A former regional daily editor who quit his job earlier this year is to head up the Conservative Party’s media operation in the European Parliament.
John Furbisher, pictured, left Sheffield daily The Star in March after 15 months as acting editor and then editor.
Now the former Sunday Times journalist has landed a new role as head of media for the UK’s Conservative group in the European Parliament.
John is expected to take up the Brussels-based post next month.
He said: “Politics was my first love in journalism, so this is the perfect opportunity to deploy the skills and experience I built up in newspapers in a fresh and challenging arena.
“Our Conservative MEPs are part of a new and exciting grouping in Brussels and they’ll be campaigning strongly on key issues that affect us all. I’m looking forward to joining them and getting stuck in to put across their important message.”
The role, which was advertised on HoldtheFrontPage, will involve managing press liaison and helping to shape regional and national media strategy for the Conservative leadership and MEPs.
Before taking up his role at The Star, John edited the Evening Courier, Halifax, for six years and is also a former deputy editor of the Yorkshire Post and northern correspondent of the Sunday Times.
John’s old job in Sheffield has now gone to Jeremy Clifford, formerly editor of the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, who had been standing in there since shortly after John’s departure.
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The only thing I want to come out of Brussels is news that the UK is leaving the EU.
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Unlike Subbo, I sincerely wish we could make the EU work and be at the heart of it, but it’s highly unlikely with the current Tory grouping in Brussels. However, my worry is this: Does Mr Furbisher realise what truly ugly allies that Tory group has? Neo-Nazis in Hungary, extreme right in Poland and the Czech Republic? And if he’s happy with that, what’s been running the Star and the Courier?
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So it’s the Tory Group who are to blame for people’s dissillusionment with the European Union
Not that the EU is so-out-of-touch that it;
– simply replays referendums it loses to get the results
– Asks for a budget rise this year of 6%!
– builds a £280m HQ
– Spends £8m on PR for it’s ‘Foreign Office’ last year
The way the political elite could connect with the voters again is if they actual listen to them on issues like this!
OUT, OUT, OUT
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