The Conservative party looks set to appoint WCRS as its agency
after forging close links with its chairman, Robin Wight.
Senior Tories are predicting that WCRS will succeed M&C Saatchi as the
party’s agency for the next general election. It may be given a ’dry
run’ in the European Parliament elections in 1999.
’WCRS is now the clear front runner and my money would be on it,’ one
senior Tory source said this week.
Wight has briefed William Hague’s inner circle and his shadow cabinet at
two strategy sessions. Although it is understood some draft ads were
presented to the shadow cabinet, they will not appear because it has no
money for ads. ’At present we are using Robin as a strategist rather
than an advertising man,’ the source said.
It emerged this week that Wight gave informal advice to the Tories
before the May general election, when M&C Saatchi was responsible for
advertising.
His link man was Charles Hendry, then the party vice-chairman in charge
of communications, who works in Hague’s private office.
Wight was present at last week’s Tory conference in Blackpool, which
Maurice Saatchi did not attend.
Tory officials say it is ’extremely unlikely’ the party would turn back
to Saatchi after rows during the election blitz. However, they continue
to receive informal aid from Sir Tim Bell, who was also involved in the
campaign.
