Ex-Tory MP to lobby for poster sector

A former Conservative MP, who lost his seat in Labour’s general election landslide, is tipped to become a Parliamentary lobbyist for the poster sector and leader of its industry body.

Matthew Carrington, the former MP for Fulham, is believed to be taking up an executive post at the Outdoor Advertising Association, which represents the interests of the country’s main poster contractors.

The OAA, which has expanded to include the biggest regional contractors, announced it would be looking for a new independent chairman last summer.

Last week, it emerged that the role would be split in two, with one executive to handle media industry affairs and another to oversee external relations.

It is understood that Carrington will argue the contractors’ case on issues which need representation at government level, such as planning permission and the environment and the implementation of the tobacco advertising ban.

Ron Zeghibe, chief executive of Maiden Outdoor who led the search, refuses to confirm the appointment, which is expected to be finally approved next month.

Carrington served as MP for Fulham from 1987 but lost his seat to the Labour candidate Iain Coleman last May.

In the 1996 register of members’ interests, Carrington reveals his experience in property matters with the declaration that he acted as a Parliamentary adviser to a firm of chartered surveyors, Henry Butcher & Co.