Ed Owen
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Articles by Ed Owen
'There can be no sacred cows if we are to reconnect to win'
On both sides of the Atlantic, mainstream democratic politics is under threat from the populist right. In the US, Donald Trump’s Republican administration is upending the rule of law and using the power of the Presidency to pursue his political opponents and intimidate civil society.
'How we can build a strong political centre and centre-left'
At one level, the fortunes of the British Labour Party and the US Democrats could not be more different. Following elections held on both sides of the Atlantic last year one is in government for the first time in more than a decade with a thumping parliamentary majority, the other is in the political wilderness out of power after a devastating defeat in November. Yet both are struggling with a deeper malaise.
'Ignore stereotypes. Reform-leaning Labour voters dislike the two-child cap'
It’s all too easy to come to lazy assumptions about where people’s views will sit on various political questions based on stereotypes or even stated voting intention. Here’s one of the hardiest misconceptions of this type in British political commentary: if you’re northern and working class, and a bit, well, Brexity, you’re probably culturally right-wing.
'Starmer's US trip was a diplomatic triumph, but many more challenges lie ahead'
Returning to London from Washington early this morning, Keir Starmer and his team were justifiably delighted at how their first trip to see President Trump in the White House had gone. It was a significant success that improves the standing and influence of the UK at a critical time. This was, after all, a visit strewn with traps, hazards and hidden dangers.
'The US sell-out of Ukraine can be Starmer’s moment to define the purpose of his government'
For many, this Labour government has lacked a defining vision, an overriding purpose for existing. Through events beyond its control it may well have found one – to rebuild Britain’s defence and security and, in doing so, redefine our country’s role in the world.
'Trump's presidency is a brutal application of raw political power – but one we have to engage with' - LabourList
No one can say they weren’t warned. Yet even seasoned politicos in Washington DC have been left stunned by the first weeks of the Trump Presidency and its brutal application of raw political power. It was Steve Bannon, the alt-right cheerleader and chief of staff in Trump’s first administration, who articulated a plan for an incoming administration to “flood the zone” with initiatives and announcements to destabilise and confuse opponents, particularly the media.
Lessons from the US on combating mass incarceration
The writer, a former Home Office special adviser and Director of HM Courts & Tribunal Service, is a strategy consultant in Washington DC...
'Trump's inauguration heralds profound change for America and the world'
Donald Trump will today be sworn in as America’s 47th President inside the same Capitol Building violently stormed by his supporters just four years ago seeking to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election. It marks a historic moment for America and for the world, and an extraordinary political and personal comeback for a man whose MAGA-controlled Republican Party not only occupies the White House in November but now has majorities in both the House of Representatives and Senate too.
'US election post-mortem: What went wrong for Kamala Harris – and what happens next?' - LabourList
There were tears shed, a crushing sense of disappointment and an outpouring of love among the thousands of Harris supporters gathered at Washington’s Howard University to hear its most famous former student formally concede defeat. It was an emotional occasion for the candidate too.
'As Trump returns to the White House, the Western centre-left will need to do some soul searching'
It’s all over for Kamala Harris. The task for the Vice President to overhaul the leads Donald Trump has built in the blue wall swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin is now too great. The mood in the Democrat camp is despondent and Cedric Richmond, the party’s co-chair, has already announced to the remaining faithful gathered at Howard University in Washington DC that Harris will not be making any public comments until the morning.
US election: 'As midnight approaches in DC, the Democrats are growing nervous'
As expected it’s very close, too close to call. But any hope that the last few days was seeing a surge of support heading back to Kamala Harris has not materialised. It’s 11pm in Washington DC and Democrats are nervous. The optimism of the last 48 hours has been replaced by a combination of desperate hope and fear as the votes continue to come in across the country. Donald Trump is performing well, and better than in 2020.
'We have the momentum': Kamala Harris makes final pitch as America goes to the polls
“We will win!” was Kamala Harris’s upbeat and confident rallying cry to her supporters at her final campaign stop on the eve of this historic, knife-edge election campaign. Thousands upon thousands of people had queued for up to five hours in a cool autumn evening to attend the event held in the shadow of the famous “Rocky steps” of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
'This US election matter more than any in 80 years – the stakes could not be higher' - LabourList
In barely 24 hours, the most closely fought and consequential US election of modern times will be over. No one knows what its outcome will be. But the stakes for America, for Britain and for the world could not be higher. It has been an extraordinary campaign.
