David Cracknell is a former journalist in the United Kingdom. Formerly political editor of ''

The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, w ...

'', he is head of a public relations firm, Big Tent Communications.

Early life

Cracknell attended

Forest School Forest School or Forrest School may refer to: Educational philosophy * Forest school (learning style), a learner centred outdoor learning approach. Religious philosophy * Thai Forest Tradition, a Theravada school of Buddhism in Thailand. * Sri La ...

in London and later went on to Pembroke College, Oxford. While at Oxford, his short story ''Alternative Medicine'' was published by Margaret Drabble in the first series of ''

The Mays ''The Mays Literary Anthology'' (or just ''The Mays'') is an annual anthology of new writing by students from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. History Anthologies of poetry by undergraduates from the University of Oxfor ...

''.

Journalism career

Prior to launching his own consultancy in 2008, he covered politics for newspapers for over 15 years, including stints at ''

The Sunday Telegraph ''The Sunday Telegraph'' is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961 and published by the Telegraph Media Group, a division of Press Holdings. It is the sister paper of ''The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', kn ...

'', Press Association and finally being political editor at ''

''. He also helped found ''

Sunday Business ''Sunday Business'' was a national Sunday broadsheet financial newspaper published in the United Kingdom, which ran from 1996 to 2006, when it was turned into a magazine called '' The Business''. History The newspaper was founded by Tom Rubyth ...

'' with Jeff Randall in 1998. During his seven years as political editor of ''The Sunday Times'', Cracknell contributed to "an extraordinary run of Whitehall scoops" which exposed

Tony Blair Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He previously served as Leader of th ...

's government. On 23 May 2004, he revealed the doubts of Foreign Secretary Jack Straw that tactics in Iraq were "heavy handed". Another big story came in April 2004 when he revealed a series of leaked cabinet papers on

David Blunkett David Blunkett, Baron Blunkett, (born 6 June 1947) is a British Labour Party politician who has been a Member of the House of Lords since 2015, and previously served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough ...

's plan to introduce compulsory ID cards. On 8 August 2004, it was revealed that Sir David Omand, the UK's intelligence and security coordinator, had told a meeting of the British cabinet he was launching a major leak inquiry, which ended up costing an estimated £1 million. Cracknell obtained a leaked document written by

Alastair Campbell Alastair John Campbell (born 25 May 1957) is a British journalist, author, strategist, broadcaster and activist known for his roles during Tony Blair's leadership of the Labour Party. Campbell worked as Blair's spokesman and campaign director ...

shortly before the 2005 general election which claimed that the Labour Party was "home and dry".

Business career

Following his departure from ''

'', he was a managing director at PR firm FD, formerly Financial Dynamics, as well as being chairman of its public affairs division, where he advised

Northern Rock Northern Rock, formerly the Northern Rock Building Society, was a British bank. Based at Regent Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, Northern Rock was originally a building society. It demutualised and became Northern Rock bank i ...

on its recovery plan following the bank being taken into public ownership. He left in August 2008 to found his own communications firm, Big Tent Communications, of which he is managing director.

Personal life

Cracknell lives in London and Rye, East Sussex and is married with three children. In 2007 Cracknell played piano on a single by Gabrielle and

Paul Weller Paul John Weller (born John William Weller; 25 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Weller achieved fame with the punk rock/ new wave/mod revival band the Jam (1972–1982). He had further success with the blue-eyed soul mu ...

called "

Why Why may refer to: * Causality, a consequential relationship between two events * Reason (argument), a premise in support of an argument, for what reason or purpose * Grounding (metaphysics), a topic in metaphysics regarding how things exist in v ...

External links

Big Tent Communications

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cracknell, David British male journalists The Sunday Times people Living people Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford People educated at Forest School, Walthamstow Year of birth missing (living people)