Tory leader's ex-adviser to work as lobbyist

[mgt23]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/p ... 022322.ece

i will be doing a show on jewish lobbyists on saturday.....

David Cameron's ex-adviser has joined a public affairs firm two days after the Tory leader said that lobbying was "the next big scandal waiting to happen."

Andrew Mackay, who is standing down as an MP at the election, has taken a job as "strategic adviser" to lobbyists Burson-Marsteller, The Times has discovered.

The firm said that appointment of Mr Mackay, who served as a senior advisor to Mr Cameron until last year, "means that we are uniquely placed to advise clients whatever the make-up of the new Government after the election."

The chief executive of Burson-Marsteller is Matt Carter, who was Labour's general secretary during the cash-for-honours affair. Mr Carter issued a press release on the appointment shortly after he was approached for a comment after The Times learnt the lobbyists had been holding secret negotiations with the Tory MP.

The firm said it had announced the appointment in advance "in the interests of transparency and so there can be perceived to be no conflict of interest in his current role as an MP."

The Tory MP, one of the major casualties of the expenses scandal, is said to have negotiated a six-figure salary. "He's been told to keep close to the Cameron team," said an insider.

His new job threatens to be a serious embarrassment to the Conservative leadership, however. In a speech on Monday, Mr Cameron said that "secret corporate lobbying, like the expenses scandal, goes to the heart of why people are so fed up with politics."

Mr Cameron said that an incoming Tory government would tighten the rules limiting the ability of former ministers to lobby Government. Mr Mackay, however, would not be covered by the new rules even if they were in force today. He takes up his new role after the election.

In a statement, Mr MacKay said: "After leaving Parliament I want to be a part of a winning team that is assisting global businesses face their strategic communications challenges and Burson-Marsteller provides a fantastic opportunity to do this."

The public affairs firm is one of the largest in the world. Within the last six months, its UK division announced it had won contracts to lobby for Heineken, the brewing giant and the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, which represents videogame producers.

Mr Mackay, the Tory MP for Bracknell, was a highly-influential member of Mr Cameron's inner circle until he was caught up in the expenses controversy. He and his wife, Julie Kirkbride, Tory MP for Bromsgrove, were found to have been claiming the costs of running two homes on parliamentary allowances. He faced the fifth largest repayment bill following the audit of expenses by Sir Thomas Legg.

Although he agreed to quit as an advisor to Mr Cameron last spring, he remained close to the Tory leader's inner circle. Mr Cameron tried, but failed, to rescue Mrs Kirkbride's political career holding a series of meetings with the couple. She too, however, announced she was standing down as an MP late last year.

The press release recaps Mr Mackay's career stating that he "laterly served as an adviser to David Cameron."

"As well as bringing a wealth of policy expertise, he will also help Burson-Marsteller's clients understand the challenges of modern communications, politics and business. Andrew's corporate experience covers a range of sectors including retail, banking, recruitment and housing," the firm said.