Julian Sturdy and Nigel Adams, our two local MPs, both employ their own wives as part time secretary or part time office manager, according to their register of interests (HERE) and (HERE). Last week IPSA announced that as from 2020 they will not fund relatives, or as they call them "connected parties". However, both men can breathe a sigh of relief (or perhaps not - who knows?) that it will only apply to new employees taken on after 2020. IPSA explain the new rules on their website (HERE):
IPSA say this on employing relatives, “We have decided to end funding for new employees who are related to MPs from the next General Election onwards. We believe that the employment of ‘connected parties’ is out of step with modern employment practice, which requires fair and open recruitment to encourage diversity in the workplace.”
Existing employees with close family or business links to MPs will not be affected. I believe they are restricted to one family member on the payroll otherwise I imagine this would mean a lot of new connected employees joining MP's staff before the deadline with the clear risk of accidents in the ensuing crush.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life recommended in 2009, that there should be a ban on the practice as it was “not consistent with modern employment practice designed to ensure fairness in recruitment, management of staff and remuneration” but a backlash from politicians forced then to drop the idea – with the caveat that they were restricted to putting just one family member on the payroll.
The Guardian (HERE) says a report by the watchdog earlier this year revealed the pay of connected parties is on average £5,600 higher than that of other staff, and going up at twice the rate of other staff in parliament. At the time of the last general election, relatives’ average salary was £31,350 a year. I am sure both Victoria Sturdy and Claire Adams got their jobs entirely on merit - but I would have loved to have been there at the (scrupulously fair) interviews wouldn't you?
Because of an error on IPSA's website, the actual salary paid to relatives was accidentally posted and available for a few hours last week. I wonder if anyone downloaded the data? It might be very interesting and we may see some of the nation's highest paid clerical staff!
Because of an error on IPSA's website, the actual salary paid to relatives was accidentally posted and available for a few hours last week. I wonder if anyone downloaded the data? It might be very interesting and we may see some of the nation's highest paid clerical staff!
