Jonny Oates
Encyclopedia
Jonathan "Jonny" Oates is Chief of Staff
to Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
, Nick Clegg
. He was previous the Director of Policy and Communications at the Liberal Democrats
.
. Oates remained in local and national politics, serving as an election agent for Edward Davey
, a winning candidate at the 1997 General Election
.
In 1999, Oates took a position at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy
where he was assigned to a role as a political and media adviser to the Inkatha Freedom Party
in the South African Parliament, advising Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi
and Reverend Musa Zondi.
Oates then returned to the UK in 2001 as a Policy and Communications Co-ordinator at the Youth Justice Board
, advising chairman Lord Warner
. He also became an associate at Mark Bolland & Associates, the public affairs company set up by Deputy Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales
, Mark Bolland and in 2004 became a Director at Bell Pottinger Public Affairs. He was later appointed as Director of Policy and Communications for the Liberal Democrats and in 2009 was given the role of Director of General Election Communications for the 2010 General Election.
After the formation of the coalition government
, Oates was appointed deputy communications adviser to the Prime Minister
David Cameron
and in August 2010 was moved from this position to become Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
's Chief of Staff.
In 2010, he also stood as a candidate for the safe Conservative seat of Coombe Hill on Kingston Council and was rated by the Daily Telegraph in September of that year as the fifth "most influential" Liberal Democrat.
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a senior member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a permanent position, existing only at the discretion of the Prime Minister, who may appoint to other offices...
, Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
. He was previous the Director of Policy and Communications at the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
.
Career
Oates began his career as an account manager at political and media relations firm Westminster Strategy. In 1994, he stood as a Liberal Democrat councillor for Grove ward in the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. During his time as a councillor, he served as Deputy Leader, helped create of a structure for giving power to local residents and gained national exposure for proposing a conference motion on council control over the National Health ServiceNational Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
. Oates remained in local and national politics, serving as an election agent for Edward Davey
Edward Davey
Edward Jonathan "Ed" Davey is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton since 1997, and in May 2010 was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
, a winning candidate at the 1997 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
.
In 1999, Oates took a position at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body set up to promote democratic institutions overseas. It was established in March 1992 and registered as a company limited by guarantee. It receives funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the...
where he was assigned to a role as a political and media adviser to the Inkatha Freedom Party
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
in the South African Parliament, advising Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is a South African Zulu politician who founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1975 and continues to lead the party today.His praise name is Shenge.-Early life:...
and Reverend Musa Zondi.
Oates then returned to the UK in 2001 as a Policy and Communications Co-ordinator at the Youth Justice Board
Youth Justice Board
The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales is an executive non-departmental public body, funded by and reporting to the Ministry of Justice and Department for Education and Skills...
, advising chairman Lord Warner
Norman Warner, Baron Warner
Norman Reginald Warner, Baron Warner, PC , is a Labour member of the House of Lords.He was Senior Policy Adviser to Jack Straw when he was the Home Secretary from 1997 to 2001...
. He also became an associate at Mark Bolland & Associates, the public affairs company set up by Deputy Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
, Mark Bolland and in 2004 became a Director at Bell Pottinger Public Affairs. He was later appointed as Director of Policy and Communications for the Liberal Democrats and in 2009 was given the role of Director of General Election Communications for the 2010 General Election.
After the formation of the coalition government
United Kingdom coalition government (2010–present)
The ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition is the present Government of the United Kingdom, formed after the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats entered into discussions which culminated in the 2010 coalition agreement, setting out a programme for government...
, Oates was appointed deputy communications adviser to the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
and in August 2010 was moved from this position to become Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
's Chief of Staff.
In 2010, he also stood as a candidate for the safe Conservative seat of Coombe Hill on Kingston Council and was rated by the Daily Telegraph in September of that year as the fifth "most influential" Liberal Democrat.