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Lynton Crosby is at the centre of controversy (again) Lynton Crosby is at the centre of controversy (again)
(4 months later)
Lynton Crosby is one of those hard-driven semi-mythical characters who never fails to prompt a reaction. A bluff Australian, his take-no-prisoners workaholism inspires admiring loyalty and distinct unease. Crosby's reported £200,000-a-year appointment as David Cameron's top political adviser last November caused dismay and dissent within some quarters of the Conservative party right from the start. The fact that Boris Johnson vigorously pressed David Cameron to hire him was seen by some as a reliable indicator of the risks that Crosby posed to the prime minister. (After all, Johnson is not known for keeping Cameron's best interests at heart). And there were plenty among the more thoughtful Tory insiders who considered it not a gamble worth taking – and think so even more today. Crosby is a successful commercial lobbyist – including for alcohol and tobacco interests – but the prime minister says we don't need to know which or when.Lynton Crosby is one of those hard-driven semi-mythical characters who never fails to prompt a reaction. A bluff Australian, his take-no-prisoners workaholism inspires admiring loyalty and distinct unease. Crosby's reported £200,000-a-year appointment as David Cameron's top political adviser last November caused dismay and dissent within some quarters of the Conservative party right from the start. The fact that Boris Johnson vigorously pressed David Cameron to hire him was seen by some as a reliable indicator of the risks that Crosby posed to the prime minister. (After all, Johnson is not known for keeping Cameron's best interests at heart). And there were plenty among the more thoughtful Tory insiders who considered it not a gamble worth taking – and think so even more today. Crosby is a successful commercial lobbyist – including for alcohol and tobacco interests – but the prime minister says we don't need to know which or when.
The so-called Wizard of Oz – known variously as "grubby", "ruthless" and "brilliant" back home – was always in danger of becoming the story, of having his wizard screen torn down to expose his activities to the spotlight. Powerful yet unaccountable, forthright yet secretive, he has made plenty of enemies in Westminster and beyond. It is no wonder that there are demands even from within the Tory party itself that he should reveal the identities of his lobbying clients when he has such access to the prime ministerial ear. Crosby may well have nothing to do with that U-turn from minimum alcohol pricing or the dropping of blank packaging for cigarettes. But how do we know? Trust us, we are politicians, is just not working for me. But to a leadership frightened of losing yet another election after the ignominy of failing to beat Gordon Brown in 2010, the man from Australia has acquired a reputation for miracles. They seem to have – once again – ignored the siren calls and just sailed on.The so-called Wizard of Oz – known variously as "grubby", "ruthless" and "brilliant" back home – was always in danger of becoming the story, of having his wizard screen torn down to expose his activities to the spotlight. Powerful yet unaccountable, forthright yet secretive, he has made plenty of enemies in Westminster and beyond. It is no wonder that there are demands even from within the Tory party itself that he should reveal the identities of his lobbying clients when he has such access to the prime ministerial ear. Crosby may well have nothing to do with that U-turn from minimum alcohol pricing or the dropping of blank packaging for cigarettes. But how do we know? Trust us, we are politicians, is just not working for me. But to a leadership frightened of losing yet another election after the ignominy of failing to beat Gordon Brown in 2010, the man from Australia has acquired a reputation for miracles. They seem to have – once again – ignored the siren calls and just sailed on.
It was George Osborne who imposed Crosby on a then fiercely resistant Boris Johnson during the latter's first shot at the London mayoralty in 2008. Up to that point, Johnson's campaign had lacked discipline, direction and, quite often, even the candidate himself. It was thought impossible that the blond buffoon could beat Labour's wily old Ken Livingstone. That all changed with Crosby's arrival. He introduced 8am starts, seven-day weeks, iron discipline and, most importantly of all, a micro-managed campaign that played on Londoners' hopes, grumbles and fears. Note that he is even credited with coming up with the idea of Johnson's first mayoral policy – banning alcohol on public transport – after taking umbrage at the drunken conduct of his compatriots on the tube. Never a policymaker, then?It was George Osborne who imposed Crosby on a then fiercely resistant Boris Johnson during the latter's first shot at the London mayoralty in 2008. Up to that point, Johnson's campaign had lacked discipline, direction and, quite often, even the candidate himself. It was thought impossible that the blond buffoon could beat Labour's wily old Ken Livingstone. That all changed with Crosby's arrival. He introduced 8am starts, seven-day weeks, iron discipline and, most importantly of all, a micro-managed campaign that played on Londoners' hopes, grumbles and fears. Note that he is even credited with coming up with the idea of Johnson's first mayoral policy – banning alcohol on public transport – after taking umbrage at the drunken conduct of his compatriots on the tube. Never a policymaker, then?
Crosby – who instructed Johnson that he would "cut his fucking knees off" if he did not fall into line – made no bones about who was boss. He sent him strongly worded rebukes by text if he so much as uttered a wrong word. Even Johnson, never exactly short of self-belief, quietly admitted that he found his new handler "scary". There is a time and a person when an Old Etonian knows he has more than met his match – a thought that perhaps has now occurred to Cameron too.Crosby – who instructed Johnson that he would "cut his fucking knees off" if he did not fall into line – made no bones about who was boss. He sent him strongly worded rebukes by text if he so much as uttered a wrong word. Even Johnson, never exactly short of self-belief, quietly admitted that he found his new handler "scary". There is a time and a person when an Old Etonian knows he has more than met his match – a thought that perhaps has now occurred to Cameron too.
Johnson won, of course, in 2008 and again in 2012 and Crosby must take much of the credit. He enforced the idea that a simple and emotive "message" is the most important thing in elections – even if some Tories thought that his emphasis on immigration and crime were once again leading them into "nasty party" territory. Indeed, one senior campaigner told me that the 2012 campaign under Crosby was the nastiest he had ever encountered. He no longer works for the party. Yet another campaigner – who also left – is thought to have leaked a report that Crosby had referred to "fucking Muslims" in a diatribe about the ethnic vote. Crosby merely said he had "no recollection" of the occasion and the matter was dropped. Any trouble in Downing Street, and Cameron may not be so lucky.Johnson won, of course, in 2008 and again in 2012 and Crosby must take much of the credit. He enforced the idea that a simple and emotive "message" is the most important thing in elections – even if some Tories thought that his emphasis on immigration and crime were once again leading them into "nasty party" territory. Indeed, one senior campaigner told me that the 2012 campaign under Crosby was the nastiest he had ever encountered. He no longer works for the party. Yet another campaigner – who also left – is thought to have leaked a report that Crosby had referred to "fucking Muslims" in a diatribe about the ethnic vote. Crosby merely said he had "no recollection" of the occasion and the matter was dropped. Any trouble in Downing Street, and Cameron may not be so lucky.
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