People’s Vote staff on strike in an attempt to oust new chief executive
The People’s Vote offices have been left virtually empty today after staff went on strike to oppose the current leadership.
A staffer told City A.M. that 40 permanent staff of the organisation will not return to work under new chief executive Patrick Heneghan, after they voted no confidence in him and his millionaire backer Roland Rudd during a fiery meeting yesterday.
Heneghan – a former Labour election strategist – responded by threatening to fire all 40 staff if they did not go back to work.
It is believed only two-to-three staff members went into work and that the rest of the staff won’t return unless Heneghan is removed from his position.
A People’s Vote staffer told City A.M: “Heneghan is now sending around emails to individual members of staff demanding they attend meetings with him or do specific pieces of work.
“We are refusing to cooperate with him as he’s not a suitable or appropriate person to lead the organisation.
“We have zero trust in him and he’s got to go.”
An internal row erupted into the open this week after PR tycoon, and Open Britain chairman, Roland Rudd sacked two senior campaign figures and hired Heneghan.
Open Britain is one of five parent organisations to the People’s Vote campaign and Rudd’s company handles staff contracts.
However, campaign staffers are furious that Heneghan was installed as chief exeuctive and branded the move as a coup.
Sacked chief of communications for People’s Vote Tom Baldwin said Rudd was trying to re-position the organisation as a Liberal Deomcrat vehicle – a claim Rudd has denied.
The row has sparked furious comment from other prominent People’s Vote campaigners, such as former Labour communications chief Alastair Campbell.
Campbell said Rudd had “no right” to force out senior members of stuff.
He said: “Rudd has been engaged close to full time in boardroom politics, a board which with few exceptions has done little for the campaign.”
Rudd told the BBC yesterday that he would be appointing new senior staff for People’s Vote over the coming days.
Rudd and Heneghan were contacted for comment.