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Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive

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9:24 am, October 15, 2009
Sir Howard Bernstein ‘lined up for peerage by Tories'

By Simon Binns

Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council, is being lined up for a life peerage by the Conservative Party, according to a report in trade publication PR Week.

The report said senior lobbyists within the party were aware of “advanced discussions” regarding a list of 20 potential life peers.

A public affairs agency, Mandate Communications, claims it obtained the information through discussions with Tory MPs and advisers at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester last week.

PR Week said Mandate's list included former Tory Prime Minister Sir John Major, Marks & Spencer chairman Stuart Rose and TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp.

Mandate's public affairs managing director Fiona Mason told PR Week: “David Cameron is keen to bring to the fore a range of policy and technical experts who have stronger knowledge of the wider world than many of his MPs. Some of the new Tory peers are poised to take on ministerial posts; others will be even more influential, sitting at the back of the red benches.

Manchester CIty Council declined to comment although a source close to Sir Howard said the story had caused "much amusement" within the Town Hall.

Comments?sbinns@crain.com