Sex, Politics, Access

Emily Hill | Issue 2 | In-House Public Affairs, Magazine, Social Wire

From the Archive

Photo by NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10578012az)
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and his partner Carrie Symonds (R) leave the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey
Photo by NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10578012az) Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and his partner Carrie Symonds (R) leave the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey

Introducing our Top 50 Westminster Power Couple Index

Behind every successful man there is a woman – and behind every unsuccessful man, there are two," Mark Twain once wrote. He may have been joking but it has never been truer that strong monogamous alliances breed stratospheric success, especially in Westminster. Upcoming contenders for high-flying careers in this world must note: the secret to a power coupling consists of selecting very carefully – and hanging on to for dear life – a power spouse. In moments of doubt, the young and ambitious should ask themselves: Who in all honesty would have heard of Hillary if her surname had not been Clinton? “The Westminster bubble is small and quite hermetic,” explains Marie Le Conte, author of Haven’t You Heard: Gossip, Politics and Power. “Whether you’re a journalist, adviser or politician, you will be working very long hours in a space the size of a small village. The line between professional and personal becomes a blurry one after drinks in Strangers’.” Or, as one of her Labour sources puts i...

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: Ros Morgan, Chief Executive, Heart of London Business Alliance, “Build a strong, proud and open culture where everyone has a voice”

Mace | September 8, 2026

After two decades spent in advocacy on behalf of business, Ros reveals what parts of the industry she believes needs reform.

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Tim Hewish, Public Affairs Lead, National Grid, “Go and make a difference”

Mace | September 8, 2026

Tim reflects on the reality of operating in an environment where political pressure, public scrutiny and long-term infrastructure decisions all collide.

Leader In UK Public Affairs: Dan Mann, Corporate Affairs Manager, Cemex, “Side before self every time”

Mace | September 8, 2026

Dan discusses his time in the industry that "literally built Britain", his leadership philosophies, and how AI will never replace empathy.

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Charlie Hall, Public Affairs Manager, CityFibre “I want to advocate for businesses that make a meaningful contribution to society”

Mace | August 28, 2026

CityFibre’s Charlie Hall explains why joined-up policymaking is vital to infrastructure investment, how in-house advocacy connects politics with commercial reality and why the best decisions draw on every

Leader in Public Affairs: Sophie Timms, Corporate Affairs Director, Kier Group, “Nothing is more important than keeping people safe”

Mace | August 27, 2026

Sophie has been passionate about politics since her teenage years. Now, she works at the intersection of policy, delivery and public accountability.

Leader In Public Affairs: Lewis North, Head of Public Affairs, Porterbrook, “Take care of your people and they will take care of you”

Mace | August 26, 2026

From gaining his politics degree to standing in the 2019 General Election - Lewis reveals how these experiences informed his career in public affairs.

Industry Watch: John Gill, Deputy Director of External Affairs, Reform UK – “There’s no limit to where a man can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit”

Mace Magazine | August 20, 2026

John Gill's promotion at Reform UK, just before the party launches its inaugural Business Day at its September NEC conference, is indicative of how the party is ramping

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Martin Turner, Director of Policy and External Affairs, BioIndustry Association, “Pensions reform is a major issue for us”

Mace | August 8, 2026

Turner’s work sits within the BioIndustry Association, the trade body representing the UK’s biotechnology and life sciences sector.

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Konrad Shek, Public Policy & Regulation Director, Advertising Association, “I prefer strategy to performance, substance to theatre”

Mace | August 7, 2026

Konrad Shek discusses his proudest achievement of building the Advertising Association’s credibility and influence in media literacy policy.

Leader in UK Public Affairs: Robert Forrester, Chief Executive, Vertu Motors plc, “Leaders need to cast a vision and hold people accountable”

Mace | August 6, 2026

Robert Forrester reflects on his achievement in helping to found a company 20 years ago that now generates £5bn in revenue and employs more than 7,500 people.