Founding Partner @manaraglobal | Ex comms strategist @10DowningStreet who oversaw the UK Govt Grid 11-17 | PR Week PowerBook Middle East |Views are my own.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Joined January 2013
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A dejavu moment, I was back again discussing the Conservative Party leadership election with @sallylockwood on Sky News. We need a Govt delivering boring competence. Big risk to the Party is people feeling fed up and it’s time for a change, which will be good news for Labour. – at Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Britain has become exceptionally good at changing leaders. It has become far less clear about where it is going.
Britain has had six prime ministers in the decade since the Brexit referendum. By comparison, the country had only four prime ministers during the previous 26 years between Margaret Thatcher's departure in 1990 and David Cameron's resignation in 2016.
The question is whether leadership churn is solving Britain's problems or obscuring a deeper challenge around direction, delivery and public legitimacy.
My latest piece for @TheNationalNews explores why Britain's political debate may be focusing on the wrong question.
thenationalnews.com/opinion/…
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Businesses that fear change are businesses that fear progress.
Let’s be honest: change is hard.
It’s uncomfortable.
It challenges what we know.
But here’s the truth: businesses don’t thrive by avoiding discomfort; they grow by navigating it.
#BusinessSuccess #business #Leadership
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As Ramadan begins, I want to wish everyone observing - here in the UAE and beyond - Ramadan Kareem.
A time for reflection, discipline, and connection. A chance to reset, focus on what truly matters, and give back.
May this month bring you clarity, strength, and moments of connection with those who matter most.
#RamadanKareem #Ramadan
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After just 176 days since the Labour govt was elected with a very healthy majority, this poll by @JLPartnersPolls is alarming and astonishing in equal measure.
NEW: @JLPartnersPolls POLARIS model forecast in The Sunday Times shows Reform surging to 71 seats
🔴 LAB 256 (-155)
🔵 CON 208 (+87)
🟣 REF 71 (+66)
🟡 LDEM 66 (-6)
The new model uses real elections to forecast, and was highly predictive in ‘19 and ‘24.
Links in next tweet.
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British PM @Keir_Starmer will visit the #UAE this week to strengthen Gulf trade ties.
Starmer will fly to UAE on Sunday and attend talks on Monday morning.
He will then travel to #SaudiArabia for discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
thenationalnews.com/news/uk/…
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A new ministry for family affairs has been formed today in the #UAE to empower families, strengthen their cohesion and stability.
Its main job will be developing and implementing policies, strategies, legislation, and initiatives related to the following:
▶️ Working to build stable and cohesive families and enhance the role of the family in proper upbringing.
▶️ Proposing policies and initiatives to increase fertility rates among citizen families.
▶️ Reducing the risks of family breakdown and its negative effects on individuals, families, and society.
▶️ Preparing couples for marriage, encouraging them, and equipping them to form cohesive and connected families, as well as organizing and managing marriage support programmes and grants.
▶️ Developing parenting skills and promoting work-life balance for families.
▶️ Caring for, protecting, and ensuring the well-being of children by securing their social, psychological, educational, health, and developmental rights.
▶️ Protecting, caring for, empowering, and integrating vulnerable and at-risk groups in society.
▶️ Regulating and licensing institutions and centres that provide social programmes and services.
▶️ Preparing and training personnel in the social sector and licensing professionals in this field.
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The UAE has been ranked 5th on the Global Vibrancy Tool 2024, indicating its position as a #AI leader.
This reflects a deliberate strategy by the UAE to invest in research, infrastructure, & innovation.
The tool by @StanfordHAI evaluates 36 countries across 42 AI-specific indicators.
