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Boris aide could step in as arts chief after clash with minister
Louise Jury and Katharine Barney22.10.09
Boris Johnson's culture adviser could be installed temporarily in one of London's top arts jobs under emergency plans to tackle deadlock with the Government over the appointment.
Munira Mirza said she might be named acting chairwoman of the London Arts Council until the Mayor decides what course of action to take.
It comes after Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw rejected Boris Johnson's chosen candidate, former Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley.
The move would allow Mr Johnson to delay any permanent appointment until after the general election when a new government is in place.
Mr Bradshaw rejected the Mayor's nomination of Ms Wadley on the grounds that the interview process used to select her had breached the "Nolan" principles on fairness in public appointments. Mr Bradshaw's aides have also argued that Ms Wadley did not fully meet the job specifications.
The Mayor insists she was the best candidate for the job and has threatened to hold the post open until after polling day when, if the Tories win power, he expects to be able to install his choice without ministerial veto.
That prospect has now moved a step closer with Ms Mirza's admission that she could step in temporarily.
Answering London Assembly members' questions yesterday, she said an interim appointment from the London Arts Council was being considered and added: "I'm on the existing council. One of the options is it could be me."
Ms Mirza continued to defend the choice of Ms Wadley, saying she was the strongest candidate from four names put forward for final interview by the Mayor. He had the final say under measures agreed last year to give him influence over key appointments in London.
Reader views (3)
As Mr Johnson seems to lose his deputy mayors at an alarming rate I am not surprised that Mr Bradshaw would question his Judgement.
- Mick, London, England
Regarding Bradshaw 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' !!!
- Nick Holland, glasgow
"Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?"
The sooner Labour go, the better. You would have thought that being the worse government in living memory they would just shut up and go away.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