The US-UK special relationship will survive Labour involvement in this election Original
The news that 100 or so volunteers from Britain’s ruling Labour Party were heading to America to knock on doors for Vice President Kamala Harris created a lot of noise on both sides of the Atlantic. Elon Musk — a man who has created $1 million sweepstakes to register voters in swing states in order to boost the Republican vote — told his 60 million followers on X that it was illegal, and last week the Trump campaign filed an FEC complaint claiming foreign interference.
Birmingham-Based WPR Appoints Former Agency MD as Senior PR Director
Birmingham-based PR agency WPR, which was recently crowned ‘Best Agency Outside of London’ at the PRWeek Awards 2024, has announced the appointment of a new senior PR director, Shannon Peerless, in line with the agency’s exciting momentum. Shannon has joined the agency’s consumer PR team after almost 16 years with her former agency, 10 Yetis, where she rose through the ranks from her junior PR position in 2008, to the role of head of PR by 2014, before becoming managing director in 2019.
'Trump's Labour row is faux outrage. It won't hurt UK-US relations if he wins'
I’m not usually inclined to be too positive about the Trump Presidential election campaign. But I can only admire the brilliance of those that came up with the plan to exploit the story about Labour volunteers travelling to the US to campaign for Kamala Harris. In what is more a “redcoat” than a “deadcat” strategy, the Republican campaign have filed a complaint to the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) accusing the “far-left Labour Party” of “blatant foreign interference”.
Birmingham PR Agency Named Best PR Agency Outside London
Birmingham-based PR and social media agency WPR has been named best PR agency outside London at the PRWeek Awards 2024. The awards, widely known as the most prestigious in the PR and communications sector, reward the best talent and work from the UK’s marketing and media industry, with a judging process renowned for being robust and rigorous. WPR won the best agency outside London accolade in recognition of its enviable client list and strong people, purpose and planet ethos.
'Keirmala - Could a US election win for Harris yield a new special relationship?' - LabourList
If the current polls are right and the swing states break to the Democrats, Keir Starmer will be calling Kamala Harris on the morning of November 6 to congratulate her as the 47th President of the United States. Such a scenario – and one that few dare to predict at this stage – raises the intriguing prospect of two newly elected progressive leaders, one in the White House and the other in Downing Street, together in power for at least four years or more.
Birmingham-Based Alwayse Engineering Partners with Rapid Racking to Enhance Custom Storage Solutions
Birmingham-based Alwayse Engineering Ltd has entered a strategic partnership with Rapid Racking Ltd, the UK’s leading specialist in shelving and racking solutions, to integrate its precision range of ball transfer units into custom tables for roll-on/roll-off capability. This collaboration between the two UK businesses aims to reduce the risk of physical strain and fatigue for warehousing and logistics workers when loading and unloading shelves, particularly when handling heavy items.
2024 US election: 'Is Harrismania a honeymoon, or can she really win?'
The Democratic convention in Chicago proved to be a gathering in the great revivalist tradition of America with thousands of the party’s political representatives, delegates, supporters and stars converging to proclaim and celebrate their faith in Kamala Harris. The uplifting atmosphere was, for many of those there, infectious and intoxicating with heady talk of Harris’s candidacy for the Presidency becoming an unstoppable popular movement that will sweep her to victory in November.
'Kamala Harris' honeymoon will be brief – the challenges facing her are huge' - LabourList
With all potential rivals declaring their support for her nomination within hours of Joe Biden’s dramatic announcement on Sunday, Kamala Harris already looks a racing certainty to be crowned the Democratic Presidential candidate at the party’s convention in Chicago next month.
'Whatever happens to Joe Biden, Keir Starmer faces an American challenge'
This Thursday, Americans across the country will be enjoying Independence Day with fireworks, barbecues and parties. We can be confident that the festivities will not be punctuated by breaking news from Warrington South, Norwich North or Doncaster Central. The truth is that the British general election campaign has barely registered in the US at all. There has been little or no reference to it on the mainstream TV news channels.
