Meet Peter Bingle of Bell Pottinger Public Affairs:
With over 26 years experience in public affairs, Peter Bingle is one of the most prominent figures in the industry. He has advised the CEOs and MDs of some of the largest companies in the world and helped them navigate through a wide variety of major reputational crises – including McDonald’s at the onset of the BSE crisis, the Police Federation through the Sheehy inquiry and, most recently Damon Buffini and Permira in the face of concerted attacks on the private equity industry.
The project of Lady Thatcher’s adviser Lord Bell, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs has a close, if controversial, relationship with the Conservative Party.
In the last couple of days, Bingle has written two pieces about the Liam Fox scandal involving Adam Werrity, who seemingly represented the Sri Lankan foreign minister in high level discussions, and also attended and arranged meetings with Bell Pottinger Sans Frontiers and Sri Lankan officials, last year.
Bingle’s articles are so ridiculous, I’m having trouble believing this isn’t a parody Private Eye column.
Here is the first piece by Peter Bingle on Liam Fox:
The left will therefore not give up the chase even though the last Labour government made Fox hunting illegal.
[…]
Over the years I have always been a supporter of a free press. The threat of statutory control fills me with fear and dread. There have been times – when I have ended up on a front page of two – when that support might have waivered but it never did. That said I do find the way that the media pursue a politician in trouble not very pleasant. The same was as true with William Hague as it is now with Liam Fox. Seeing fundamentally decent people put through the proverbial ringer questions even my faith in how the press is regulated. There is a fake morality in the media which I find distasteful. Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone. I have no time for moral entrepreneurs.
By tomorrow morning it may all be over for Liam. I suspect, however, that he will survive the current storm. This is a politician with an infectious personality who has courage and convictions and is doing an exceptional job at the Ministry of Defence at a very difficult time. He is not perfect but he is probably better placed than anybody else to do the job. He is also a radical Tory and he therefore needs special protection as an endangered species. I hope that there is still life in The Amazing Dr Fox …
Here is the second piece – both published within the last two days:
The Fantastic Dr Fox may survive after all. In a superbly self-confident performance in the House of Commons Liam was a man transformed. He mentioned en passant that he was more resilient because of the Werritty Affair and it showed. This was the old Liam. There was the swagger, the wit, the irony and above all the conviction in what he believes in. He was also helped by a truly terrible performance by the Labour frontbench and backbench MPs. Perhaps their heart wasn’t really in it? Perhaps although they hate his views they quite like the man? Whatever the reason, it was Liam contra mundum and it was a pleasure to behold.
Today’s papers show, however, that the pack of hounds in still in full pursuit of their intended prey. It may well be the case that when the Cabinet Secretary produces his report in seven days time Liam will be forced to resign but I still believe that the odds are in favour of him surviving. […]
Yesterday I could not resist smiling as I watched The Amazing Dr Fox. It brought memories of the good old days. He is a character and love him or loathe him the body politic needs characters.
One of the nastiest of human traits is assuming the worst in everybody. Yesterday there were all sorts of rather unpleasant insinuations by Labour MPs. They haven’t the guts to say it outright and that is why I hope that Liam survives. Perhaps it is the Sagittarian in me but I come from the half full rather than the half empty school of life. I always try and see the good in people even though it is often quite hard to do so!
Nowadays, if you think you would make a good MoD adviser, you can be!
Why not create your own business card as an aide to Dr Fox?
