Ukip has announced that BBC political producer Paul Lambert will be the party’s new Director of Communications. Ukip has offered the job to various prominent figures but it has not been filled full-time since Patrick O’Flynn, another media defector, was elected as an MEP in May.
Lambert is one of the most well-known journalists in Westminster, usually found outside Downing Street heckling ministers with awkward questions, hence his nickname of Gobby.
Bringing in an experienced Westminster journalist like Lambert is another sign that Ukip are attempting to beef up and professionalise their media operation. It’s unlikely Lambert would allow ill-conveived events like the Ukip Carnival to take place.
In a statement, Lambert said he believes ‘Ukip is today the place to be if you want to be a part of a party that is changing the face of British politics for the better, and providing a new, clear and honest voice’:
‘Over the past few years I have been following the work of UKIP and Nigel Farage and I feel that he is changing British politics for the better. I am delighted to be able to add my experience to his team. He has been one of the best, most hardworking and most normal political figures I have worked with, and trust me I have seen the lot’
Nigel Farage said today he believes Lambert will fit into Ukip ‘like a glove’:
‘I am delighted to welcome Paul to our team. Knowing him, and how effective he has always been in getting his message across he will fit UKIP like a glove. Drive, passion, hard work, honesty and immense good humor are the hallmarks of Paul. It’ll be fun working with him’
It’ll also be interesting to see whether the party’s relationship with the Beeb improves following their new hire — on Friday for example, Farage accused a BBC journalist of selective quoting over his breastfeeding remarks:
.@RebeccaKeating Selective quotations from the Beeb?Here’s the statement in full for your followers who expect better pic.twitter.com/9JOf1DJggg
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) December 5, 2014
P.S. If you want to know more about Gobby, this BBC package explains what his old job entailed:
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