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."[1]
After his failure to guide the UK 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.[2] 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).
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Political career
In 1976, Crosby started his career as a market analyst with Golden Fleece Petroleum. 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.[3] Strategist James McGrath, picked by Crosby, was later dismissed by Johnson over alleged racist comments.[4][5]
Crosby was involved in setting up C|T Financial in 2006, an investor relations and financial communications specialist consultancy.
Tactics
Critics suggest Crosby plays what is called "wedge politics," where by 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.[1] To find such issues, Crosby's business partner Mark Textor runs focus groups to find which groups to target with what questions.[6]
Such tactics have included:
- In the run up to the 2001 Australian election, the Norweigan freighter Tampa carrying asylum seekers, was boarded by Australian forces and turned away. John Howard's role gained him support ahead of an election
- In London's 2008 mayoral campaign, Crosby targeted outer London Conservative leaning suburbs with a "doughnut strategy", capitalising on a feeling of detachment with the administration of Ken Livingstone who had focused on winning inner London areas.[7]
References
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (May 2008) (Find sources: Lynton Crosby – news, books, scholar) |
- ^ a b Brian Wheeler (2004-11-16). "Howard's wizard of Oz". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4000439.stm. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
- ^ Australian strategist to lead Libertas campaign. Irish Times, March 24, 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
- ^ Onward Tory soldiers - Times Online
- ^ London mayor sacks Australian over race jibe - World - smh.com.au
- ^ Boris Johnson adviser James McGrath sacked in race row | The Australian
- ^ Julian Glover (2008-05-02). "The Jeeves to Johnson's Bertie Wooster: the man who may have got him elected". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/02/london08.boris. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
- ^ Boris Johnson profile: Shambolic success story.
External links
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