Party Conferences - Westbourne Communications

Emily Hamilton, October 2, 2012

What?s the point of party Conferences?

Do politicians not get enough media attention throughout the rest of the year?

Political leaders clearly think otherwise.

Party Conferences are the one time a year when each political party can push out their vision & key messages which, throughout the year before, have become blurred amongst the u-turns and numerous policy announcements & attacks.

For the vast majority of voters who will never contemplate or go anywhere near such an event, conferences involve images of the party leader giving their carefully crafted, sound-bite laden address to a packed auditorium.

The reality is quite different: countless fringe events populated by professional lobbyists; over-crowded, noisy, oxygen-starved drinks receptions; and epic endurance drinking sessions in the hotel bar into the wee hours of the morning. It is very much the political elite at play.

Arguably, these behavioural norms of the political animal appeal much more to some sections of society than others, particularly young, assertive, alpha-male types (with a sturdy booze-gut). This doesn?t mean there aren?t women (I happen to love conference!). But there is a visibly distorted ratio of men to women, and this distortion only increases as the nights progress.

Much has been made recently of the lack of women in top-level business roles, or appearing in the media. Is it any surprise when making ones way to the top favours those who embrace late-night networking, and doing deals amidst heavy drinking sessions, approaches that are much more comfortable for men than they are for women. The same can be said for politics.

It is a great irony that Party Conferences seek to define their inclusiveness to the mass population. The reality is usually quite the opposite.

Emily is responsible for generating positive press coverage for clients and has achieved high-profile national media coverage along with trade press coverage for Westbourne clients

Source: http://www.westbournecoms.com/party-conferences-codpieces-and-tankards-at-the-ready/

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