Has the PR trade missed the Farage boat?

The PR trade is supposed to be big on diversity. As it advised clients to embrace this movement, it realised it would be hypocritical not to do the walk as well as the talk.

So, it tried, but it didn’t necessarily get that far.

This from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations shows nine out of ten UK practitioners are white and 25% are privately educated — four times the UK national average.

The CIPR notes: “This lack of representation hinders our ability to connect with the diverse and vibrant communities we serve.”

That data is a couple of years old, but it doesn’t look like much has changed.

Perhaps the real diversity problem in PR now isn’t lack of ethnic minorities, it’s a lack of Nigel Farage fans.

One PR chief says: “The biggest problem we have is a lack of Brexiteers on staff. This must skew perspective, not good in a Nigel Farage world.”

For the last few years PR firms have been looking for expertise in sustainability, in green energy and woke politics.

What they didn’t do was hire folk who had links to Farage, because they just didn’t take him seriously.

Another PR boss: “Watch people turn when they realise this isn’t getting any better, and Nigel is going to do some damage. Businesses are asking the question of when they should speak to Reform, rather than if.”

Rutherford Hall, the FT’s fake PR man, says clients should get close to Farage, but not be photographed with him.

Hall also thinks that businesses which do get close to Reform can pretty much write their own policy, since Farage most likely hasn’t got one in their field and doesn’t care much anyway.

It will be interesting to see which firms pivot quickest and most effectively.

There’s a chance here to upset the established order, for the big players to find themselves sidelined, and nimble smaller firms to grab lunch.

Young PR mavericks on the hustle could make a big name and big money for themselves if they play it right. They might also help Reform professionalise and purge itself of its worst representatives.

They could get it to expand beyond migration, to make it a proper party rather than a mob with a grievance.

Perhaps they should attend job interviews with an England flag draped over their suitcase.

It feels like a tipping point has been reached.

That being seen as remotely close to Reform is a lesser risk than dismissing it as a bunch of cranks pandering to our worst instincts.

It’s a tricky one though, no question.

Please send candidates for press release of the day to:

Simon.english@roxhillmedia.com