Rutherford Hall, a communications strategist, shared internal messages about managing bank expectations before the Budget. He noted that politicians often target banks for revenue. Hall also claimed the Prime Minister uses short meetings to make people feel heard, saying, "No more than necessary to let people think he's listened."

A behind-the-scenes look at the work of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist

Messages from the archive of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist

WhatsApp to Stephen: Sorry I can't. Am tied up with the banks and their efforts to avoid getting whacked in the Budget. The problem is they are going to get whacked, so this is as much about managing their expectations of our campaign.

Hi Susan,

Just to confirm we've got you a meeting with John Healey at 8.30am in the Treasury on Tuesday. He's insisted on seeing bankers together so there will be a couple of others there but it is an opportunity to try to frighten him off a new bank surcharge or at least keep it as low as possible. I know you've got all your key messages worked out but the one I would definitely stress the most is that if your costs of capital rise you will inevitably have to do less business lending and so hit growth.

I have to be honest, I don't like the mood music on this. The Chancellor needs to raise money and politicians, especially Labour ones, always see you guys as an easy hit. Remember that old line: "Why do I rob banks? Because that's where the money is." Which gangster was that? John Dillinger, Willie Sutton, George Osborne, one of them.

Anyway, we are also working on a meeting with the PM but I gather he's doing little more than 10-minute grin and grip events. No more than necessary to let people think he's listened to them.

I'll get you the full attendee list when it's confirmed.

Best Rutherford

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Hi Susan,

No, Jamie Dimon is not in the group. He only does one-on-ones. He basically grants the PM an audience at Number 10 when he's in London. His office tells me he's in town this month and that if you send him your talking points they'll try to get them under his nose. But he'll still be helpful making the international argument and threatening to cut jobs or investment. I saw him pointing out that the US is streets ahead now. It has the best capital markets, the best investment environment, the best banks and even the best bailouts.

He generally sees the line as threatening to give up on London. My only worry is that it doesn't play as well with the prime minister, who also gives up on London every Thursday and flees back north.

Best, Rutherford

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WhatsApp to VolponeSusan: Hi Susan, how did it go?

WhatsApp to VolponeSusan: Oh dear. If they serve you bacon sandwiches that normally means it's bad news. They only bother trying to make you feel you've been well received if they plan to ignore everything you tell them. Mind you, the chancellor has shown his fondness for pork scratchings so maybe the Treasury is just upping its snack game.

WhatsApp to VolponeSusan: We've got the meeting with Burnham. He's seeing a few of you at the same time but I'm not sure he's really listening. They just want to look like they are listening. I'm a bit worried at seeing the TUC calling for a 16 per cent surcharge. Wonder if it's co-ordinated. There's no chance of that happening but it might be a ploy to make a single-figure hit look reasonable. One other thing though. If there is some non-tax win you are looking for, some regulation you want scrapped, it is worth raising. They might want to look receptive if it's cheap. They always want to look like they are not whacking the banks, especially when they are.

WhatsApp to VolponeSusan: I did have one idea. I'll ping a message to one of the PM's business fixers.

WhatsApp to Varun: Varun, good to see you at conference in Liverpool. Just had a thought about the PM's meeting with the bank bosses next week. Have you asked the Co-op Bank?

WhatsApp to Varun: Yes I know they are very small -- but since the tie-up with Coventry Building Society, they are now something like the seventh-largest lender. I think they'd be a good addition.

WhatsApp to VolponeSusan: Good news. The Co-op Bank is joining you.

WhatsApp to VolponeSusan: Yes, well they may be minnows and nonentities but they are minnows and nonentities whose head office is in Manchester.

WhatsApp to VolponeSusan: And Burnham is a Labour AND Co-operative Party MP. They might just carry a bit more weight than you assume. I'm sure you aren't going to escape unscathed from the Budget but anything we can do to lighten the load . . . If we keep the hit low, that's practically a win.