Tories clash over £20k research job
Reporter: by JANICE BARKER
Date published: 06 March 2009
‘It doesn’t look good to have family on payroll’
A VETERAN Tory councillor has fallen out with his party after a colleague’s wife was appointed their political resea-rcher and given a council salary.
John Hudson, who represents Chadderton Central, says the appo-intment of Jennifer Barker as part-time researcher for the Tory group on Oldham Cou-ncil, at a salary of around £20,000, sends out the wrong message to council-tax payers.
Mrs Barker is the wife of Failsworth West councillor Ian Barker, one of seven Tories on the council.
Councillor Hudson, a member of Oldham Council since 1999, said: “There is absolutely nothing personal in what I say and I don’t doubt anyone’s integrity.
“However, I think this kind of appointment brings the whole process into disrepute.
“In the current climate this does not look good to have a member of your family on the payroll.
“I have always been opposed to this kind of appointment right throug-hout my council career. It sends out the wrong message to ratepayers.”
Mrs Barker is the third political researcher to be appointed and paid by the council — Labour and the Liberal Democrat groups both have full-time researchers, appointed in 2005.
Duties include speech writing, communicating with members, attending Cabinet meetings, drawing up briefing papers, researching and evaluating council policies, services and finance, and collecting and analysing figures.
Councillor Hudson added: “I was against the appointment of Liberal and Labour researchers and my views have not changed over the years. They are a matter of record.
“I have not taken any part in this appointment.”
However, Councillor Hudson’s party leader, Chadderton North councillor Jack Hulme, said: “We are the only group which didn’t get a researcher. the other groups have researchers and personal assistants, so we are seriously disadvantaged. The majority of the group felt the appointment was in our favour.”
No suitable candidates applied after the post was advertised, he said, and none of the council staff at risk of redundancy were interested in part-time contracts, or withdrew at the last moment.
He added: “When Mrs Barker put her name forward I passed this to the council’s appointments people. I made it clear I would in no way want to influence any decision, and that she was related to a councillor. “
In the event she was interviewed by two senior officers, they made the appointment and said she was an excellent candidate.
“Councillor Hudson has made his views known and it’s a difference of opinion.”
