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Messages from the archive of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist
WhatsApp to Stephen: Do you think we need a Manchester office?
WhatsApp to Stephen: No, I know that we don’t, obviously. But Andy Burnham is setting up a Northern No 10 in Manchester — it’s probably just so he can work from home on Mondays — but it might look good to show we are with the programme. Anyway, I’ve got to speak to the London Climate Action Week guys you got me helping for next to nothing.
WhatsApp to Stephen: Their main event will be a nightmare. A stuffy university room in the middle of a heatwave. Actually, hold that thought.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: Jane. I’ve had a brainwave. Well more of a heatwave.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: OK. I admit I was hoping for a bit more enthusiasm. Look, I know you don’t like cancelling events and obviously we are all excited to hear professor whatshisname. But we need to ride the news wave. Far more people will listen to you if it doesn’t take place. Cancelling speakers is in fact the very best way to be heard.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: No, cancelling is not us not talking about it. It’s us getting everyone else to talk about it. Your way gets us 50 academics who already agree with each other in a boiling room with red wine the temperature of coffee. My way gets us on every news bulletin and doubles the attendance at the rescheduled meeting. It could soar into the dozens. And the experts have to condense their arguments to a 30-second soundbite for TV. That’s a win for the planet.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: Yes some people will be laughing but you will also be ramming your point home at the same time.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: Great. I’ll send you a press release.
Press release: Extreme weather cancels extreme heat climate event
It was literally too hot to save the planet this week. London Climate Action Week had been due to host an event with some of the best known and most highly regarded environment experts. Entitled Extreme Heat: Improving governance and strengthening action around the world.
It is with no sense of irony that we must postpone this event as temperature forecasts approach the hottest ever in London. With schools closing early and rail services disrupted, we do not want to risk attendees’ health in a venue not equipped for such heat. Sadly, what is true for our venue is true for much of the country. Britain is just not prepared for these temperatures. We have to take action.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: We’ll add quotes from the experts. We need to keep thinking of stunts like this. This is a cancel culture we can really use. The less we hear you speaking, the more support we can build. People get to hear our point without having to listen to a whole load of boring speeches. Let the real hot air do our talking for once.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: No, obviously I don’t think they are boring, I’m just saying some people might.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: The problem is everyone knows the arguments but they feel powerless, and rightwing politicians give them permission to oppose net zero. A heatwave gets their attention back. And the good news is this is going to keep happening.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: Well no obviously that’s not good news in a global sense. I was just thinking about the comms strategy. Things like this force people to listen and ask: “What are we doing?”
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: NO! Of course we don’t tell them. We find ways to do it again. Keep cancelling things till people are desperate to hear. What we need now is to look for heatwaves in other places, schedule meetings and cancel them too. If we get this right we can take our message global without anyone making another speech.
Are there other freak weather events? Can we schedule things we can cancel for flood risks, thunderstorms and so on? Of course, we’ll have to let the odd one happen. Something in Venice perhaps.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: How about a huge concert for the Earth, top stars — they’re achingly on message, they’ll give their time for free (pro Bono, as it were). And then we cancel because of the heat. Think of how much energy we save and rubbish we avoid.
WhatsApp to LondonClimateJane: Yes, there’s always the danger that it cools down suddenly and we have to listen to them all. But we are talking about the future of the planet here. That’s worth a few risks.
Messages recovered by Robert Shrimsley