Britain’s Labor poised to end the Conservatives’ 14-year rule
Three weeks in and the British election campaign is playing out as an epic blunder for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that threatens to redraw the UK political map for a generation. Sunak believed his surprise decision last month to call an election on July 4, months before it needed to take place, would catch his political opponents off guard and give him and his ruling Conservative Party the chance to reverse months of poor poll ratings.
'Why Labour is right to hedge its bets on the US elections'
It’s now just six months before Americans go to the polls to choose their next President. But predicting the election outcome feels like trying to make sense of Alice’s crazy adventures in Wonderland. Just as one set of polling data points in one direction, so another comes along telling you directly the opposite – and the constant swirl of anecdotes, commentary and opinion throws up a multitude of conflicting versions of how the next six months will pan out.
'The left should be very afraid of what a second Trump term might bring'
A Trump victory in November will not only pose a serious threat to a newly-elected Labour government’s ambitions on foreign policy, trade and climate change. It will also embolden the populist right internationally, not least in the UK itself.
'Why Trump, Ukraine and Europe could define Starmer's time in power'
Liz Truss was at least right about one thing in her embarrassingly obsequious speech to the gathering of the Trumpian vanguard at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held just outside Washington DC last week. It is that the Western alliance and the values of freedom and democracy that underpin it are under the greatest threat they have faced for more than a generation.
United Kingdom
New Atlanticist Jul 11, 2024 UK foreign secretary: Why NATO remains core to British security By David Lammy With a return of war to Europe and security threats rising, strengthening Britain’s relationships with its closest allies is firmly in the national interest, writes UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
'Labour has looked to Biden for ideas. Could he also have learnt from Starmer?'
Among the unlikeliest of the 16,000 basketball fans that filed into the Capital One Arena in Washington DC on a freezing Monday evening last month to cheer on the local Wizards against the Detroit Pistons were a group of seven of Labour’s top parliamentary candidates.
'Biden’s approval rating struggles hold lessons for Starmer and Reeves' - LabourList
The Labour leadership has warmly embraced “Bidenomics” as the inspiration and proof point for its own economic and industrial plans in the UK. Yet their praise for US policy is not one shared by American voters. Recent polling here in the US shows that six out of ten people disapprove of the President’s performance and have a deeply pessimistic view about their country’s economic future.
'A Trump win is far from unthinkable. Labour must plan for that eventuality' - LabourList
Look away now if you are of a nervous disposition. With less than one year to go before the US election, opinion polls show Donald Trump ahead in key swing states and well placed to return to power as the next President of the United States. This has sent jittery Democrats into deep soul-searching about whether Joe Biden, 82 next year, is the best candidate to lead the party – and poses a significant challenge to a future Labour government under Keir Starmer.
What Is Wiperware? 10 FAQs
Wiperware, or wiper malware, is a disturbing evolution in cyber warfare that takes no prisoners—not even your data. Attacks attributed to this new, highly destructive form of malware include an Iranian train system attack in 2021 that caused “unprecedented chaos.” But while chaos is the goal, not money, there are things your organization can do to keep that chaos at bay. Here are 10 questions about this novel malware and some tips to stay safe. 1.
Elevate Your Storage Experience with Pure Storage Advanced Services
In today’s fast-paced business environment, having a reliable and efficient data storage solution is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and data integrity. The goal of our Advanced Services is to build a strategic partnership to help you extract maximum value from your storage investment. Whether you’re implementing Pure as a new solution, migrating from an existing one, or optimizing your current environment, Pure Storage’s team of experts is dedicated to ensuring your success.
The EU Data Act: Driving Telco Innovation with Data
On March 14, 2023, the European Parliament adopted draft legislation for the EU Data Act, focusing primarily on the access, portability, and sharing of data, and seeking to regulate how users, third parties, and the public sector can access personal and non-personal data. According to the lead Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Pilar del Castillo Vera (EPP, ES), the Data Act “will be an absolute game changer, providing access to an almost infinite amount of high-quality industrial data.
