After Dinner SpeakersPeter Cardwell is a former Special Advisor, Presenter and Political Editor at TalkRadio.
He has had a unique career in the highest levels of government and broadcast journalism.
A broadcaster for most of his career, Peter also served as Special Adviser in the UK Government for three and a half years, writing a book about his experiences – The Secret Life of Special Advisers.
“This is a cracking read by a great writer. And an insight into what really happens behind those doors us reporters rarely get to nip through.”
Chris Mason, BBC Political Editor
Two successive Prime Ministers appointed Peter as Special Adviser to two Northern Ireland Secretaries, a Home Secretary, Housing Secretary and then the Lord Chancellor & Justice Secretary, delivering tactical and strategic advice, crisis management and media handling.
Peter has insight and experience in delivering Government priorities and balancing diplomatic, political, domestic and economic factors. He has briefed many senior figures for media interviews and recounted much of it in his book.
Peter advised Cabinet ministers based on his 10-year journalistic and three-and-a-half-year political career, managing budgets and complex logistical, legal, political, strategic and editorial issues by challenging internal thinking.
He advised Prime Ministers Theresa May and Boris Johnson before speeches and media interviews through the maelstrom of Brexit, the Windrush Affair and two elections. He once lost a housing company £387m in one day by sending a text message!
After being educated in Northern Ireland, he studied at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, before winning a Fulbright scholarship to the Columbia School of Journalism, New York.
Peter Cardwell was a broadcast journalist for ten years, working for the BBC in London, Washington DC, New York, and Belfast, as well as for Sky News, Channel 5 News, UTV and ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
As an entertaining political after-dinner speaker, Peter will provide a fascinating and funny insight into life in the corridors of power.
