Tim Allan | |
|---|---|
| Downing Street Director of Communications | |
| Assumed office 3 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | James Lyons and Steph Driver |
| Advisor to Tony Blair | |
| In office 1992 to 1998 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Timothy Neil Allan |
| Party | Labour |
| Occupation | Public relations consultant |
Timothy Neil Allan is a British public relations consultant, former board member of the anti-transgender organization Sex Matters, and a former advisor to Tony Blair from 1992 to 1998.[1] He founded and managed Portland Communications, which he grew to be one of the leading public affairs consultancies in London, England.[2][3]
He is reported to have sold a majority stake in Portland in April 2012 to US marketing services company Omnicom for £20 million.[4]
Education
[edit]He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Godalming Sixth Form College, and Pembroke College, Cambridge (B.A., 1992).[5]
Allan completed an MBA at Insead in 2000.[6]
Career
[edit]Allan started his political advisor role as a researcher for Tony Blair in opposition as shadow home secretary. He then became deputy press secretary for Blair when he became leader of the Labour Party in 1994. From 1997 he was deputy director of communications at 10 Downing Street, reporting to Alastair Campbell.[2]
Between 1998 and 2001, he was director of corporate communications at BSkyB.[4]
Allan founded public relations consultancy Portland in 2001. The Guardian reported that the consultancy launched on the back of a contract from then BSkyB chief executive Tony Ball, who had previously been Allan's boss.[4] In April 2012, Allan was reported to have sold a majority stake in Portland to media marketing company Omnicom, for an estimated £20 million.[3]
Allan served as chair of the Young Foundation between 2012 and 2016.[7][8]
He also served as board member of the anti-transgender organization[9] Sex Matters up until his appointment as executive director of government communications in September 2025.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Allan, Tim (2 October 2010). "An open letter to Ed Miliband: 'If you bury the lessons of New Labour you will bury the party'". The Observer. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ a b Singleton, David (13 May 2009). "Profile: Tim Allan, MD, Portland". PR Week UK. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ a b "Omnicom Acquires Majority Stake In UK Firm Portland". PRovoke Media. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Tim Allan to sell majority stake in Portland to Omnicom in £20m deal". the Guardian. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ "Allan, Timothy Neil, Managing Director, Portland, since 2001". Who's Who. 1 December 2014. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U274612. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - ^ "Tim Allan Office". Tim Allan Office. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Portland MD Tim Allan to chair The Young Foundation". PR Week. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "The Young Foundation: Report and Financial Statements". Charity Commission for England and Wales. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ McLean, Anna; Stretesky, Paul B. (2025). "The Influence of Authoritarian Beliefs on Support for Transgender Rights in the UK". Sociology Compass. 19 (7) e70088. doi:10.1111/soc4.70088. eISSN 1751-9020.
A veritable miasma of anti-trans campaign groups have wafted in to public discourse in recent years. These have included, but are not limited to, Authentic Equity Alliance, CitizenGo, FiLiA, Fair Play for Women, Get the L Out, Keep Prisons Single Sex, Lesbian Rights Alliance, LGB Alliance, MayDay4Women, Object!, Safe Schools Alliance, Sex Matters, Transgender Trend, and Woman's Place UK. Although the ostensible focus of these groups is varied, they are united in their antipathy toward transgender people.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (3 September 2025). "'A class act': Tim Allan, the former Blair 'smoother' recalled to Downing Street". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
External links
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