European Union
Issue Brief Oct 18, 2023 Designing a US-EU industrial and trade policy By Erik Brattberg, Frances Burwell, Jörn Fleck, Charles Lichfield, Zach Meyers, James Batchik, and Emma Nix Both sides of the Atlantic are confronting the geopolitical necessity of adapting trade and industrial policies to be fit for purpose in an increasingly competitive world.
Andrew McDonald obituary
When the MPs’ expenses scandal exploded in 2009, my friend Andrew McDonald, who has died aged 59 after a long illness, was charged with clearing up the mess. As the first chief executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), he played a leading role in creating and implementing a new set of rules, removing parliament’s self-policing role and introducing greater transparency.
Treasury considers Infrastructure Bank
Economic secretary Ian Pearson this week said he was seriously considering setting up a bank to drive investment in infrastructure. The idea for such a body has been heavily promoted by the ICE and the Treasury is considering establishing it under the wing of its Infrastructure UK (IUK) arm. IUK is being established to plan and develop national infrastructure over the coming 50 years.
Using social proof to help people choose your brand
by Ed Owen | Head of programme content, The IDM | January 07, 2019 Our surroundings and the behaviour of those around us have a powerful influence on our behaviour. In his book Influence, Robert Caldini gives the example of the laughter tracks you hear on lamer sitcoms or comedies. You have probably wondered why some comedies have the laughter track, particularly when the show is not very funny. Caldini gives three reasons.
Obey these rules on writing from David Ogilvy
Content marketers don’t just need to recognise good writing – we should be able to produce it too David Ogilvy was one of the original Madison Avenue set. He was also very keen on what has recently been labelled the ‘listicle’, numbered lists of advice. Originally from England, Ogilvy followed a route typical of novelists or spies, going to Edinburgh for school, and then Oxford for university, although he didn’t graduate. Instead he moved to Paris to work in the kitchens of the Majestic Hotel.
Cystic Fibrosis Trust’s clarification of Cohen and Raftery’s article on cystic fibrosis drug development
Owen Ed. Cystic Fibrosis Trust’s clarification of Cohen and Raftery’s article on cystic fibrosis drug development BMJ 2014; 348 :g1849
Purplebricks UK reviewed by Ed Owen
Thank you for taking the time to share your review Ed. We place our customers at the heart of everything that we do and pride ourselves on bring open and honest; I am really sorry that you did not feel the payment options were made clear to you and that you experienced issues with your accompanied viewings. I am currently looking into your concerns in further detail and would like to contact you to discuss your experience in further detail.
Communisis lands £10m contract for Everything Everywhere
Everything Everywhere has handed Communisis the three-year production contract for point of sale, direct mail and print for the Orange, T-Mobile and Everything Everywhere brands, estimated at £10m per year. Communisis already holds T-Mobile's contract, and this move consolidates the work across all three brands to a single agency. Communisis will supply point of sale, publications and outdoor media for all three brands.
native ads and content need clear 'advertorial' branding
The guidelines put native ads firmly in the same category as advertorials, and are designed to help consumers distinguish between editorial and paid content. According to the IAB and PwC, native and content adspend, including paid-for sponsorships, advertisement features and in-feed distribution, hit £216 million in the first half of 2014, more than one-fifth (21 per cent) of display adspend. Media owners like BuzzFeed have abandoned display ads entirely in favour of native advertising or content.
IAB publishes first native ad guidelines
The guidelines put native ads firmly in the same category as advertorials, and are designed to help consumers distinguish between editorial and paid content. According to the IAB and PwC, native and content adspend, including paid-for sponsorships, advertisement features and in-feed distribution, hit £216 million in the first half of 2014, more than one-fifth (21 per cent) of display adspend. Media owners like BuzzFeed have abandoned display ads entirely in favour of native advertising or content.
Good Housekeeping kicks off digital assault
Hearst Magazines UK’s venerable Good Housekeeping recently leapfrogged Condé Nast’s Glamour to become the best-selling woman’s title, but its ambitions do not stop there. Good Housekeeping is one of a clutch of brands to have bucked the downward trend in print over the past decade, with average monthly sales in excess of 400,000 copies. In a digitally led era, it’s notable that sales are overwhelmingly for the print product.
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