Gay former adviser to Gordon Brown appointed Labour’s new election director

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Spencer Livermore, previously dubbed “The most powerful gay man in British politics” has been appointed Labour’s General Election Campaign Director.

He was Director of Strategy to former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown until 2008 and played a key role in Labour’s successful general election campaigns of 1997, 2001 and 2005.

Mr Livermore was appointed a Special Adviser in the Treasury, working as a key political aide to Gordon Brown, who was then Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1997.

He was the first of Gordon Brown’s advisers to advocate holding an early general election in the autumn of 2007.

After Mr Brown, failed to do so, Mr Livermore left Downing Street in 2008 and joined advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi Fallon.

He set up his own PR firm, Thirty Six Strategy, in 2012.

In 2007, he was ranked top in PinkNews’ 50 most powerful LGBT people in British politics.

Mr Livermore, 38, joined the Labour Party in 1997 after studying at the London School of Economics and is renowned for his tough campaigning skills.

In August, the Conservative Party hired Jim Messina, campaign manager for President Obama’s 2012 re-election victory.

He remains based in the US, but reports to Conservative strategist Lynton Crosby and other senior Tory officials.

On Monday, Stephen Twigg was demoted from Shadow Education Secretary to Shadow Minister for Justice as part of Labour’s reshuffle.