Another “Create Streets” thing. When I drew Dave Hill’s attention to their dodgy past in the Irish property bubble, the immediate reaction was to claim that we were both “obsessive”.
@createstreets @DaveHill tell me, is there a Tory HQ book that says to always say critics are "obsessed"
— Alex Harrowell (@yorksranter) January 10, 2014
Long term readers will know that this is a Tory tic. All sorts of people have been so denounced. At that point, I had published one blog post, roughly a year before, and about three tweets on the subject. And after all, Dave Hill is the Guardian‘s local reporter for London news. It’s his job.
This permits us to conclude that it’s a standard operating procedure. Perhaps that’s what they do in “media training” besides learning the Princess Di nod-and-smile-upwards move. “And remember, always call anyone who criticises you a stalker, an obsessive, or a terrorist – especially if they know what they’re talking about!”
Maybe it’s this bloke:
Edward Staite is a communications and campaign consultant with wide experience in polling and consumer research. He has advised global brands, business leaders and politicians around the world. Edward is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has written for specialist industry publications. Edward is advising us on our communications strategy, campaigning and lobbying.
My communication skills were shaped by working as a speech writer, policy and communication adviser to the British Conservative Party in the Houses of Parliament, at Campaign Headquarters and on local campaigns. During this time I spent two years as George Osborne’s spokesman, advised David Cameron on strategic communication issues and was Boris Johnson’s press secretary during the 2008 mayoral election. My final role was as head of regional media where I devised and implemented PR and media campaigns that impacted on millions every day. More recently I advised the successful NO to AV campaign on media and communication strategy.
I might not have been obsessed before…
You’ll be aware of the long history of obsessives finding out things that people in power don’t want the plebs to know about. So more power to your elbow.
Also, just because there was a no vote doesn’t mean that the no campaign was the reason people voted no. From what I recall the no campaign was badly run, scaremongering and avoided any substantial discussion, which is pretty much how the Tories run the country anyway.
That Tory HQ book probably advises them to accuse your opponents of wanting all decisions to be made by central government, even when that isn’t the issue being discussed.
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