LONDON — PLMR has strengthened its senior public affairs advisory offer with the appointments of Anne Milton as an advisor and Leon Emirali as senior political counsellor.

Milton (pictured) joins PLMR – PRovoke Media’s EMEA public affairs agency of the year – after 14 years as an MP, from 2005-2019. During her political career, she held a number of ministerial roles, including in the UK’s Department of Health and the Department for Education.

She also spent time as the Minister for Women in the Government Equalities Office and was Government deputy chief whip from 2015 to 2017. Since leaving parliament, Milton has advised on health and skills policy. On joining PLMR she said: “The agency has a great track record of delivering outstanding work for its clients, including in areas I know well, in particular health and social care, education, skills and lifelong learning. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience with the team and working with PLMR’s clients.”

Emirali joins PLMR following a period advising MP Steve Barclay – this week named as the new UK health secretary – during his time as secretary of state for Exiting the European Union and chief secretary to the Treasury, during one of the most fast-moving and complex periods in recent British political history.

The senior advisory team within PLMR’s public affairs practice, under the leadership of Simon Darby, also includes managing director Ollie Lane (former adviser to secretaries of state Michael Gove and Liz Truss); advisor Gavin Devine; and head of media training Shannon Stewart, a former adviser to the New Zealand government). The practice advises clients across the UK regions, in sectors including health and social care, energy, education and skills, technology, the built environment and professional services.

Darby said: “We are all thrilled to be welcoming Anne and Leon into the PLMR team as members of our dynamic and successful public affairs practice. Anne and Leon’s experience, added to our digital and regional offering, will enable us to remain at the forefront of the public affairs sector.”