Andy Coulson coordinates summer media offensive

It was last summer that George Osborne recruited Andy Coulson as head of party communications.  The former News of the World Editor played a major role in helping the party avert an autumn election.

PR Week - that great source of stories about turmoil in Downing Street - reports that Andy Coulson is planning a publicity offensive over the summer.  There will be no vacuums but a grid of stories to ensure that there is little respite for the embattled Labour Government. 

PR Week spins the "summer offensive" as meaning a growth of Andy Coulson's power now that Steve Hilton will be relocating to the USA for six or so months.  In reality it is more a reflection of David Cameron's desire to avoid any complacency.

Gavin Megaw - former CCHQ press operator, quoted by PR Week - gets closest to understanding the more strategic role that Steve Hilton will now be playing: "Ironically, it will be much easier for Steve to capture the real mood of the country and translate it into the party's long term plans from outside the Westminster bubble, away from all the short term politicking and media distractions."

Comments

[thisisanonstory]

Informed opinion at Westminster seems to regard Hilton as on the way out a la George Bridges.

And Coulson as the key man now.

Megaw is guessing what will happen. He could be right but as I say conventional opinion suggests he is wrong.

As for summer offensives that is a non story. They have always existed since the Tories went into opposition and happen every year.

The real issue last year was that the press office was a shambles and cameron did not have a serious press handler.

All that changed for the good with the appointment of AC and one or two departures of personnel from DC's team.

I think PR Week have been sold a pup here.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Suprised this thread has aroused so little comment. I truly hope that there will be a summer offensive as once again too many shadow cabinet members have become invisible again and even Cameron is not finding it easy to make headlines. His excellent performance during the 'Cameron Direct' meeting in Harlow went largely unreported. We can't always rely on Labour destroying itself.