TOM Harris, the leader of the Scottish Vote Leave campaign in the EU referendum has joined the Edinburgh-based communications agency run by former Tory spin doctor Andy Maciver.
Mr Harris has taken a role as senior counsel at Message Matters. Marco Biagi, a former Scottish Government minister, and prominent Remain campaigner, has also joined the firm.
The agency was founded in 2012 by Peter Duncan, along with Mr Maciver.
Mr Maciver said the additions gave the firm “high-level intelligence and insight from all sides of all debates” as it helps navigate its clients through Brexit and possibly a second Scottish independence referendum.
Mr Harris was a junior minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, while Mr Biagi served as Minister for local government and community empowerment in the Scottish Government from November 2014 until he quit as an MSP ahead of this year’s Scottish parliamentary elections.
Mr Maciver said “Over the next few years, Scotland is likely to experience more significant political events, which may include another referendum, a general election and an exit from the EU. Message Matters now has people at the heart of the Remain and Leave campaigns, at the heart of the Yes and No campaigns, and at the heart of all the political parties.”
Both will offer advice and counsel to Message Matters but will not represent the company or its clients to Ministers or officials of the Scottish Government.
Mr Harris said: “We are about to enter another period of extreme uncertainty and instability in Scottish, British and European politics. It is vital that key stakeholders on the periphery of politics, such as the business community and the third sector, have the best possible analysis and advice at their fingertips.”
Mr Biagi added: “It’s important for everyone that organisations have access to all the perspectives, especially in these stormy political times.”
The appointments grow the senior counsel team to three, with former Better Together, Britain Stronger in Europe and Liberal Democrat campaigner Craig Harrow already in post.
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