That cake attack good news for all
4 February 2000
That cake attack — ‘good news for all’
By FWi staff
PUBLICITY guru Max Clifford says everyone has emerged a winner from the incident which saw a cream cake smeared on to the face of farm minister Nick Brown .
Mr Clifford was speaking after sometime environmental writer Birgit Cunningham assailed Mr Brown with a chocolate éclair during the National Farmers Union annual general meeting on Wednesday (02 February).
Almost every newspaper carried pictures of a bemused-looking Mr Brown trying to wipe the éclair from his face alongside shots of the glamorous Ms Cunningham.
Speaking on the Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Clifford said the public would now have more sympathy for Mr Brown, and farmers grievances had been given a higher profile.
He said an éclair was an excellent choice of cream cake for the protest, as chocolate would show up well against Mr Browns skin, making for a better photograph.
But Mr Clifford insisted he had played no role organising the patisserie protest.
Mr Clifford has been involved in exposing sleaze in Tory politicians and has handled media relations for many people involved in high-profile cases.
Recently Mr Clifford spoke for farmer Tony Martin, who has been charged with murder after a 16-year-old youth was shot at his Norfolk home during an attempted burglary.
Meanwhile, on the same programme, Ms Cunningham admitted she was not that keen on the countryside, despite claiming that the plight of farmers had inspired her action.
Describing herself as “quintessentially a city girl”, Ms Cunningham admitted she almost had a phobia for “mud and strange smells”.
Ms Cunningham is reported to have returned from the USA to set up an environmental public relations company.
- Brown attack – what the papers say, FWi, 03 February, 2000
- Brown rules out agrimonetary aid, FWi, 02 February, 2000
- Brown heckled at NFU conference, FWi, 02 February, 2000, 1999