Following last week’s political gaffe that sparked fear of an oncoming petrol crisis, and panic buying reminiscent of the year 2,000. Richard Sambrook hosts a discussion with Stefan Stern, Director of Strategy, Sarah Richardson from Edelman’s Public Affairs team, and Scott Thomson who advises on crisis and issues management.

So how did it all go wrong? Could the coalition government have improved their communications with the media? And when communication errors arise, what methods help to reduce impact?

We’d love to hear your thoughts, how do you think the government should have reacted? Comment directly on the track above, or in our comments field below.

If you would like to know more about the topics covered please contact any of the speakers below.

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Podcast participants:

	Chair: Richard Sambrook, Global Vice Chairman and Chief Content Officer, Edelman Richard is Global Vice Chairman and Chief Content Officer for Edelman where he takes a strategic lead on developing media content for clients and heads the crisis and issues practice. Previously he was a 30 year veteran of BBC News where most recently he was Director of Global News, responsible for radio TV and digital services for 230 million people each week.
	Chair: Stefan Stern, Director of Strategy, Edelman Stefan has been writing and commenting on business and management for the past two decades. He wrote the Financial Times’s management column for over four years before joining Edelman in August 2010 as its new Director of Strategy. In October he was appointed Visiting Professor in management practice at the Cass business school.
	Sarah Richardson, Director, Edelman Sarah joined Edelman’s Public Affairs Practice in December 2009 after a career combining politics with journalism. She continues to write for the Evening Standard on education and the public sector and to serve as a Westminster City Councillor where she was a Cabinet Member for five years. Sarah was a Conservative Parliamentary candidate at the 2005 UK General Election and stood for the European Parliament in 2004 and 2009.
	Scott Thomson, Deputy Managing Director, Edelman Scott is the UK lead and coordinator for Europe of Edelman’s global crisis network. In this role he delivers crisis preparedness and training services and has provided counsel and support to clients on crisis assignments ranging from product recalls in the FMCG, electronics and healthcare sectors, to legal proceedings against commercial, academic and third sector institutions, and labour union disputes in the textiles and manufacturing sectors.

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