Political Assistants - The Lib Dems Blink!
Have the Tories worked out why the Lib Dems now support Political Assistants as opposed to a Head of Leadership Office, that they ran for 12 years.
The obvious reason is that the Lib Dems are already planning their exit strategy for losing in 2010. Sensible in my view.
The argument goes that if the principle of political assistants is accepted for 4 years, then it is less likely to be changed if the Tories win power.
The Political assistant rules mean all political groups have to be offered a share of the budget, whereas under the Head of leadership offices rules, a ruling Tory group could be much more vague as to the level of support for the opposition (after all they will have made a whole of lot of silly pledges to pander to the core vote and elderly members that will vote for them any way).
Of course local Tories won't be hypocrites and change back to a head of leadership office if they win control!! Just as the Lib Dems are not being hypocritical now having previously resisted and now adopted the system!!!:-)
In any case when the MP's probably lose in 2009/10 they or their staff may need a useful post like this?
As I have said all through this debate and over the past 12 years, what we need is a long-term system that enables the Party groups to operate effectively and you can't do that for cheap as the private sector would naturally tell you....for a fee of course!
The obvious reason is that the Lib Dems are already planning their exit strategy for losing in 2010. Sensible in my view.
The argument goes that if the principle of political assistants is accepted for 4 years, then it is less likely to be changed if the Tories win power.
The Political assistant rules mean all political groups have to be offered a share of the budget, whereas under the Head of leadership offices rules, a ruling Tory group could be much more vague as to the level of support for the opposition (after all they will have made a whole of lot of silly pledges to pander to the core vote and elderly members that will vote for them any way).
Of course local Tories won't be hypocrites and change back to a head of leadership office if they win control!! Just as the Lib Dems are not being hypocritical now having previously resisted and now adopted the system!!!:-)
In any case when the MP's probably lose in 2009/10 they or their staff may need a useful post like this?
As I have said all through this debate and over the past 12 years, what we need is a long-term system that enables the Party groups to operate effectively and you can't do that for cheap as the private sector would naturally tell you....for a fee of course!
posted by Charlie Mansell at 11:33 am
3 Comments:
I think the political assistant role is sensible solution to the lack of support that Councillors receive from Sutton Borough.
One assistant to support 22 Conservative Councillors is not a bad deal for the COuncil Tax payer.
In a previous life as a Reading Borough Councillor we received a computer, a fax machine, filing cabinet, stationery and secretarial support from the Council. Apart from the stationery, I dont believe any of this is on offer from Sutton.
In this modern society where the public expects far more from their elected representatives, one post is not too much to ask for 22 Cllrs. After all, the LDs have hundreds of Council officers to do their bidding! ;-)
I very much agree with the principle you suggest and the requirement for support. I am pleased that it has been secured at last, 12 years after it was first raised in Sutton.
The threat of loss of control has made the Lib Dems realise they could not sustain the fiction of a non-political "Head of Leadership Office" when all the previous incumbents had been Lib Dem activists:
a) Kingston Lib Dem Cllr
b) A Lib Dem activist trainer
c) A PPC for Hampstead and Highgate.
I am pleased to see there now exists some consensus on this issue.
Here are some links that I believe will be interested
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