The two big names helping to save Boris's job: Who are the Tories' latest recruits?
THE CONSERVATIVES have re-hired two of the political strategists who were strongly credited with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's election victory in 2019. But, who are they exactly? Why have they been employed by the Tories once more?
Boris Johnson in heated exchange with Rigby over John Major
In recent months Boris Johnson has had to battle through a number of difficult periods. This has predominantly been as a result of the ongoing saga focused on allegations of Government parties in breach of Covid guidelines. During this period, the Conservative Party and the PM’s own approval ratings have gradually dropped below their closest political rivals. Now, it’s been revealed that the duo who helped to deliver Mr Johnson his premiership have returned in a research capacity to the Tories. So, what can be read into this development?
Related articles
Two of the individuals credited with helping to seal the 2019 UK general election victory for the Tories - Isaac Levido and Michael Brooks - have confirmed they’re once again working with the party.
A spokesperson for Fleetwood Strategy - a company the two men co-founded in 2020 - said the firm has been “contracted by the Conservative Party to provide opinion research, party political advice and long-term general election planning”.
Fleetwood Strategy’s official website said it “provides insight and advice to help organisations make the right decisions on strategy, communications and messaging when it matters most”.
According to official records filed at Companies House, Mr Levido stepped down as a director of Fleetwood Strategy in April 2020, but rejoined the following July.
READ MORE: Have your say: Should Liz Truss trigger Article 16 now?
What were their roles in the 2019 general election?
During the general election that year Mr Levido was seen as the figurehead who led the Conservatives campaign from the party headquarters in central London.
The Australian is believed to have pushed hard to capitalise on the topic of Brexit, advocating to the public that a majority Boris Johnson Government would “get Brexit done”.
Prior to that, Mr Levido had worked on both the 2015 and 2017 UK general election, under the tutelage of fellow Aussie political strategist Sir Lynton Crosby.
Mr Brooks, a fellow pollster, also earned huge plaudits for the part he played in the election victory, which focused on winning over the Labour Party’s so-called Red Wall pro-Brexit working-class seats.
Ultimately, the Tories won the 2019 election with a landslide of 365 seats - up by 48, compared with the previous contest held in 2017.
In fact, their 43.6 percent popular vote score was the highest percentage for any party since 1979.
On the other hand Labour claimed 202 seats which represented a decrease of 60 constituencies, compared with two years previous.
DON'T MISS:
‘This is not a party!’ Ferrari rages at leaked Downing Street photo [EXPLAINED]
Nicola Sturgeon loses it in BBC interview after interruption [WATCH]
Parking row erupts as one family 'takes up six spots' [NEWS]
Who is Isaac Levido?
Although Mr Levido may not be a household name in politics, he has worked meticulously behind the scenes of a number of national elections around the world.
Following the conclusion of the 2017 UK general election, he set-up Crosby-Textor’s Washington DC office - an Australian lobbying firm and political consultancy.
He then returned to Australia to serve as Liberal party deputy director from January 2018 to mid-2019.
Mr Levido was further praised for playing a senior role in the upset re-election of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in May 2019.
Why have the Tories asked for their help?
The Conservative Party are now polling with 33 percent of the public, according to Politico.
Today’s polling figure is the lowest the Conservatives have ranked with the company since September 26, 2019.
The poll score for the Tories has been gradually falling since last October, when they held a total of 40 percentage points.
