Fiona Gordon's next job?

alexhilton Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 01:28:52 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

While it has been known for some time that the Prime Minister's Political Secretary, Fiona Gordon, will be leaving Number 10, there is a suggestion that Ms Gordon won't be going far.



The rumour is that Fiona Gordon will be going into business, providing marketing and campaigning services to MPs, yet there is a suggestion that she will remain on the payroll at No10 as a part-time political secretary with responsibility for liaison with backbench Labour MPs. It is suggested the new role will be for one day a week on a pro-rata salary of around £75,000 per year, paid by the Labour Party.

If this is true, this seems like a shocking conflict of interest. Not only would Ms Gordon retain a Parliamentary and Downing Street security pass, but she will be the gatekeeper to No10 for the very same MPs to whom she will be selling her services.

If those services are of the kind that can be paid for from the parliamentary communications allowance, it can imagined how tempted an MP might be to use the comms allowance to get into the good graces of the PM's gatekeeper.

A conflict of interest on this scale would be an outrage. Spending £15k on a one-day-a-week staffer when the party's finances are dire would be an insult.


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Fiona Gordon's next job? | 7 comments (7 topical)

Re: Fiona Gordon's next job? (#1)

by NeilF on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 09:35:30 AM GMT

I don't really don't think it's helpful speculating on rumours and 'what ifs'. I'd like to see Labourhome carry more stories about the Conservatives, their staffing arrangements and where they receive donations to their private offices from. Let's leave the some of this daft innuendo to plentiful supply of blogs who dislike the very idea of a Labour Government and all we stand for.


Re: Fiona Gordon's next job? (#2)

by alexhilton on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 11:15:22 AM GMT

Maybe so, but I don't think it's helpful when senior politicians make foolish decisions that reflect badly on the party and its supporters.


[ Parent ]

Re: Fiona Gordon's next job? (#3)

by Just Labour on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 12:20:10 PM GMT

Maybe, but surely better to comment after such an occurence (fact) rather than in anticipation (speculation).


[ Parent ]

Re: Fiona Gordon's next job? (#4)

by rwendland on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 12:36:36 PM GMT

Transparency and criticism before a decision is made could helpfully influence the decision. More useful than whinges afterwards.

I will be amazed if a central character to getting the party to the Appeal Court and Law Lords, to lose a Race Relations Act case, could still get high party position.

The Court of Appeal noted a lower court concluded the selection panel she was on (and "under the direction" of National Constitutional Officer Mike Penn and herself as Regional Secretary) was "haphazard in the extreme". One Law Lord noted that the panel's action "is nothing more than the old plea that you have nothing against employing a black person but the customers would not like it" and that the lower court concluded "the [Party failed] to preserve vital documents, despite having been told within two days that there would be a challenge to the procedure."

This does not suggest a dedication to proper process, and reasonable record keeping, that we would want party servants to follow in situations where there is a conflict of interest. 


[ Parent ]

Re: Fiona Gordon's next job? (#5)

by Evidently Chickentown on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 12:37:18 PM GMT

The most important word in your post Alex, was "rumour". Fiona Gordon is Party, through and through. This Party needs people like Fiona right now, right at the centre, helping us all get through this very difficult period. I don't care how many passes she has around her neck - or what role she plays - all I know is, the Labour Party will be a better place with Fiona on the inside, with all that experience. Give her a break Alex, you're beginning to sound like Guido. EC


Re: Fiona Gordon's next job? (#6)

by NB on Mon Jun 02, 2008 at 04:25:58 PM GMT

Clearly improper, but she might donate some of her fees to Labour, and maybe Gordon thinks desperate times call for desperate measures.


Re: Fiona Gordon's next job? (#7)

by peternickson on Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:52:14 PM GMT

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Fiona Gordon's next job? | 7 comments (7 topical)