The 'old boy' network still persists ....

..... within the scumbag 'nasty party' !!!



Tory insiders being handed top Whitehall jobs despite promise of ‘independent’ appointees
Departmental boards meant to be staffed through ‘transparent competition’ – but roles go to allies of ministers they are meant to scrutinise


Tory insiders are being handed powerful Whitehall jobs despite promises that “independent” people would be appointed, an analysis shows.

The boards overseeing government departments are meant to be staffed through “fair and transparent competition”, finding private sector recruits boasting “experience of managing complex organisations”.

But no fewer than eight of 13 appointments made this year have gone to close Conservative allies of the ministers they are meant to scrutinise.

Four of the five appointees to the Cabinet Office’s board this year are former colleagues of its lead minister, Michael Gove – including Lord Nash, who has given more than £400,000 to the Tory party, The Times found.

The Institute for Government said it was better that non-executive directors are independent figures with new thinking, rather than former ministers or political advisers.

Alex Thomas, its programme director, said: “Don’t treat them as additional ministers or special advisers. The critical thing is they are appointed through a proper process, that they add value and make government better – and are not placed people.”

And Rachel Reeves, Labour’s shadow Cabinet Office minister, said: “The government’s own rules state that these roles must be filled through ‘fair and open competition’.

“At a time when public trust in government is more important than ever, this government should be wary of creating the impression that such appointments are made with anything other than ability to do the job in mind.”

Departmental boards were introduced in 2010 to “fundamentally transform the way government operates, scrutinising decisions and sharpening accountability”.



But ministers have appointed growing number of former special advisers to the part-time positions, which come with an average salary of £15,000 per year.

Lord Nash, appointed by Boris Johnson last week as the government’s lead non-executive director, was a Tory schools minister and donated £3,250 to Mr Gove’s failed 2016 leadership campaign.

He joins Henry de Zoete, an adviser to Mr Gove when he was education secretary in the Cameron government, and Gisela Stuart, the former Labour MP and ally in the Vote Leave campaign.

Baroness Finn, another director, is a Conservative peer who also served as a special adviser in the Cabinet Office, and attended the University of Oxford at the same time as Mr Gove, The Times said.

Last month, the department for work and pensions appointed Eleanor Shawcross, a former adviser to George Osborne, and Rachel Wolf, the co-author of last year’s Tory election manifesto, to its departmental board.

As foreign secretary, Mr Johnson made Edward Lister, now his chief of staff and recently-appointed Tory peer, a Foreign Office non-executive director.

In a statement, the Cabinet Office said: “Lord Nash has extensive experience in business and in government, for example as a non-executive director at the department for education, and so is well placed to help the government deliver its agenda.”

 

Why is this a surprise - never mind coming close to being any kind of shock???

 

I'm not surprised, - its the scumbag 'nasty party' 'old boy' network' - I'm just shining a little light on the fact !!!

 

I think it's par for the course that we in the UK are all aware of

 

Clearly not true, otherwise there would be far less members of the scumbag 'nasty party'

 

(see my other comment re membership)

 

I note your inability to answer the question and suspect that you too are either a member or supporter of the scumbag 'nasty party'.

 

You are just plain ignorant Vlad - on many levels
I am a Trade Union Activist that has taken part in many Protest Marches, Employed within the Public service that has seen first hand the experience of Law, its practical employment and consequences and a paid up member of the Labour Party
- I trust this answers your question, and educates accordingly

 

And with the current leadership its reverting back to wishy, washy bliarism !!!

 

And .......?

 

It will get wiped out again in the elections - and deservedly so !!!

 

I wouldn't be so sure given what has occurred since then - so who would you advocate voting for?

 

A party with a lot more social conscience and one that advocates 'socialist' policies because it has 'socialist' principles !!!

 

Yet another 'old boy network' appointment !!!



Ex-Ulster Unionist MP appointed Veterans’ Commissioner for Northern Ireland

PA
Aug 27th 2020 7:53AM

A former Ulster Unionist MP has been appointed as the first Veterans’ Commissioner for Northern Ireland.

Danny Kinahan said he is “honoured and proud” to have been given the role by Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis.

He has pledged to ensure that veterans have a strong voice and can receive support.

READ: I have appointed Danny Kinahan @DdeBK as the first Veterans Commissioner for NIAppointment of Veterans Commissioner for Northern Irelandpic.twitter.com/eeV5SThtiq

— Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) August 27, 2020

The new role was agreed in the New Decade, New Approach deal to act as an independent point of contact to support and enhance outcomes for veterans.

Mr Kinahan said there are 150,000 veterans living in Northern Ireland.

“We all too often just remember their service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and our own Troubles, but forget about their work in other fields: tackling Ebola in Africa, the protection of shipping in the Gulf, the control and rescue of migrants, as well as the work done by them in African game parks protecting wildlife from poachers,” he said.

'Danny Kinahan will be a first-rate advocate for the many thousands here who have served and by his appointment, we have at long last joined the rest of the UK in providing that very necessary representation' – @SteveAikenUUPLatest News - Ulster Unionist Partypic.twitter.com/IRvul48ROi

— Ulster Unionist (@uuponline) August 27, 2020

“Our Armed Forces are active in numerous countries throughout the world offering advice, help and training, often putting their lives at risk so that we all can enjoy ours.

“We should be proud of them and recognise their skills and the sacrifices they and their families have made. We should welcome them back into society when they retire, ensure they are not forgotten are not put at any disadvantage. When they need help it should be there for them immediately.

“My role as Veterans’ Commissioner is to ensure that this is the case and that coordinated and effective delivery exists for all those who have served. I look forward to ensuring that this is so.”

Mr Kinahan served with the Blues and Royals before starting a career in politics and was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for six years, and also represented South Antrim at Westminster.

He said he will be stepping away from local politics to focus on the new role.

The appointment is for three years, ending on August 31 2023.

 

So your vote will being going to?

 

Certainly not the scumbag 'nasty party', nor the wishy,washy Labour Party either !!!

 

? - Hmm, = Evasive

 

Is between me, my conscience and the ballot box - I don't reveal who or what I vote for to some political small fry.

 

Picky Picky.

 

Not much to choose from then, mind you the Loony party could get your vote.