CRONY’S £ 90K JOB
Bozo’s £ 90k post for political novice He’s tennis chum and good pal of wife
BORIS Johnson has been accused of trying to secure a £ 90,000 post for a close pal of fiancée Carrie Symonds.
The Prime Minister faces accusations of cronyism after his apparent bid to appoint former Talkradio journalist Ross Kempsell as Conservative director of research.
Party members have been left fuming by the move to hire the “political novice” to the senior job, which would mean ousting current research director Iain Carter. Mr Kempsell, who has denied being offered the job, is the PM’S tennis partner and part of Ms Symonds’ network of Tory friends.
He is also known to attend soirees hosted by her in Downing Street.
Mr Kempsell interviewed the PM on Talkradio during last year’s Tory leadership campaign and was later given a job as a No10 policy aide.
He announced Mr Johnson’s backing this week for the Conservative campaign 50- 50, which Ms Symonds supports, for gender equality in Parliament.
MPS are said to be furious at his potential appointment as boss of the Conservative Research Department, which plays a key role in the party’s election manifesto.
A Tory HQ source said: “Ross Kempsell is a political novice without the background in serious political thinking needed to lead CRD.
“It takes more than being chums with the PM and his partner. It would be outrageous to get rid of Iain like this.”
Mr Carter headed the CRD and was in charge of the party’s media machine when Ms Symonds quit as the Tories’ director of communications after she was challenged over her expenses. Pals denied she left over the row.
Ms Symonds was also said to be key in the departure of Dominic Cummings from No10. Yesterday, it emerged Mr Cummings’ ally Cleo Watson had quit as head of the PM’S priorities and campaigns.
A Tory spokesman said: “We do not comment on staffing matters.”
Ms Symonds has been contacted for comment.