Essex’s Lib-Dem MP Bob Russell has supported a Tory Minister?s criticism of Essex County Council’s ?spin doctor?…..
Criticism by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Brentwood Conservative MP Eric Pickles, of plans by Essex County Council to appoint a ?500 a day “spin doctor” has been backed by the County’s only Liberal Democrat MP.
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Bob Russell, who represents Colchester, said: “Eric Pickles is absolutely right. Essex County Council should not be spending such a huge sum of money on a so-called Head of External Communications.”
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The Tory-run County Council had originally intended to make a full-time appointment with an annual salary of ?85,000 – but this has now been scrapped in favour of an “Interim” Head of External Communications at a daily rate of between ?500 and ?550 – for a six-month contract which will cost Council Taxpayers up to ?71,500.
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Mr Russell said: “With cuts to services, and with people losing their jobs, this appointment and the projected salary is obscene. Councillors who have made this decision are clearly not living in the real world. I therefore back Eric Pickles in criticising the County Council. They should think again.”
Full article here on Bob Russell’s website.
We wonder if Messrs Francois and Duddridge agree with Pickles and Russell?
Perhaps they will sit and discuss it over tea and bickies in the whips office. I don’t know if it affects making statements on matters like this item, but whips are limited in some ways for example they do not normaly take part in debates in the chamber. Perhaps someone with more knowledge could let us know if a whip would be able to make a public statement on this.