Clegg accused of using public money to fund party strategist

Nigel Farage has come under fire today over his use of public money, accused of claiming expenses for an office on which he pays no rent – but he’s not the only political figure accused of using taxpayers’ money to fund his party today.

Nick Clegg could be summoned in front of a Commons select committee to explain the role of Ryan Coetzee, his most senior special adviser. Mr Coetzee’s official job title is Head of Strategy and he is on a taxpayer-funded salary of £110,000, more than any other aide to the Deputy Prime Minister. However, questions are being raised as to his specific duties, with the understanding that he spends his time advising Clegg on how to improve the Lib Dems’ terrible poll ratings, working on their media messaging and even helping manage their General Election campaign.

Bernard Jenkin, the Tory MP who chairs the Public Administration Select Committee, said: “If someone has been appointed as a SpAd at taxpayers’ expense but is doing this work even on the side, during the working day, then my committee will have questions to ask about who approved this appointment and how it could possibly continue.”

Meanwhile, Labour MP Sheila Gilmore said that if the allegations were true then it “would be a breach of the rules and an abuse of public trust,” meaning that the Lib Dem leader would not be able to fall back on the ‘it was within the rules’ excuse used by some in the wake of the expenses scandal of 2009.

Both Clegg and Farage – if these allegations are true, let’s hope this problem is confined to the smaller parties desperate for money.

UPDATE: 

Sheila Gilmore MP, Labour MP for Edinburgh East, has written to Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, raising concerns over the conduct of Mr Ryan Coetzee in his role as Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Full text of the letter below:

Dear Sir Jeremy,

Following reports that Mr Ryan Coetzee, Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister, is employed to work on the Liberal Democrats’ election planning and has been conducting political polling on their behalf, I am writing to express the concern that his actions may be in breach of the Special Advisers Code of Conduct, and to ask you to investigate.

As you will know, the Special Advisers’ Code of Conduct states:

‘Special advisers should not use official resources for party political activity. They are employed to serve the objectives of the Government and the Department in which they work. It is this which justifies their being paid from public funds and being able to use public resources, and explains why their participation in party politics is carefully limited…They should avoid anything which might reasonably lead to the criticism that people paid from public funds are being used for party political purposes.’

The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, Cabinet Office, 2010, p.3

If Mr Coetzee is working on issues concerning the Liberal Democrats’ election strategy rather than the objectives of the Cabinet Office, where he is employed on the public payroll, this would appear a breach of the code.In recognition of the importance of upholding public trust in political appointments, I hope that you will be able to confirm beyond all doubt that the code has not been broken and will in particular be able to answer the following questions:

–          Could you specify what political activity has been undertaken by Mr Coetzee on behalf of the Liberal Democrats during his time employed as Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister, and in each instance what steps were taken to ensure the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers was followed?

–          What polling exercises has Mr Coetzee conducted in his capacity as Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister to which public funds were committed?

–          How many meetings has Mr Coetzee attended at Liberal Democrat Offices in Great George St during his period employed in his capacity as Special Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister, at what times and dates, and what steps have been taken to ensure the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers has been followed?It would rightly be extremely concerning if the Liberal Democrats were exploiting public resources and the important role played by Special Advisers to further party political interests rather than government objectives.

I look forward to your response. 

Yours sincerely,

Sheila Gilmore