Guido cannot think what Deliveroo have to do in return for the endless puff pieces and positive coverage the Evening Standard gives them. In the last few months the Standard has written a glowing profile of Deliveroo’s founder and top and tailed multiple Deliveroo press releases on how they help feed the hungry and offer free food to their rivals’ customers. Well if you can’t use the editorship to help out your close friend and former adviser, now Deliveroo’s head of global comms, what’s the point?
The BBC’s Nick Robinson said he was taken by complete surprise when he learnt that his producer had been poached by the Chancellor George Osborne to beef up his dismal telly image. She was, Guido noted at the time, seen drinking with the Treasury team into the early hours at Tory party conference. Many Tories were rather surprised given that Thea Rogers worked for Labour in 2005.
Things might be a bit tense if Thea has to deal with Transport Minister Mike Penning, he once put in an official complaint about Rogers and former Labour cabinet minister James Purnell. The row even made it into Tory press releases…
See also: Craig Oliver’s Late Night Lobby Briefing
More changes afoot in the government spin world this afternoon.
In an rather interesting move Nick Robinson’s producer Thea Rogers has joined team Osborne, replacing Poppy Mitchell Rose, who was last seen in a first class carriage and is now off to Washington.
Guido always had Rogers down as Labour, though she is said to be friendly terms with Craig Oliver.
Via James Forsyth
UPDATE: More details on Speccie:
“She’ll have a particular emphasis on the broadcast presentation of Osborne’s economic and political strategy. She’ll fit in alongside Ramesh Chhabra, Osborne’s political spokesman who is in charge of daily news management for the Chancellor.”
Nick Robinson’s glamorous producer Thea Rogers has hit the headlines before, this could get interesting too:
3am Pravda Bar, Hyatt #CPC12 – No 10's Craig Oliver holding hands with BBC's Thea Rogers
— Eye Spy MP (@eyespymp) October 10, 2012
Rogers also graced the pages of Vogue recently, offering top tips:
“There’s also an overnight bag at hand for impromptu trips. ‘I never know where the day’s news might lead’.”
Quite.
