Wes has worked at the intersection of politics and business for more than twenty years, helping Prime Ministers, Chancellors, CEOs and Chairs navigate the most difficult of issues. At Edelman he helps clients safeguard and enhance their reputations and businesses while they navigate the increasingly complex political environment.
In his career, Wes has advised Gordon Brown when he was UK Prime Minster, was the Government Special Adviser on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs issues, was Head of Public Affairs for the Financial Conduct Authority (the UK’s financial services regulator) and was Director of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Before the 2024 General Election he worked directly with a number of now Cabinet Ministers to prepare their plans for government.
Wes has a wide-range of policy experience, including as lead author of the Woolard Review into Unsecured Credit which set out a pathway to a sustainable credit market, as a lead member of the UK political team preparing for UN Climate Change CoP meetings and helping the Labour Party prepare its economic approach in the run up to the last General Election.
At Edelman, Wes works with blue-chip, FTSE 100 firms to manage difficult conversations with government, explain M&As to political stakeholders and handle the fall out of transatlantic trade issues. He also supports senior leaders through moments where they interact with the political world, including through select committee hearings and public appointments.
Wes is a contributor to the definitive academic study of the 2017 and 2019 General Election. He appears in the media regularly including on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky News. He has a degree in politics from Durham University.