Politics isn't just about changing laws.
It builds reputations.
We use political campaigns, parliamentary engagement and national issues to generate the kind of publicity that conventional PR often struggles to achieve.
Sometimes the objective is to influence a government decision. More often, it's to change how a business is seen.
We understand how politics, Parliament and the national media work together — and how to build campaigns that advance worthwhile causes while strengthening business reputations.
Conventional PR
Conventional PR often starts with a business and asks the media to pay attention.
A different starting point
The campaign is the publicity.
We start by asking a different question: is there an issue the business could credibly lead, a debate it could contribute to, or a cause worth bringing people together around?
“First class strategic counsel and a pleasure to work with.”
What a campaign might look like
What we can build
- A parliamentary event.
- A coalition of supporters.
- A national debate.
- A policy proposal that deserves attention.
What it can open up
- Coverage in national newspapers.
- Broadcast interviews.
- A minister asking for your view.
- A meeting with officials.
- Issues raised in Parliament.
- National opinion pieces.
- Select committee evidence.
- Endorsements from influential voices.
Why it works
Each creates something real to talk about, people with a reason to get involved, and opportunities for publicity that would be difficult to manufacture through conventional PR.
The media covers the campaign and the issue, and the client becomes the natural messenger.
The business becomes part of a story that matters beyond the business itself.
The Havishams Approach
01 — Find the opportunity
We examine the business, its objectives and the wider political landscape.
What issues matter to its customers? What is happening in Parliament and the country? What could the business credibly contribute to a national conversation? Usually this stems from something it's doing already - the magic's nearly always in the room.
The opportunity has to be genuine. Without that, there is no campaign worth running.
02 — Create the campaign
We turn the opportunity into something that can attract attention and support.
That might involve MPs, ministers, parliamentary events, specialist research, industry figures or a coalition of organisations.
We develop the political strategy and the communications around it together.
03 — Change the conversation
The campaign creates the news, the relationships and the public attention.
We use those opportunities to establish the business in a more favourable light, strengthen its reputation and reach the audiences that matter.
We judge the campaign by what it achieves for the client, not by how much activity it generates.
In the headlines
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Client reflections
“Absolute clarity. Zero waffle. Excellent delivery. We achieved exactly what we needed, which is rarer than it should be in PR.”
“Ed quickly understood both the politics and the commercial realities we were dealing with. He knew how to present our case to ministers, MPs, journalists and other stakeholders. His judgement and support were invaluable throughout.”
“When your name suddenly appears in the papers, you need calm advice and quick action. Ed gave me both. I was genuinely grateful for his support at a difficult moment.”
“They gave us a clear strategy, moved at pace and ultimately helped us achieve the outcome we were looking for.”
“Working with Ed was a pleasure. While I focused on the legal case, he never lost sight of the wider politics, media and public perception. I won in court; he helped us win in the court of public opinion.”
Founder
Ed Barker
For two decades, Ed has advised politicians, ministers, businesses and public figures through important campaigns and difficult decisions. He founded Havishams to bring political judgement and strategic communications together around the outcome that matters to the client.