Lynton Crosby

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."citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4000439.stm|title=Howard's wizard of Oz|author=Brian Wheeler|publisher=BBC News|date=2004-11-16|accessdate=2008-05-02]

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

He holds a degree in Economics from The University of Adelaide and in 2005 was awarded the Officer in the Order of Australia (AO).

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. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3868096.ece Onward Tory soldiers - Times Online ] ] Strategist James McGrath, picked by Crosby, was later dismissed by Johnson over racist comments. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/london-mayor-sacks-australian-over-race-jibe/2008/06/23/1214073123430.html London mayor sacks Australian over race jibe - World - smh.com.au ] ] [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23912301-26040,00.html Boris Johnson adviser James McGrath sacked in race row | The Australian ] ]

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 ruthless 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. [citeweb|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/02/london08.boris|title=The Jeeves to Johnson's Bertie Wooster: the man who may have got him elected|author=Julian Glover|publisher=The Guardian|date=2008-05-02|accessdate=2008-05-02]

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. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/boris_johnson/1921671/Boris-Johnson-profile-Shambolic-success-story.html Boris Johnson profile: Shambolic success story] .]

References

External links

* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,,1400369,00.html The Guardian profile: Lynton Crosby]
* [http://www.crosbytextor.com/ Crosby|Textor's website]
* [http://www.ctfinancial.com.au/ Crosby|Textor's Investor Relations affiliate, C|T Financial]
* [http://www.ctfinancial.co.uk/ C|T Financial's UK website]