Lynton Crosby
Encyclopedia
Lynton Crosby AO
is an Australian political
strategist.
Having masterminded four successive election victories for John Howard
, he has been described as a "master of the dark political arts," "the Australian Karl Rove
," and in 2002 The Age
newspaper described Crosby as "one of the most powerful and influential figures in the (Australian) nation."
After his failure to guide the British Conservative Party
to victory in 2005, Crosby returned to British politics and during the 2008 London Mayoral campaign, he helped Conservative candidate Boris Johnson
to beat the Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone
. In March 2009, it was announced that Crosby would direct the Europe-wide Libertas campaign for the June 2009 European Parliament elections. Libertas is an avowedly pro-European party opposed to the Lisbon Treaty, although many of its critics and many media reports refer to it as a eurosceptic
party.
He holds a degree in economics from the University of Adelaide
and in 2005 was awarded the Officer in the Order of Australia
(AO).
. Crosby commenced his political career as a research assistant in 1978 for Senator Baden Teague
. In 1980 Crosby became Executive Assistant to the Hon. Harold Allison, then Minister of Education & Aboriginal Affairs. Crosby became Executive Assistant to the Hon. Martin Cameron
MLC in 1992, then Leader of The Opposition In The Legislative Council in South Australia. Between 1986 and 1991 Crosby held a series of corporate affairs positions in the Australian private sector.
In 1991, Crosby became State Director for the Queensland Division of the Liberal Party of Australia
, and in 1994 the Deputy Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia
, serving under then Federal Director Andrew Robb
, until replacing him as Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia
in May 1997. Crosby set up "Crosby & Textor" with Mark Textor
in 2002.
Crosby served as campaign director in 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2004 elections. In 1998, the government won with marginal seats (swing seats) targeted by Crosby. The election saw the smallest two party preferred margin win since 1949 estimates, on 49.02 percent. By the time of his departure, the Liberal party was out of power in every state and territory and lost power federally soon afterwards.
Crosby managed the Conservative Party
's 2005 general election
campaign in the United Kingdom
, and also appointed to run (the successful) Conservative
Boris Johnson
's London 2008 Mayoral election
campaign, at a cost to the party of £140,000 for four months of work.
Crosby was involved in setting up CT Financial in 2006, an investor relations
and financial communications specialist consultancy.
According to investigative journalist Nicky Hager
, Crosby/Textor is also an adviser to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key
. http://www.nickyhager.info/crosby-v-hager-defamation-proceedings-as-political-weapon/
Such tactics have included:
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
is an Australian political
Politics of Australia
The Politics of Australia take place within the framework of a parliamentary democracy, with electoral procedures appropriate to a two-party system. Australia is governed as a federation and as a constitutional monarchy, with an adversarial legislature based upon the Westminster system...
strategist.
Having masterminded four successive election victories for John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, he has been described as a "master of the dark political arts," "the Australian Karl Rove
Karl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
," and in 2002 The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
newspaper described Crosby as "one of the most powerful and influential figures in the (Australian) nation."
After his failure to guide the British Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
to victory in 2005, Crosby returned to British politics and during the 2008 London Mayoral campaign, he helped Conservative candidate Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
to beat the Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
. In March 2009, it was announced that Crosby would direct the Europe-wide Libertas campaign for the June 2009 European Parliament elections. Libertas is an avowedly pro-European party opposed to the Lisbon Treaty, although many of its critics and many media reports refer to it as a eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
party.
He holds a degree in economics from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
and in 2005 was awarded the Officer in the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO).
Political career
In 1976, Crosby started his career as a market analyst with Golden Fleece PetroleumGolden Fleece Company
thumb|Golden Fleece Logo - pre 1960sGolden Fleece was a brand of petroleum products and service stations operated by H.C.Sleigh and Company. A partnership was founded in Melbourne, Australia in 1893 by Harold Crofton Sleigh and John McIlwraith...
. Crosby commenced his political career as a research assistant in 1978 for Senator Baden Teague
Baden Teague
Baden Chapman Teague served as a Liberal Senator for South Australia from 1977 until his retirement in 1996.Born in Adelaide, Teague was educated at the University of Adelaide and Cambridge University, where he gained a Ph.D.. He was employed as a university lecturer until he entered the Senate...
