British PM’s top spin doctor to be called as witness at Sheridan trial

The Prime Minister’s top spin doctor could be called to give evidence at the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial after his name was included on a new list of witnesses.

• Spin doctor Andrew Coulson is on Sheridan’s witness list

Andrew Coulson, Downing Street’s director of communications, is on a list of people whom Sheridan has indicated he might want to call to the witness box.

Mr Coulson is a former editor of the News of the World, the paper which Sheridan sued successfully four years ago. It was that civil litigation which has led to the current trial, where Sheridan and his wife Gail deny giving perjured evidence on his way to being awarded £200,000 in damages.

The drafting of a new witness list was one of Sheridan’s first tasks since deciding to sack his counsel and conduct his own defence. In another early foray into his new forensic role, he tried to leave the dock to conduct a cross-examination, but was quickly informed by the judge that he should remain in his accustomed position.

Evidence at the High Court in Glasgow, on the seventh day of the trial, centred on a claim by a former political colleague that Sheridan had confessed to attending a sex club when he addressed the Scottish Socialist Party’s hierarchy.

Joanna Harvie, 33, told the jury there was no doubt in her mind about what Mr Sheridan had said. Questioned by Sheridan, Ms Harvie rejected a suggestion that she had not cared about a party member going to the News of the World about Sheridan because it was to “do him in”.

The court has heard that the News of the World made lurid allegations about an unnamed MSP in 2004, and that an emergency meeting of the SSP’s executive was convened to discuss the article.

Ms Harvie, a journalist who edited the party’s newspaper, the Scottish Socialist Voice, and now works on a newspaper for refugees in Glasgow, said Mr Sheridan was “an incredibly high-profile figure” and someone with “an immense reputation.” It was the first time an emergency meeting had been called. Before attending, she had spoken to Alan McCombes, another senior figure in the SSP.

“Alan explained the story about an unnamed MSP referred to Tommy. I was hugely concerned. (At the meeting] Tommy explained that the unnamed MSP was him. He said he had attended a sex club on two separate occasions. He said he was sorry for it. He said he did not know what it was that made him do it … said it was reckless behaviour,” Ms Harvie told the court.

“He did not believe the News of the World could prove it was him and if they did name him, he would sue them. Even though Alan had explained to me the day before what the meeting was going to be about, I think I was still shocked all over again to hear Tommy explain it.

Behind the scene: an Australian spin doctor tells all

It is easy to become cynical about the way governments operate and the spin they use to get themselves out of trouble. But it is not often one gets a sneak peak at how it all happens.

A confidential spin doctor’s report on how to manage public reaction to the long-running issue of toxic soil in the exclusive Sydney harbourside suburb of Hunters Hill has made its way into the public arena, thanks to an opposition Freedom of Information request.

The company behind the report, Elton Consulting, says its aim is to help government and the private sector plan, execute and explain projects.

The purpose of the Hunter’s Hill report was to “minimise delays and prevent the escalation of community opposition” to plans to remove the more than 5000 tonnes of waste and dump it at Kemps Creek, in Sydney’s west.

The toxic material comes from a uranium processing plant that operated in Nelson Parade at Hunters Hill, between 1911 and 1916. The document confirms that some residual radioactive material remains on the site.

Over the years, the government has been forced to buy up three properties in the street – each with multi-million dollar waterfront views – but they are worthless because of the contamination.

The government had hoped it had solved the problem when the soil on the site was declared “restricted solid waste”, meaning it is no different to every day industrial waste.

It could then be dug up, trucked across the city and dumped in a landfill site at Kemps Creek, near Penrith. The three blocks could then be sold, reaping the State Government a possible $9 million.

The Government sought the expert advice of Elton Consulting to help speed up the process.

Its ‘Nelson Parade Waste Disposal Communications Strategy’ provided this insight:

• There’s a risk Kemps Creek could be seen as a “dumping ground” for Hunters Hill
• Locals could be mobilised into opposing the plan
• There could be protests to stop the delivery of waste

 

It also warned that the media – the ABC included – could be unbalanced and sensational in its reporting of the story and delay the whole process.

Helpfully, though, the document included a draft holding statement and some key points to be “weaved into all project information” to “address negative perceptions or speculation about the project – to ensure a level of comfort around the waste disposal process.”

As per the strategy paper, the State Property Authority, which is in charge of the issue, went on ABC Radio after news of the disposal plan broke.

Spokesman Simon Furness reassured Kemps Creek locals that there is nothing to worry about.

He was asked whether he believed the material was safe to move. He pointed to the number of official agencies involved in the plan.

“Yes I do (believe it is safe). The reason is because I’ve got all of those specialist consultants helping me, that that gives me that confidence, yes,” he said.

But, as one resident asked me, “if this material is safe, why don’t they leave it where it is?”

The media, the opposition, even the local Labor candidate at the upcoming state election were onto the story.

The Premier intervened and, in keeping with the Elton Consulting report’s recommendations, also sought to reassure residents that the material was safe.

But in a departure from the document, Kristina Keneally ordered the head of the SPA to look at alternative sites interstate and overseas.

However, she did not specifically rule out the Kemps Creek option.

More spin?

All governments do it. Unfortunately for Ms Keneally, this time the workings have been laid bare.

Cameron and Miliband should hire Wenger as their spin doctor

Burnley fanatic, and former Labour spin doctor, Alistair Campbell today outlined a strong link between sport and politics. Campbell was writing on his blog after attending a conference on sports leadership at Stamford Bridge yesterday afternoon. Speakers at the event included Arsene Wenger, Baseball coach Billy Beane and John Bruyneel – Lance Armstrong’s sporting director.

While acknowledging some crucial differences between leadership skills in both areas, Campbell outlined a number of parallel’s between his two passions. “The requirement of an obsession about winning matched by a hatred of losing, requiring attention to every detail, and the margin of every detail that may have an impact upon outcome and performance,” said Campbell.

The controversial Campbell, a close friend of Sir Alex Ferguson’s, was full of praise for Wenger: “He loves good footballers, but the judgment is not just about their data, but about their personality, their character, their family, their friends. Yesterday he could not have been warmer nor more giving in terms of insight. He definitely has a touch of the genius about him. He is a deep thinker.”

Wenger spoke of the challenges facing politicians in leadership compared with football managers. The Frenchman explained that, as a manager, you can sell or move on disruptive and disobedient players. Whereas in politics even if a leader sacks a disillusioned member he will still be hanging around and exerting an influence on the party.

Having been inspired by the Arsenal manager, Campbell gave his own advice to David Cameron and Ed Miliband on the topic of team building: “Sport, politics, it’s all about people. Understanding them. Wanting them to do well. For themselves, and for others. Building them as a team. In politics, so much of the focus is on the leaders. But it is teams that win.”