FAQ

“Why should I employ a Political Assistant?”

This section aims to answer the questions that may be asked regarding the potential employment of a political assistant. If you think the role of a political assistant is that of a spin doctor, think again. A political assistant is part advisor, part press officer, but most importantly, in the the main a researcher whose work is for the benefit of  local Conservative groups. Below you will find a Q&A series aimed at answering those initial queries. 

“Isn’t employing Political Assistants using taxpayers money for party politics?”

• EVERY officer working for a local authority is directed in their work by party politics – those of the political group in control of the council. The Annual Budget is a political statement of the Administration – and therefore the work involved is done by council officers, paid for by taxpayers money.

• However, unlike the vast majority of local government employees, political assistants’ posts are politically restricted, which means the post holder is unable to take office within a political party, canvass or stand as a candidate in local, national or European elections.

“Do councillors really need their own team of spin doctors and researchers?”

• Very few councils employ ‘whole teams’ of people to support their political groups. Local authorities are only allowed to employ a maximum of three political assistants, working to support their three main political groups (one per group).

• Furthermore, in councils that have agreed to employ political assistants, a group must hold more than ten per cent of their respective council seats to qualify for a political assistant – so in some instances a local authority may only employ two political assistants.

• Although part of a political assistant’s job will involve drafting and issuing press releases, it is in no way comparable to the job that was undertaken by Alistair Campbell!

“Won’t I be criticised by the public for employing a Political Assistant?”

• Councillors may be criticised for employing a political assistant, but no more so than employing any other ‘extra’ officer. The salaries of political assistants are governed by the 1989 Local Government Act, and are currently capped at just under £35,000, so are in fact paid a lot less than people would imagine. Indeed, the majority of political assistants earn a lot less than this cap.

• One of the main benefits sited by councillors who employ political assistants, is that they provide the most cherished commodity – that of ‘time’. Political assistants exist to ease the burdens placed on councillors, and by doing so allow them the time to get on with serving their communities – the job they were elected to do.

“My council wants to cut down on the taxpayers burden – what benefit do Political Assistants provide to local taxpayers?”

• As previously stated, political assistants by their full time role as dedicated support, enable councillors, not just react to the pressures of governing and scrutinising,  but also allow councillors to proactively set what is becoming a demanding national agenda. Paper work, constituent case work, media relationships, legislation all prove time consuming for people who are now expected to undertake full time activities in roles which are still resourced like part time jobs.

• Good political assistants empower their councillors, and maximise their effectiveness for the benefit of the local community.

• Furthermore, political assistants up and down the country are able to spread good practice. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel, and what works in one area may very well fit the needs of another, and with membership of CPON, Conservative political assistants are able to access the thoughts, policies and experiences of local authorities across the country. By spreading good practice, the work of a political assistant can provide savings and/or an improved service, thereby benefiting local taxpayers.

• So then the benefit of a political assistant to the taxpayer could not be clearer. The work of a political assistant leads to more effective, efficient, well informed, well briefed local councillors, working hard for their constituents.

“Can’t officers already employed produce reports for members if and when requested?”

• Yes. However, those reports will be politically neutral, and will therefore lack the necessary political insight that could make the crucial difference. Political assistants are the only officers employed by an authority, allowed by law to give party political advice to councillors and act in a ‘non-neutral’ way when giving that advice. Furthermore, political assistants are free to act on requests from members from a particular group, because they have no requirement to act impartially. This is the real benefit of having a dedicated officer attached to a political group.

“Is it really a Conservative thing to do, employing political assistants?”

• The Local Government Act which introduced political assistants, has been in place for well over a decade, and both the Labour and Liberal Democrat Party use it to great effect up and down the country. It seems curious that the Conservative Party would not wish to use every available means to support the interests of communities to the best of its abilities.

• In reality, local Conservative Groups across the country enjoy the benefits political assistants. The membership of CPON has never been higher, and the work of political assistants has received praise from many leading Conservative politicians including David Cameron, Boris Johnson, and Eric Pickles.