The director of corporate communications at Stratchlyde Police is leaving to run the public relations for a campaign against Scots independence.
Rob Shorthouse – who is also a former head of communications at the Scottish Football Association and was head of PR and media for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bid – is understood to be joining the Better Together campaign which will be urging a No vote during a referendum in two years' time on Scots independence.
He is also a former senior communications officer for then First Minister, Jack McConnell.
Says the website of The Herald, which broke the story as an exclusive this morning: “The appointment of Rob Shorthouse is seen as a statement of intent by the campaign and a clear sign that money [a reported salary of £100,000 a year] will be no object when it comes to defending the Union.”
Adds the STV website: “He was recruited to Strathclyde Police in 2009 as head of communications and will now be joining the Better Together campaign, which is headed up by Labour MP, Alistair Darling.”
allmediascotland has confirmed the details of Shorthouse's move for itself. It is understood he might be taking up his new post as early as next month.
