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Ken's partner axed as Boris Johnson purges City Hall 'wimmin'
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor18 Jun 2008
Boris Johnson continued his City Hall clear-out today as five senior staff known as "Ken's wimmin" lost their jobs.
Ken Livingstone's partner Emma Beal, who was employed by the ex-Mayor as his "administration manager", was the most high profile of those whose posts were axed.
But in a drive against political correctness, Mr Johnson also decided to scrap the post of "women's adviser", held by Labour activist Anni Marjoram.
Others whose jobs were deleted were Mr Livingstone's Left-wing cultural and events adviser, Jude Woodward, his planning chief Eleanor Young and his "senior policy adviser on the creative industries" Emma St Giles.
The Greater London Authority's Business, Management Appointments Committee decided to lose the five women at its meeting today, the Standard has learned.
Technically, the committee was acting on the recommendation of City Hall's chief executive Anthony Mayer but it is understood that Mayor Johnson was the main driver behind the move.
Insiders say the atmosphere at City Hall has been "transformed" since Mr Johnson took office.
Staff previously had to follow a strict system of referring even minor matters to their senior officers, often with the deputy chief of staff required to rubber stamp decisions, it is claimed.
Tories had dubbed the coterie of senior women around Mr Livingstone "Ken's wimmin", a reference to the fact that many of them were Labour supporters and seen as having formed close personal relationships with the former Mayor.
The total salary cost of the five women is believed to top £400,000.
Mr Livingstone's partner Ms Beal, 42, who is mother of two of his children, will have her duties subdivided and shared among other staff now working at City Hall.
Her role was also notable as there have been claims that she was paid £96,000 even though Mr Livingstone also employed his long-standing secretary.
Ms Marjoram, 58, was long viewed suspiciously by Conservatives because she stood as a Labour candidate for Parliament in Finchley. One insider said Mr Johnson felt that the post of "women's adviser" was a "throwback to the Eighties GLC".
Ms Young was Mr Livingstone's "senior policy adviser for planning" and her duties will be largely taken over by Boris's planning adviser Sir Simon Milton.
Ms Woodward is the most contentious of the five as she is a member of Socialist Action, the secretive far-Left group seen as having run City Hall for the past eight years.
Other key members of Socialist Action were said to include Redmond O'Neill, the ex-Mayor's deputy chief of staff, and John Ross, his economics adviser.
Ms St Giles, 40, who used to work in PR, is also seen as particularly close to Mr Livingstone because she helped run his campaign in 2000.
Mr Johnson came under fire this week for dumping the anti-racist message of the annual Rise festival.
Cultural adviser Munira Mirza said the move was part of a drive to drop the political correctness of Mr Livingstone's regime.
Reader views (37)
Good to see Boris clearing the dead wood, there's lots of it.
- Greentea02, london UK, 25/06/2008 02:25
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Christine of London said: This all diverts attention away from Boris appointing largely white men - all Tory friends, without interview to jobs - advising him on what he should know if he is to do the job properly. Oh yes, plus family members and old friends from Oxford. Just like to good old days of Tory patronage.
Can you give us any hard facts, or is just pure propaganda on your part. I know of at least two non-white senior appointments by Boris. Or don't they count?
- George Kronfli, London, UK., 22/06/2008 22:07
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Glad I voted for him so far - he seems to be doing a good job, and saving Londoners' money too! Go Boris!
- Chris, London, UK, 18/06/2008 16:22
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While this is great news, the sad thing is these 'wimmin' will no doubt soon be employed by some other politically-correct organisation, on ridiculous salaries, at the taxpayers' expense. Who said the Loony Left had died out?
- Chris Lonie, London, UK, 18/06/2008 16:18
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This all diverts attention away from Boris appointing largely white men - all Tory friends, without interview to jobs - advising him on what he should know if he is to do the job properly. Oh yes, plus family members and old friends from Oxford. Just like to good old days of Tory patronage.
- Christine, London, 18/06/2008 15:53
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Boris is brilliant! Finally we have a mayor who acts rather than talks about acting and who's made sensible changes that benefit Londoners. His common sense approach and willingness to challenge political idiocies by actually listening to the views of the electorate should be noted by Gordon Brown and the Labour Party ...Roll on the next election!
- Alison, London, 18/06/2008 15:43
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. . . . and to think people thought he had no ideas or policies. Keep up the good work Boris.
- Ricardin, London, UK, 18/06/2008 15:12
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Fantastic stuff. I attended the Assembly this morning but left after one hour because of the pointlessness of it all due to petty, stupid, irrelevant questions from the Labour members.
God only knows how the Ken farce operated before.
- Phil Davy, London, 18/06/2008 15:09
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So Boris has scrapped the post of Women's Adviser. Presumably this straight, white, upper-class man thinks that sexism doesn't affect women in London. Isn't this the man who claimed he would represent all Londoners?
- Charlie, Soho, 18/06/2008 15:07
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To those claiming that Boris is a miracle maker and is doing no end of good, let us not forget the half a million or there abouts that Boris is spending on his advisers. Moreover, he is, in the words of John Biggs, an "empty vessel" having practically delegated all of his powers and responsibilities to his subordinates.
- Matthew Simpson, London, 18/06/2008 14:57
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Boris for Prime Minister!
