Tonight:
9°c
John Bercow appoints ex-journalist as special advisor
08.09.09
Commons Speaker John Bercow has appointed a former journalist as a special advisor on a salary that could be worth up to £107,000.
Tim Hames, former chief leader writer for The Times, has been hired by Mr Bercow to deal with the media during the aftermath of recommendations on MPs' expenses made by sleaze watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly.
He will be a Grade 1 status special advisor, paid between £87,000 and £107,000 a year.
It is thought to be the first time a Speaker has taken on a staff member with that title.
Mr Hames told the Press Association he would start work on November 2 and would spend around a third of his time dealing with the media.
Sir Christopher, the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, intends to publish his final proposals on MPs' expenses in October.
Mr Hames said: "The House's reputation is not what we would like it to be; I'm making the case that despite all that has happened over the last few months, Parliament is a good thing."
He will initially take on the role as a "short-term arrangement" until next summer.
Mr Hames said he was probably not the first special adviser to a Commons Speaker, but the first one that had had his role formalised.
"I'm absolutely sure that past Speakers have had someone act as an informal adviser in their staff," he said.
He will step down as head of communications for lobby group the British Venture Capital Association at the end of October.
Mr Bercow, Tory MP for Buckingham, was elected Commons Speaker in June.
Last week senior UKIP MEP Nigel Farage announced he would stand against Mr Bercow at the next general election.
By convention, Speakers remain politically neutral and the main parties do not field candidates in their constituencies.
A Commons spokeswoman said Mr Hames would help Mr Bercow in his role as an "ambassador for Parliament".
Mr Bercow was keen to promote Parliament as much as possible and Mr Hames would be aiding him in an "outreach" programme for local communities and schools, she said.
Reader views (6)
Drat wish I had known about this advertised vacancy, ok I don't have the qualifications required but then neither have any of these muppets.
- William, Hay~Heath UK
KPMG have just spent millions of our tax on telling MPs that they can only claim expenses if they live 90 minutes away from SW1, and then only for rent or hotel bills. Why does the Speaker now need to appoint someone else - using our tax - to advise him on KPMG's advice.
There isn't a broom big enough or wide enough to sweep the muck out of Westminster.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
I thought the Speakers role was defined as guiding the house, so why does he need somebody to guide him? It's time to stop spending money on image and work on the substance.
- Mark, London
Er,'Mr Hames would be aiding him in an "outreach" programme for local communities and schools'. Why. Is he going to shout 'Order, Order' to unruly pupils?
The Speaker controls the Commons not schools. Does Bercow have delusions of adequacy? We are trying to cut expenditure not increase it. If Bercow needs help to do the job he stood for, he should quit, as he obviously is not up to the challenge. He has just had one long holiday doing nothing but spending my money on alterations to his accomodation, now he needs help. The man's a fool.
- Alan, carlisle uk
Why is this man creating yet another "non job" in government at tax payers' expense? If Bercow is incapable of cleaning up the image of the house and preventing MPs' misappropriation of tax payers' money without the need for an advisor earning £107,000 p.a. - then he is clearly not fit for purpose.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
Whilst every other employer in the country has to comply with equal opportunites legislation it seems that Parliament once again goes its own way with more jobs for the boys as another unadvertised job is filled.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, Surrey
