Six crisis PR tips for Commons speaker John Bercow after his wife joins Celeb Big Brother
House of Commons speaker was apparently against his wife Sally’s decision to join Channel Five’s relaunch of Celebrity Big Brother to further her television career. Liam Herbert, director of JBP PR & Parliamentary Affairs offer crisis PR advice that Bercow should implement should avoid damage to his own professional reputation.
1. Maritial union and political expediency – she is her own person and not his chattel, so she makes her own choices and he must say so. He must been seen to support his wife but also maintain the dignity and respect of his political office.
2. He should not be drawn into comment or discussion about CBB and his wife’s role, simply note that she is doing it for charity and it was her decision.
3. He should seek to create distance between his family life and the constitutional office of Speaker.
4. He needs to be prepared for the banter and challenges of MPs in the House of Commons. Again, a very simple this is not a matter for this house will not suffice, but his robust approach to keeping members in line will help here.
5. Finally, buy lots of top up credit on his pay as you go phone (but not put the cost on his expenses!) and get voting to have Sally evicted – the sooner she is out of the of the BB House and back in Speaker’s Lodge at The House, the better.
Final tip – If I were him I would be having an eviction election party – invite everyone he knows round for Pizza and beer and hit the phones! All the best political campaigns start with motivating the voters.
Overnight figures suggest that the launch night of Celebrity Big Brother attracted around 5.3million viewers.