Under-fireAM employed ‘no experience’ brother
UNDER-FIRE Ukip AM Michelle Brown is facing further questions after taking on her brother as an Assembly-funded case worker when he was unqualified for the role.
The north Wales regional AM sparked a storm last week after she called black Labour MP Chuka Umunna a “f***ing coconut” .
Yesterday it emerged that in the same recorded phone conversation with former senior advisor Nigel Williams, the Mostyn-based politician admitted employing her brother Richard Baxendale who was unqualified and had no relevant experience.
Mr Baxendale was taken on in June 2016 after Ms Brown won her place in the Senedd.
But Ms Brown has defended his appointment saying “organisations will often take on staff with little or no relevant experience”.
She added she had “no intention” of resigning.
An Assembly Labour Group complaint to the Standard’s Commissioner was quickly followed by a statement from Ukip’s chairman Paul Oakden revealing there would also be an investigation by the party into her conduct.
At the end of his six-month probationary period, former garage worker Mr Baxendale was interviewed for the full-time Assembly-funded position on December 2, 2016. He was rejected by a panel of three, which included Ms Brown’s then aide Mr Williams and two Assembly commission officials.
The north Wales Regional AM already faces accusations of bringing the National Assembly into disrepute after her foul-mouthed slur against Mr Umunna.
In the telephone conversation to Mr Williams on May 14 last year Ms Brown said: “I’m employing Richard [Baxendale] on the lowest band.
“Because, well, he isn’t...he’s got no experience, he’s got no qualifications for it. He’s very much, I mean I discussed it with him last night.
“He’s quite happy. Even on the lowest band, just over eighteen thousand, he’s still on more money than he would be if he stayed at doing what he’s doing.”
Mr Williams worked for Ms Brown for a year until May 11 2017.
A spokesman for Ms Brown said she “has no intention of resigning, and neither should she” and she was fully co-operating with Ukip’s investigation. He said she had been given a democratic mandate by the Welsh people who “she respects and works hard to serve”.
He added: “The recorded conversation confirms that Michelle placed Mr Baxendale on the lowest paid scale as he did not hold qualifications that would justify a higher starting salary.
“Organisations will often take on staff with little or no relevant experience, who they feel will develop in the role, and only offer a lower salary.
“She believes that he did have the skills to be good value for money.”
The party confirmed Mr Baxendale still occasionally helps out at Ms Brown’s constituency office in Shotton on an unpaid basis.