The thick of it

Simon Lewis must surely have one of the most-envied CVs in public relations, having worked for some of the biggest names in the corporate sector although he's perhaps best known as the first ever head of communications at Buckingham Palace.

Some press chiefs - such as Bernard Ingham - have a high profile of their own

But in two weeks time Mr Lewis takes on what must surely be his biggest challenge - Gordon Brown's official spokesman. So what are his chances of improving Mr Brown's battered image?

We turned to someone who was working in the Number Ten press office the last time a long serving government run by an unpopular Prime Minister looked as if it was heading for a crushing election defeat.

He's Jonathan Haslam, who was John Major's chief press secretary before the 1997 election. What advice could he offer to Simon Lewis?