Councillor’s wife takes research job

A PART-TIME researcher’s post for the seven Conservatives on Oldham Council has been confirmed.

Jennifer Barker, wife of the Failsworth West Tory councillor Ian 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.

Her duties will 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.

The Tory group leader, Councillor Jack Hulme, stressed that the appointment was handled entirely by the council, not by the party,

He added: “The post was twice offered to council staff who are at risk of redundancy, but no-one came forward.

“Jennifer Barker took up her post last week.”