Seven years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts.
Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, every week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented.
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Office for Legal Complaints – Chair
“As Chair of the OLC, you will report to the Chair of the LSB and through the LSB to Parliament via an annual report laid before Parliament by the Lord Chancellor. The latest annual report, for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 is available here. As an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Justice, the OLC also has its own Accounting Officer and its own direct relationship with the Department and Ministers. As Chair of the OLC, you will report to the Chair of the LSB and through the LSB to Parliament via an annual report laid before Parliament by the Lord Chancellor. The latest annual report, for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 is available here. As an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Justice, the OLC also has its own Accounting Officer and its own direct relationship with the Department and Ministers.”
Time: Minimum 60 days per annum.
Remuneration: £52,500 per annum.
Closes: 04 December
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Defence Nuclear Safety Committee – Members
“Members of the DNSC have a collective responsibility for the operation of the Committee. They must: engage fully in collective consideration of the issues, taking account of the full range of relevant factors, including any guidance issued by the sponsor department or the responsible minister; ensure that the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (including prompt responses to public requests for information) is adhered to; produce an Annual Report; respond appropriately to complaints, if necessary with reference to the sponsor department; and ensure that the Committee does not exceed its powers or functions.”
Time: Approx 20 days per annum.
Remuneration: £380 per diem plus expenses.
Closes: 14 December
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Homes England – Chair
“The Chair will be responsible for the proper running of the Homes England Board. They will guide and influence the Agency at a strategic level providing confident, clear and consistent leadership. They will also lead the Agency’s relationship with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who they will meet on a regular basis. The Chair will act as an ambassador for the Board and for Homes England, helping to build and develop collaborative strategic partnerships that support and promote Homes England’s core mission. The successful candidate will influence and network with key decision makers and stakeholders and explain how the organisation is transforming…”
Time: Up to two days per week.
Remuneration: £95,000 per annum.
Closes: 16 December
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Arts & Humanities Research Council – Executive Chair
“UK Research and Innovation, the UK’s leading research funding agency, is seeking to appoint an exceptional and inspirational arts and humanities academic of international standing to lead the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as its Executive Chair. The Executive Chair, working with the AHRC Council, is responsible for setting the strategic vision for AHRC and contributing to the direction of UKRI. As a visible and credible leader of both AHRC and the arts and humanities communities you will provide direction, ensuring delivery of far reaching research, skills development and infrastructure investment goals with demonstrable outputs and outcomes.”
Time: Full time.
Remuneration: Up to 3120,000 per annum, performance bonus up to £15,000 per annum.
Closes: 03 January
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Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Groceries Code Adjudicator
“The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is a corporation sole which is operationally independent of Government. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is responsible for appointing the GCA. The GCA will carry out the following functions: advise large retailers and suppliers on the Groceries Code; publish guidance on when and how investigations will proceed, how enforcement powers will be used and the criteria it intends to adopt in deciding the amount of any financial penalty; investigate possible breaches of the Groceries Code by large retailers; where an investigation finds that a large retailer has breached the Groceries Code, decide whether to make recommendation to the retailer, require it to publish information about the investigation or impose a financial penalty on the retailer…”
Time: 2-3 days per week.
Remuneration: £125,000 to £135,000, pro rata.
Closes: 05 January
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VisitEngland Advisory Board – Chair
“Our national tourist board, the British Tourist Authority (BTA), plays an important role in delivering the Government’s tourism agenda, including the Sector Deal. The BTA Board is advised on English tourism by the VisitEngland Advisory Board (VEAB), with the VEAB Chair also sitting on the BTA Board. The Chair of the VEAB’s term ends in March 2020 and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport wishes to appoint a new Chair. The BTA Board Chair public appointment process is being run in parallel with this position. The Chair will be supported by a non-executive Board in providing expert advice to the Chair and Board of the BTA, and in representing English tourism to the tourism sector and public.”
Time: Maximum of 4 days per month on average.
Remuneration: £340 per day. Up to £16,320 per annum plus reasonable expenses.
Closes: 08 January
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VisitEngland Advisory Board – Chair
“Our national tourist board, the British Tourist Authority (BTA), plays an important role in delivering the Government’s tourism agenda, including the Sector Deal. The BTA Board is advised on English tourism by the VisitEngland Advisory Board (VEAB), with the VEAB Chair also sitting on the BTA Board. The Chair of the VEAB’s term ends in March 2020 and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport wishes to appoint a new Chair. The BTA Board Chair public appointment process is being run in parallel with this position. The Chair will be supported by a non-executive Board in providing expert advice to the Chair and Board of the BTA, and in representing English tourism to the tourism sector and public.”
Time: Maximum of 4 days per month on average.
Remuneration: £340 per day. Up to £16,320 per annum plus reasonable expenses.
Closes: 08 January
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British Tourist Authority – Chair
“The chief responsibilities of the new BTA Chair will be to: ensure that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with, that all expenditure is in accordance with Treasury rules for the management of public money and that the BTA maintains high standards of corporate governance at all times. The BTA Chair has an important role to play in supporting the organisation’s Accounting Officer in delivering high standards of regularity and probity; provide effective leadership of the Board and support to the Chief Executive to deliver on the aims and objectives agreed with DCMS; Act as an ambassador for British tourism, working across Government to further the promotion of Britain as part of the GREAT campaign and through commercial partnerships…”
Time: Average of two days a week.
Remuneration: £40,000 per annum plus reasonable expenses.
Closes: 08 January