Political Assistants at Leicestershire County Council
After recently submitting a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Leicestershire County Council to find out how many political assistants are employed there and how much they’re paid, the following information was obtained:
Mr David Briscombe, Political Assistant to the Tory Group on a salary of £24,576
Mr Ben Odams, Political Assistant to the Lib Dem Group on a salary of £24,576
Political Assistants unlike council officers do not have to follow impartiality guidelines and work solely for the Political Group that employs them.
Now they would argue that Labour employs Political Assistants but I seem to remember the Tories attacking Labour for doing this. Also, it is a fact that no political assistants are employed at Leicester City Council, despite Labour having 52 of the 54 Councillors.
Can you imagine the outcry there would be if the Labour Group at Leicester City Council did this?
It’s nice work if you can get it, while you’re helping the County Council to cut other people’s jobs!!
Labour had a political assistant until 2009 when due to a lack of votes they no longer qualified. She was paid the same as myself and Mr Briscombe for the same role. I am assuming you believe that she was helping to cut jobs aswell?
whilst i can respect a personal opinion, you evidently do not udnerstand the job that i do nor its purpose – and what evidence do you have for me cutting jobs. I know i am amazingly powerful but still this caught me by surprise, as there is no coalition in the County so i fail to see how i am working for the administration.