Returning officer’s husband helped MP vying to become deputy
A POLITICAL adviser who is married to the general secretary of Welsh Labour has confirmed he has helped the deputy leadership campaign of Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris.
Luke Holland’s unpaid assistance to Ms Harris has been criticised as “inappropriate” given that his wife, Louise Magee, is returning officer in the hotly disputed contest between Ms Harris and Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan.
Welsh Labour is electing its first ever deputy leader, who has to be a woman.
Mr Holland has been involved in many Labour campaigns, used to be head of press and broadcasting for Welsh Labour, and is a former Cardiff council cabinet member.
More recently he has worked as an adviser to Shadow Welsh Secretary Christina Rees, a post he left in January to launch his own political consultancy, Cathod Du (Black Cats).
A Welsh Labour source said: “It is known that Luke has been helping Carolyn’s campaign. Given his relationship to the general secretary, who as returning officer has to be seen to be neutral, this seems unfortunate and inappropriate.
“The party should have controls in place to ensure there are no conflicts of interest.”
Mr Holland said: “It’s true that I have looked over a couple of emails for Carolyn, who I support and who I will be voting for.
“I looked at a message she was sending to all members as part of her campaign and I made some stylistic changes. I’ve not been paid for this help and have done it as a friend.”
Mr Holland added: “I haven’t taken a formal part in the campaign for obvious reasons. I haven’t shared any messages supporting Carolyn on social media or attended any campaign events. That seemed to me sensible.”
He said he was working one day a week in Parliament for an MP, although he didn’t want to name the politician concerned: “In due course they will declare that I am working for them on the appropriate register.”
Mr Holland confirmed that he had approached a number of Welsh MPs with a view to doing work for them: “I’m a consultant and that’s what I do. It’s all perfectly above board.”
A spokeswoman for Welsh Labour said there was nothing in the rules of the deputy leadership contest about staff members’ relatives working on candidates’ campaigns.
The deputy leadership result will be announced during Welsh Labour’s annual conference later this month.