Top 10 countries:
1️⃣ 🇺🇸 #USA
2️⃣ 🇨🇳 #China
3️⃣ 🇬🇧 #UK
4️⃣ 🇮🇳 #India
5️⃣ 🇦🇪 #UAE
6️⃣ 🇫🇷 #France
7️⃣ 🇰🇷 #SouthKorea
8️⃣ 🇩🇪 #Germany
9️⃣ 🇯🇵 #Japan
🔟 🇸🇬 #Singapore
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. @MishalHusain will be missed… but wow 11 years of 3.30am alarm calls is a good innings - that’s resilience for sure
Mishal Husain to step down from BBC Radio 4’s #r4today show
thetimes.com/article/b8ee5af…
Pavement riders beware! Your reign of terror is over…
“…police would get the power to seize e-scooters being ridden on pavements”
Yvette Cooper’s ‘respect orders’ signal return of the Asbo
thetimes.com/article/b68b952…
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Astonishing that #Substack is not profitable - meanwhile top Substack writers and creators have thrived. In the #politics and #news categories, more than 30 publishers earn at least $1 million annually.
nytimes.com/2024/11/18/busin…
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From a comms perspective, Miliband does a good job of making the #energy transition relatable. Instead of focusing solely on #climate targets, he talks about energy security, lower bills, and good jobs - all issues that matter to people’s daily lives.
economist.com/britain/2024/1…
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Someone we’ll see plenty of on our screens from January onwards: Karoline Leavitt.
At 27, she’ll be the youngest White House press secretary in history under #Trump. A high-pressure role - Trump’s first term saw 4 press secretaries come & go.
nytimes.com/2024/11/15/us/po…
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A senior economic adviser to U.S. President-elect Donald #Trump, has urged the #UK to align its trade policies with the US rather than the EU, criticizing the EU for having a “socialist model.”
So, where should Britain place its bets—#US or #EU?
🧵
thetimes.com/article/0c35f57…
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Trump’s economic vision includes steep tariffs on imports:
▶️ 10%-20% universal tariffs on all imported goods.
▶️ Up to 60% on Chinese imports.
▶️ Potential 20% tariffs on EU goods, hitting cars, aerospace, and more.
This creates a tough environment for global #trade.
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Recruiters are seeing a surge in interest from #UK professionals eyeing a move to the #UAE, driven by tax-free incomes and better career prospects.
It’s a reminder of how the UAE continues to attract top global talent looking for opportunity and a better quality of life.
▶️ thenationalnews.com/business…
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Thank you @dannyrogers2001 and all of the @prweekuknews team for this. Truly appreciate it and a a real honour to make the line up again this year.
#PRWeekPowerBook #MiddleEast
Manara Global’s founding partners, Teri O'Donnell and Robin Gordon-Farleigh, have been recognised as among the top communication professionals in the Middle East in PRWeek UK PowerBook 2024.
This recognition reflects our commitment to impactful, strategic communications across the region. Our founders’ dedication to building a forward-thinking, client-centred agency continues to drive our success.
Congratulations to the team for making this possible and everyone recognised in this year’s PowerBook.
Thank you to @dannyrogers2001 and the @prweekuknews team.
#PRWeek #PowerBook #UAE #AbuDhabi #Dubai #MiddleEast
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Good to chat with @MattChorley to talk all things No10 Grid on @bbc5live.
When the Grid works well it is setting and shaping the agenda strategically from the centre, grip and discipline delivering the narrative again and again. No surprises derailing you and delivering competent govt.
On @bbc5live
@ChrisMasonBBC on 50 shades of Gray
@RobinG_F on the Grid
@janemerrick23 & @LOS_Fisher on first day of term
And at 3pm…
🇺🇸 AMERICANSWERS
@BBCsarahsmith @awzurcher @mariannaspring @JustinOnWeb
Reputation and effective communication have become non-negotiable priorities for any forward-thinking CEO.
#Reputation is everything, and nowhere is this more accurate than #Dubai, a hub of international business and innovation.
The question to Dubai CEO’s is not whether you can afford to invest in #PR, but whether you can afford not to.
manaraglobal.com/in-focus-ne…
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