People's Vote chaos continues as staff revolt against Roland Rudd and new chief executive
3 min read
The crisis-hit People's Vote campaign has been plunged into fresh chaos after staff staged a revolt against two of its senior executives.
A vote of no confidence was passed in Roland Rudd - who has sacked two of its top officials - and former Labour elections supremo Patrick Heneghan, the man he brought in to run the organisation.
The move came during an ill-tempered meeting which left some staff members in tears.
Mr Rudd has come in for intense criticism since announcing in an email on Sunday night that People's Vote director James McGrory and communications chief Tom Baldwin were being sacked with immediate effect.
The high-flying PR man - a director of one of the five pro-EU groups which makes up People's Vote - also announced that Mr Heneghan would be joining the organisation as its new chief executive.
He cancelled plans to address angry members of staff on Monday in the campaign group's Westminster HQ, and rearranged it instead for Tuesday morning in the Hilton hotel across the road.
The employees initially refused to attend the meeting, despite Mr Rudd's promises of "nice coffee".
One insider told PoliticsHome: "Once again he sought to change the terms of the meeting just minutes before it was due to start, which is why we collectively decided we were staying put. Just fed up with his playing games with us."
Another added: "We went to the Hilton. We voted no confidence in Rudd and Heneghan."
It is understood that staff then walked out of the meeting, which lasted an hour.
One source said: "Heneghan was heard to call it a ‘car crash’ to one of the few members of staff he had on side.
"Staff repeatedly asked Rudd why they’d been lied to, why he felt he could speak for the whole campaign and whether he would quit to restore the campaign.
"A number of staff were in tears. Very upset."
At one point, Mr Rudd announced that he was close to Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who backs the People's Vote campaign, to which several people shouted: "Not after this you’re not."
It has also emerged that 40 staff members have written to Mr Rudd demanding that James McGrory and Tom Baldwin are reinstated.
The letter said: "Although our campaign is a joint effort, what we have achieved would have been impossible without the dedication, talent and committed leadership of James McGrory and Tom Baldwin.
"We want to be absolutely clear: they have our full and continuing support and they are crucial to the eventual success of our campaign.
"The manner in which you have acted over recent weeks, without respect for the views of employees who know this campaign inside out, or the volunteers who are its lifeblood, has been extremely disappointing and deeply counter-productive."
The staff members added: "It is utterly absurd that at this critical time for our country, you have started an argument about how our campaign is run. We do not want a public argument, we simply want to get back to work, delivering the People’s Vote that our country so desperately needs.
"Your actions have meant that we have been unable to do that, at this critical juncture for the campaign and the country. As the staff of the People’s Vote campaign, we demand you allow us to continue with our work, under the leadership of James and Tom.
"This campaign has always been about trusting the people, if you want us to succeed, you must trust us now."
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