** 04.08.13 16:14

He started working for Freud in August 2008! Although he continued his job with the mcCanns at a reported. 80.000,00. P.a.

Did he ever leave Freud?

by Liz Eagles 04.08.13 20:26

Clarence Mitchell joined Burson Marsteller in September 2011. The following is his profile as 'key staff' for the organisation (my underlining)

Clarence Mitchell
Managing Director and Chair of the Public Affairs practice
Office: London
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7831 6262
Clarence Mitchell joined Burson-Marsteller UK as a Managing Director in September 2011, providing strategic counsel to corporate and public affairs clients across all practice areas, with his particular specialism in media relations, stakeholder engagement and reputation management. He became Managing Director and Chair of the Public Affairs practice in April 2012.

Prior to joining B-M, he was Director of Media Strategy and Public Affairs at Lewis PR in London, where he similarly provided strategic counsel on issues and crisis management and public affairs to the client list, including a number of UK charities and not-for-profits, a role he combined with his ongoing duties as official media spokesman for Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter Madeleine went missing in Portugal in May 2007.

Previously, he was a consultant with Freud Communications offering the corporate list Tier 1 print and broadcast media training for both the C-suite and middle management, Prior to that, he was Director of the UK Government’s Media Monitoring Unit, based within the Cabinet Office, leading a 30-strong team of Information Officers that advised No 10 Downing Street and all of the major UK Departments of State on how best to respond to the 24/7 news agenda. He was also Head of Election Media Monitoring for the British Conservative Party during the 2010 UK General Election.

Before moving into Government Comms and PR, he was an on-air BBC News Correspondent, Royal Correspondent, Political Correspondent and Presenter, during a 20 year career with the Corporation. He began his career in journalism as a newspaper reporter writing for both local and national UK titles in the early 1980s.

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by sallypelt 04.08.13 22:39

So, it's all a cosy little set-up, isn't it?

THE VISIT:

Kate and Gerry McCann, were offered support and friendship by Sir Clement Freud who owned a villa in the Algarve.

And his son Matthew Freud probably believes in the McCanns because he knows his father and knows damn well that his father wouldn’t have anything to do with people who could have possibly harmed their child.

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Freud Communication

Freud Communications is a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] firm based in [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. It was founded in 1985 by [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (of the Public Relations dynasty of [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and great-grandson of the famous [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]) and became Britain's largest independent consumer PR firm
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