Leader in UK Public Affairs: Beth Armstrong, Partner, Charlesbye, “Control the controllables”

Mace | 9th October 2026 | Lobbying

The combination of government, campaigns and consultancy gives Beth a broad view of Westminster

Beth Armstrong has spent much of her career in rooms where decisions get made. The Charlesbye Partner has 14 years’ experience at the heart of government, advising senior Cabinet Ministers across Whitehall. She was Chief of Staff to the Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister and a Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, and also worked for the Brexit, Education and Justice Secretaries. That experience shapes her view of what agency public affairs can offer. “Businesses get the benefit of counsel from those with first-hand, in-room experience of how decisions are made and shaped,” she says. Armstrong started her career in the Conservative Research Department at CCHQ, before working on multiple party leadership campaigns and Vote Leave. She has also advised global businesses at Teneo and Bell Pottinger, helping them navigate complex political and regulatory challenges. The combination of government, campaigns and consultancy gives her a broad view of Westminster: how policy is shaped...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



Leader in Public Affairs: Ben Spier, Association of Professional Self-Caterers

Mace | March 21, 2026

With English Tourism week running until 23rd March, Ben Spier speaks out about the new tourist levy and the impact of increasing taxation and regulation on tourism.

How to win awards and influence policy

Mace | March 12, 2026

Greg Rosen, senior counsel at SEC Newgate, led the team which won the best consultancy campaign award at the 2026 PRCA awards. In a deep-dive, Rosen tells The

The PRCA Awards – winners at the ‘Oscars of Public Affairs’

Mace | March 10, 2026

WA Communications, Pendragon and Cavendish were amongst some of the names that came out on top

Reform UK adviser joins PLMR

Mace | March 6, 2026

Kirsty Walmsley's move to PLMR signals that Reform are being treated as a real political force, rather than an outside threat.

Ex-Global Counsel employees find a new home

Oliver Dean | March 6, 2026

Following Global Counsel's demise a few weeks ago, talent from the firm has already been picked up by a number of big name PA and communications agencies.

PRCA call for lobbying standards overhaul

Oliver Dean | March 5, 2026

The UK Public Affairs Watchdog has called for a stricter framework to increase transparency and accountability

Josh Simons resigns over APCO row

Oliver Dean | March 1, 2026

The former Cabinet Office Minister resigned after pressure mounted on him following allegations of his conduct whilst a senior figure at Labour Together

Industry on notice- is the golden age of lobbying over?

William Cash | February 28, 2026

William Cash asks: Will the Mandelson scandal result in real lobbying reform?

Lobby group angered as assisted Dying Bill looks to be killed off by peers

Thomas Edwards | February 26, 2026

With the assisted dying bill looking like it will now fail, The Mace looks at how lobby groups were a driving force behind the controversial bill.

Former MD speaks out about the ‘brutal’ crash collapse of Global Counsel

William Cash | February 22, 2026

The company's former managing director has opened up about the spectacular fall of Global Counsel in an excoriating social media post that savages co-founder Lord Mandelson