Archive

Public Affairs

  • Key priorities or empty promises: What Starmer and Sunak’s pledges mean for business

    February 23, 2023

    Adam Newman, Account Manager, Public Affairs Pledge cards are not new in UK politics. In 1997, Tony Blair successfully gave five pledges which focused on his key targets for a new Labour Government, whilst in 2015, Ed Miliband infamously unveiled the ‘Ed Stone’, which was mocked for its vagueness, with promises including “An NHS with time to care.” It seems that in 2023, pledges are all the rage. Last month, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak...

  • FleishmanHillard UK Analysis: Rishi’s reshuffle

    February 7, 2023

    The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has reshuffled several members of his Cabinet today along with reconfiguring the responsibilities of several Government Departments. Although many commentators noted that the Prime Minister would have to follow through following the sacking of his Party Chairman, Nadhim Zahawi, several have been surprised by the extent of today’s changes. Reshuffles are a reminder and a test of the Prime Minister’s authority which largely rests on two things: the power of...

  • Political slogans: enticing or apathetic?

    January 30, 2023

    Political slogans may have become cliché by now, with many being recycled time and time again. This begs the question: how useful are they in signifying political agendas? And how much can rhetoric and snappy straplines actually inform us about policy? Throughout the myriad of slogans that have graced British politics over the years, the influence had on election campaigns and perhaps political popularity is clear. Slogans continue to remain ever-present in the lead up...

  • FleishmanHillard UK awarded Best Communications at Restaurant Marketer and Innovator Awards

    January 26, 2023

    At last week's Restaurant Marketer & Innovator European Summit, in partnership with our friends at Fleet Street Communications, FleishmanHillard UK won the Best Communications Award for our work supporting the UK hospitality sector through the pandemic for client UKHospitality! The Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards are in their fifth year and recognise the growing importance of marketing, innovation and strategy professions within the restaurant and food service sector. View the full list of winners. Contact...

  • FleishmanHillard shares new global energy crisis research

    January 13, 2023

    Earlier this week the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the financial support that has been provided for energy usage by businesses over winter will come to an end on 31st March, with a heavily watered-down package taking its place. But the pan-European energy crisis continues to significantly affect the economy, as well as have a wider impact on geopolitics and climate action, according to new polling by FleishmanHillard on global business leaders’ views about...

  • The Prime Minister’s policy agenda for 2023

    January 6, 2023

    This week, the Prime Minister made his set piece speech setting out his policy agenda for 2023, following one of the most tumultuous years for British politics in decades. Though he has steadied the ship following the chaotic reigns of Liz Truss and Boris Johnson, the PM is still at the helm of a parliamentary party that has a penchant for regicide, as he enters 2023 with more problems than solutions.   Sunak has attempted to...

  • The Political Year in Review 2022: Anything but strong and stable

    December 20, 2022

    December is often a time for reflection and as we look back on 2022, the overwhelming theme could be described as disruption – which is rather ironically the exact opposite of what the Tories had been hoping for. Three Prime Ministers in as many months, alongside countless Chancellors and Ministers, has made this year a particularly challenging one for business engagement. Add to that political unrest, the ongoing war in Ukraine and record-high inflation levels...

  • Should businesses be preparing for Winter blackouts?

    November 29, 2022

    Earlier this week, National Grid considered implementing its Demand Flexibility Service for the first time in a bid to avert blackouts. Although the scheme, which would have seen certain households be paid if they turned off products during certain hours, did not take place this week, it marked a clear reminder that this winter could be characterised by energy shortages which could impact both households and businesses. Countries across Europe are preparing for a long...

  • Labour’s U-Turn on labour

    November 24, 2022

    Luke Downham, Head of Labour Unit and Adam Newman, Account Manager (Public Affairs, Labour Unit)  Keir Starmer’s pledge to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference this week that he will wean the UK off its “dependence” on immigration orientated “cheap labour” is a highly significant policy shift, laying down an important plank of Labour’s economic policy, and reflecting an increasingly focused electoral strategy.  As hoped, political commentary after the speech focused on this “tough” approach...

  • Autumn Statement Review: Growth vs Stability, and a bad deal for young people

    November 18, 2022

    The Autumn Statement that took place yesterday essentially reversed the entire plan that the Liz Truss administration had put in place in her Growth Plan. In the space of 55 days, the UK has gone from around £30 billion in tax cuts to c.£54 billion in tax rises – under the same Party. The problem was that the Growth Plan as a fiscal stimulus did not work with supply constraints, as it focused on demand...