PM's Top Press Secretary To Call It A Day

David Lewis, the Prime Minister's chief press secretary has resigned his position, citing changes in family circumstances as the reason of his departure. David Lewis has been the Beehive's safest pair of hands, having helped the Labour Party, and its Prime Minister Helen Clark and her office, navigate through a most turbulent 2006.

Throughout the year, the Labour-led Government carefully managed a path through issues that singularly could have caused a collapse in public support – the fact that this Government has survived multiple issues impacting upon it throughout 2006, is testament to David Lewis' and the 9th floor team's political and media management talents.

Those issues include: the alleged Taito Phillip Field improprieties; alleged scandals surrounding ministers David Benson-Pope and David Parker; General Election spending complexities, and claims that Labour's front-bench is tired and that its caucus is talentless.

The scandals have been combated by tight communication and media handling; a strategy that distances the Prime Minister from issues that would corrupt the public's perception of her and a presentation of a forthright solid figure when strong leadership is required to deal with a crisis.

David Lewis has been well known for his relationship-building strengths – possessing talents different from the charismatic style of his predecessor Mike Munro who mastered the art of being an information-conduit between the Parliamentary press gallery and the 9th floor, ensuring the Prime Minister was at all times well informed on media perceptions.

David Lewis's style differed in that he was well known as a Labour Party man; he's dapper, a thoughtful intellectual, and a careful political strategist.

He had been in the Helen Clark team since prior to the 1996 General Election, where he was a key press officer in the then Labour media unit, specializing in the social policy shadow portfolio areas. At that time while Labour was in opposition, the Party needed David Lewis' deep understanding of the country and of policy, and why Labour advocated such differences of thinking. The strategy was to display real-life examples of how and why the then National government's centre-right policies were failing the country. Health, housing, social welfare were among key-policy-areas under David Lewis's media management, policies that would eventually lead to National's demise at the polls.

Labour needed a David Lewis then, as much as it does today.

So who will be the new chief press secretary? Scoop understands announcement of an appointment will be forthcoming shortly. Clearly a frontrunner for the job will certainly be the 9th floor's press secretary 2IC, Kathryn Street.

Helen Clark has always favoured promoting those who have been with her a time. It is reward for their loyalty, but also the motivation is steeped in the Prime Minister's professional style of ensuring there are no damaging surprises, nor masked vulnerabilities, within the ranks of her key team.

Kathryn Street has solid Parliamentary press gallery experience, joining the Labour Government's second-term-team after resigning her chief reporter's position at Radio New Zealand. She rose swiftly through the Beehive press secretary ranks and won favour with the Prime Minister for her loyalty and her solid handling of the media during a most turbulent period.

Kathryn Street is also solid on Labour-led Government foreign affairs and trade policy and to ensuring the Government's messages are not grey (unless that is required) nor ambiguous. She also knows intimately press gallery idiosyncrasies.

This year 2007 will prove most challenging to Labour – the National Party's rise in the polls through 2006 was as a consequence of scandal lurking at Labour's door. But now, under the new leadership of John Key and his deputy Bill English, National is well positioned to attract public support based on merit. At this time, Helen Clark needs strategic thinkers, innovative media relations experts, those who can command the Prime Minister's position without waiver, and instill a respect for Labour Party vision, not only in the minds of political journalists, but also as priority thinking among the party's most influential Cabinet ministers.

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