Labour conference will be so full of execs it will look like Davos, only in Liverpool

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Messages from the archive of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist

WhatsApp to Dom: Hi Dom, we’ve organised a very good schedule for you at next week’s Labour conference in Liverpool. I’ve shared the details with your EA.

From: Rutherford@Monkwellstrategy.com

To: DominicS@buybuybuy.co.uk

It’s way too late to be getting any kudos for jumping on the Labour bandwagon but there’s still plenty of time for them to clock that you haven’t done so. Business is piling into Liverpool as if it’s the last lifeboat off the Titanic. Liverpool is going to be so stuffed with CEOs it will look like Davos, but with more puffer jackets. And “Liverpool Davos” is not a phrase anyone has been expecting to use.

OK, I accept I may have counselled against climbing aboard too early but that was three prime ministers ago. Hedging your bets was sound advice then. Now it is time.

Anyway, Livos is wall-to-wall business people and lobbyists, desperate for five minutes with Rachel Reeves and trying hard to stop using the phrase “take advantage of our Brexit freedoms”. But you do need to be in the throng. Happily we’ve been establishing very good contacts with Labour — buying when stocks were cheap. We hired a great guy who used to work closely with Keir. So we can get you some valuable facetime. And do grab a meal at Lunya. The membrillo-glazed pork ribs are to die for.

Best, Rutherford

Find me on Strava, KoM Sydenham Hill, PR London to Brighton 3h 17m.

From: Rutherford@monkwellstrategy.com

To: DomincS@buybuybuy.co.uk

Forgive me Dom, but that’s just not the way I’d go on this. I know you are worried by their rights at work agenda but we need to be careful. And please, please don’t badmouth Angela Rayner. It doesn’t help and anyway it’s best left to the people around Keir.

There are two approaches. You can lend your voice to the ferocious Tory, all-out assault on the plans while Labour are still in opposition and hope to frighten him into a partial retreat? But this is the one thing he is giving to the unions. Ending zero-hours contracts, immediate rights to sick pay, holiday pay and protection against unfair dismissal, this is popular stuff. And the right to disconnect and not be contacted out of hours will appeal to some too, even if it is unworkable.

I can see why you are worried and we are working on a strategy to water these down but if you think Labour might win, lining up with the opposition to them on this just means they won’t listen to you in power. There is also the risk you get targeted as the face of worker exploitation which, as your communications counsellor, I would generally advise against.

Our playbook would be that instead of getting marked down as an enemy, you loudly support the principle of fairness at work, which in any case is far more trouble to smaller rivals. You show yourself a modern decent employer ready to engage with these goals, but you just have a few teensy — hardly worth mentioning — issues you think we need to work through.

You are worried about the impact on hiring. You worry about protecting the flexibility that makes the UK an attractive location for employers. You are worried about trying to turn back the clock to a 9-5 world. So from a position of trust we just ask a few searching questions and make it all about the detail.

Perhaps we want the rules phased in over a number of years, or some exemptions built-in to ensure business is still viable. Maybe we can angle towards a commission on implementation, with a sympathetic but strong business voice like yours to work through the details. The message is that we support this agenda as long as we do it carefully, cautiously and with a mind to jobs and economic growth. But that’s for after the conference. For now just be enthusiastic and talk about wanting to see Britain working again.

Incidentally, have you given any more thought to offering to help fund a researcher for a frontbencher, maybe the shadow business secretary’s office? It also gives us an in with the team later. Let me at least arrange a breakfast meeting.

Best, Rutherford

Find me on Strava…

WhatsApp to Dom: He’s called Johnny Reynolds. A good guy. 

WhatsApp to Dom: Well try to pretend you’ve heard of him if I get you a meeting. He matters. 

WhatsApp to Johnny Reynolds: Hi Johnny. I’m very keen to get you in a room with Dom. He’s a fan of yours and wants to help. He’s got some good thoughts on delivering the fairness at work agenda without whacking business.

WhatsApp to Dom: Good news. We’ve got the meeting, so see how it goes and decide on the researcher offer after.

WhatsApp to Dom: No, I wouldn’t mention funding it on a flexible hours contract.

Messages recovered by Robert Shrimsley