Archive

Public Affairs

  • Britain’s Changing Position in Global Trade: As the UK chases growth, it must answer calls from business to improve international trade

    March 31, 2023

    Earlier this month, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced his Spring Budget, with an ambition to get people into employment and boost economic growth. But despite being a perfect vehicle for both objectives, trade received few mentions.  For several years, the UK Government has asserted that Brexit, channelled through new free trade agreements, would boost trade. At the least, the market would naturally rebalance; trade lost with the UK’s closest partners in...

  • Education, Employment, Everywhere: Analysis of Hunt’s Spring Budget 2023

    March 15, 2023

    The Economic Picture Today, Jeremy Hunt became only the second of the past five chancellors to hold the famous red box outside Number 11, with three of his predecessors not having lasted long enough in the job to be able to hold an official Budget. Going into this Budget there were concerns regarding the size of the workforce, which had not recovered from the pandemic, as well as post-Brexit trade barriers and sensitivity to interest...

  • Keir Starmer is on course for Number 10: Why now is the time for businesses to help mould Labour’s plans for Government

    March 3, 2023

    Luke Downham, Account Director, Public Affairs & Head of the Labour Unit Keir Starmer’s launch of Labour’s “Five Missions” for Government represents the beginning of a new phase in the party’s strategy to re-take Number 10 in 2024 after fourteen years of Opposition. With the party consistently 20+ points ahead in the polls, Starmer recognises that 2023 represents a year of heightened scrutiny on his party’s policy proposals. Yet, for many months, focus groups, the Westminster commentariat, and the...

  • 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...

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