Burnham’s spin doctor fired over drugs charges
A SPIN doctor to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has been sacked after failing to declare he was facing drugs charges.
Paul Gilfeather was appointed in late autumn by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) as assistant director of news and media and one element of his job was to advise the mayor of Greater Manchester.
He attended his boss’s Christmas party on December 6 and a week later the 46-year-old admitted possession of heroin and cocaine.
Gilfeather entered a guilty plea by letter to the Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
The court was told the 1g of heroin recovered had an estimated street value of about £50. The cocaine had a nominal value.
Gilfeather, whose address was given as Stanley Street, Aberdeen, was not represented by a solicitor. He will be sentenced this month.
The offences related to possession of the drugs at his home on June 28 – four months before he was appointed as a senior communications officer in the Greater Manchester Mayor’s office, working with Mr Burnham as part of his role.
He had previously worked as an external communications manager at Aberdeen City Council.
During December, Gilfeather took to Twitter to highlight Mr Burnham’s efforts to help the homeless with his A Bed Every Night campaign.
He had been employed by the GMCA for six weeks before being dismissed.
Earlier in his career he worked for tabloid newspapers and in public relations in Singapore.
A GMCA spokesman said: “Paul Gilfeather was employed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and his appointment was subject to normal recruitment procedures, which requires applicants to provide referees and disclose convictions.
“As soon as the GMCA was made aware of Mr Gilfeather’s court proceedings he was suspended and subsequently dismissed. He worked for the GMCA for a total of six weeks.”
When contacted by the M.E.N., Mr Gilfeather declined to comment.