. In 1980 Crosby became Executive Assistant to the Hon. Harold Allison, then Minister of Education & Aboriginal Affairs. Crosby became Executive Assistant to the Hon. Martin Cameron
Martin Cameron
Martin Bruce Cameron , Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate and the South Australian Legislative Council....
MLC in 1992, then Leader of The Opposition In The Legislative Council in South Australia. Between 1986 and 1991 Crosby held a series of corporate affairs positions in the Australian private sector.
In 1991, Crosby became State Director for the Queensland Division of the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, and in 1994 the Deputy Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, serving under then Federal Director Andrew Robb
Andrew Robb
Andrew John Robb AO , Australian politician and former federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia, was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the Division of Goldstein, Victoria for the Liberal Party of Australia at the 2004 federal election.Robb, one of nine children, was...
, until replacing him as Federal Director of the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in May 1997. Crosby set up "Crosby & Textor" with Mark Textor
Mark Textor
Mark Textor is an Australian pollster and campaign strategist. He was the principal pollster for former Australian Prime Minister John Howard....
in 2002.
Crosby served as campaign director in 1996, 1998, 2001, and 2004 elections. In 1998, the government won with marginal seats (swing seats) targeted by Crosby. The election saw the smallest two party preferred margin win since 1949 estimates, on 49.02 percent. By the time of his departure, the Liberal party was out of power in every state and territory and lost power federally soon afterwards.
Crosby managed the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
's 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
campaign in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and also appointed to run (the successful) Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
's London 2008 Mayoral election
London mayoral election, 2008
The London mayoral election, 2008 for the office of Mayor of London was held on 1 May 2008 and was won by Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson....
campaign, at a cost to the party of £140,000 for four months of work.
Crosby was involved in setting up CT Financial in 2006, an investor relations
Investor relations
Investor Relations is a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance to enable the most effective two-way communication between a company, the financial community, and other constituencies, which ultimately contributes to a...
and financial communications specialist consultancy.
According to investigative journalist Nicky Hager
Nicky Hager
Nicky Hager is an author and investigative journalist born in Levin, New Zealand and now resides in Wellington. He generally writes about issues involving intelligence networks, environmental issues and politics. He has degrees in physics and philosophy...
, Crosby/Textor is also an adviser to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
. http://www.nickyhager.info/crosby-v-hager-defamation-proceedings-as-political-weapon/
Tactics
Critics suggest Crosby plays what is called "wedge politics", whereby the political party he strategically and tactically advises takes the centre ground and makes the opposition oppose a policy which will alienate the majority of the public. This is also described as "below the radar" campaigning, with the targeting of marginal constituencies with highly localised campaigning, latching on to local issues and personalities. To find such issues, Crosby's business partner Mark Textor runs focus groups to find which groups to target with what questions.Such tactics have included:
- In the run up to the 2001 Australian election the NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
freighter TampaMV TampaMV Tampa is a roll-on/roll-off container ship completed in 1984 by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. in South Korea for the Norway based firm, Wilhelmsen Lines Shipowning.-Tampa affair:...
, which was carrying asylum seekers, was boarded by Australian forces and turned away. John Howard's role gained him support ahead of an election, see Tampa affairTampa affairIn August 2001, the Howard Government of Australia refused permission for the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa, carrying 438 rescued Afghans from a distressed fishing vessel in international waters, to enter Australian waters...
for more details. - In London's 2008 mayoral campaign, Crosby targeted outer LondonOuter LondonOuter London is the name for the group of London Boroughs that form a ring around Inner London.These were areas that were not part of the County of London and became formally part of Greater London in 1965...
ConservativeConservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
leaning suburbs with a "doughnut strategy", capitalising on a feeling of detachment with the administration of Ken LivingstoneKen LivingstoneKenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
who had focused on winning inner LondonInner LondonInner London is the name for the group of London boroughs which form the interior part of Greater London and are surrounded by Outer London. The area was first officially defined in 1965 and for purposes such as statistics, the definition has changed over time. The terms Inner London and Central...
areas.