- Libby, London, 18/06/2008 14:52
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Sallyp, London..Livingstone's aides were paid up to a total of £1million per year, Boris's are paid around half that.
- Mike Stern, London, 18/06/2008 14:51
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So far, Boris has proven he represents the people - not himself or his ego. I hope that even fervent Ken supporters will see that Boris is putting common sense and respect ahead of useless politically correct policies and cryonism.
- Thinkster, Oxford, 18/06/2008 14:40
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Excellent stuff and about time to! For far too long the Londoners hard earned taxes have been used to fund these PC non-jobs! The first of many such heads to roll I hope! Boris for PM!
- Gary, Wycombe, 18/06/2008 14:38
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Good bye to political correction, a total failure from the start in a socialist mickey mouse world!
- Joe Sardena, Swanley Kent, 18/06/2008 14:35
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What a fantastic job. Why can't we have the same approach in central government and other local government areas? There are too many people doing very little and being paid a great deal. Cut out the dross and pay the good people what they are worth.
- Bruce Page, London, 18/06/2008 14:30
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It remains to be seen if Boris falls into the same trap when we check out his team in a few years. It is often the case that whenever there is a change in administration, the new person replaces the old person's appointments with his/her own. I will not be surprised if we get the same story next year, but with Boris's name instead of Ken's in it.
- Non Londoner Working In London, North West London, 18/06/2008 14:27
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Londoners rejoice! Old Ken and his "wimmin" are gone for good, I am sure there are more skeletons in the cupboard, let Boris continue with the Spring clean. We can have a fresh start.
- V Tan, London, 18/06/2008 14:26
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Yet another publicity stunt, how long before these jobs are reinvented with new titles for the Boris 'Boys'. The removing of the Anti-Racist message from the Rise festival is just the start of Boris showing his true colours
- Mark, London, 18/06/2008 14:20
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I agree. As a London woman, I really don't see any need whatsoever for London to have a "Women's Adviser".
- Liz, London, 18/06/2008 14:07
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So far Boris has saved London over £1million in salaries for overpaid, useless City Hall employees and 'Marxist' hangers-on. Hopefully with more savings and cutbacks our council tax might be lowered in the future.
- Mike Stern, London, 18/06/2008 13:57
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Not feeling bad about the change of administration so far!
- Scott, London, 18/06/2008 13:52
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Wow! I voted for him as a protest vote but what a fantastic job he's doing! I look forward to more dismantling of the politically correct infrastructure.
- Zady, London, 18/06/2008 13:40
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Well done Boris! Time that these new Labour bullies were cleaned out and people can work at the GLA without the relentless pressure of these control freaks. I am staggered that the media has not exposed Ms Beals' position before now - this is in every way a breach of public trust and completely unethical. An administration manager on £96,000, who authorised that? Are there any industry benchmarks for this? Surely the Head of HR at the GLA needs to be investigated as well? Keep going with your progressive reforms Boris!
- Joe, London, 18/06/2008 13:38
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What a total and utter wast of our council tax. This is a disgrace.
- Josh, London, 18/06/2008 13:33
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Yes, and how much has Boris spent on his many deputy mayors, (appointed without interview)?
- Sallyp, London, 18/06/2008 13:30
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Wow - and they were all still there six weeks after the election. So highly principled - but not so principled to give up a lucrative job. The fact Ken's partner was still there six weeks on is really strange.
Onwards and upwards. Didn't vote for Boris - but like what he is doing?
- Julie C, London, 18/06/2008 13:23
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Good on you Boris. Keep clearing out the nest of Socialists, posing as Nu-Labour. They are all an unelected semi quasi hard line socialist group, determined to control City Hall without putting themselves through the inconvenience of having to face the voters of London.
- Pip, Croydon. UK, 18/06/2008 13:05
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Well done Boris - so that's saved us £400k already. Keep up the good work and get rid of the wasters and hangers on at City Hall.
- Dan, Shepherds Bush, 18/06/2008 13:02
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Excellent. Let the hatchet fall on more of these women (and geezers).
- Annabelle, London, 18/06/2008 12:57
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Good riddance to bad rubbish.
- Billybob, London, 18/06/2008 12:54
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What took so long?
- R M, London, UK, 18/06/2008 12:44
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Great I am so glad that Boris is getting rid of these women talk about having your cake and eating it.
- Linda Cliff, London, 18/06/2008 12:43
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Well done Boris for the long over-due cleaning up of City Hall - now get to work on the rest of the GLA! By the way, what exactly did Emma Beale and Emma St Giles do for their salaries?
- Kelly, London, UK, 18/06/2008 12:39
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Wow! Common sense shining through. It looks like we did the right thing to vote for Boris. And a saving of £400k to boot, fantastic!
- Jimbob, Kensington, 18/06/2008 12:17
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It's about time....
- Steve, London, 18/06/2008 12:17
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Wonderful! Political correctness of the left-leaning variety has been a dead hand preventing the application of common sense, rational problem-solving and getting on with the job, whatever it is.
How, too, could Ken have justified so many 'jobs for the girls', particularly his partner? Shameless!
Boris' tenure is evolving into a large breath of fresh air.
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK, 18/06/2008 12:12
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