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Boris Johnson's new volunteering chief volunteers little Boris Johnson's new volunteering chief volunteers little
(about 2 hours later)
Winter arrived early in City Hall on Wednesday when Veronica Wadley, one of the more helpful of Boris Johnson's many media chums down the years, made acquaintance with public accountability in the form of questions from London assembly members. Wadley edited the Evening Standard throughout the 2008 mayoral election campaign that propelled Johnson to power. It was the most absurdly partisan manifestation of that newspaper ever, and its legacy was such that after a new owner brought the Wadley era to an end, one of her successor Geordie Greig's first moves was to launch an advertising campaign apologising for it.Winter arrived early in City Hall on Wednesday when Veronica Wadley, one of the more helpful of Boris Johnson's many media chums down the years, made acquaintance with public accountability in the form of questions from London assembly members. Wadley edited the Evening Standard throughout the 2008 mayoral election campaign that propelled Johnson to power. It was the most absurdly partisan manifestation of that newspaper ever, and its legacy was such that after a new owner brought the Wadley era to an end, one of her successor Geordie Greig's first moves was to launch an advertising campaign apologising for it.
Johnson, undeterred, ensured Wadley's subsequent elevation to the chair of the London board of the Arts Council after a long and terribly mysterious saga which only ended with the arrival of a Tory culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who took a different view from his Labour predecessor about the application of the Nolan anti-sleaze rules.Johnson, undeterred, ensured Wadley's subsequent elevation to the chair of the London board of the Arts Council after a long and terribly mysterious saga which only ended with the arrival of a Tory culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, who took a different view from his Labour predecessor about the application of the Nolan anti-sleaze rules.
The Tory mayor has now appointed Wadley to the post of Senior Adviser for Team London, Volunteering, Charities and Sponsorship. For this she will be paid £95,000 of taxpayer cash a year, though she's in the fortunate position of being able to provide her first year's labour for free. Her new job's title suggests a wide range of important activities. Would she tell Londoners all about it, please?The Tory mayor has now appointed Wadley to the post of Senior Adviser for Team London, Volunteering, Charities and Sponsorship. For this she will be paid £95,000 of taxpayer cash a year, though she's in the fortunate position of being able to provide her first year's labour for free. Her new job's title suggests a wide range of important activities. Would she tell Londoners all about it, please?
Well, no, actually.Well, no, actually.
A few minutes in Wadley informed Labour's Nicky Gavron that "marketing is not part of my brief," yet Gavron correctly quoted her formal job description (pdf) as "including mass marketing of the mayoral flagships." After Gavron gently probed for clarification, Wadley crisply declared the matter closed. "I have answered the question," she declared.A few minutes in Wadley informed Labour's Nicky Gavron that "marketing is not part of my brief," yet Gavron correctly quoted her formal job description (pdf) as "including mass marketing of the mayoral flagships." After Gavron gently probed for clarification, Wadley crisply declared the matter closed. "I have answered the question," she declared.
It was from this point that I formed the impression that Wadley thought it rather vulgar to be required to explain such things to mere elected representatives of the capital's people. So did at least two assembly members, who re-tweeted the observation to that effect I made on Twitter.It was from this point that I formed the impression that Wadley thought it rather vulgar to be required to explain such things to mere elected representatives of the capital's people. So did at least two assembly members, who re-tweeted the observation to that effect I made on Twitter.
I was following the proceedings from home, via webcast. Soon, the froideur with which Wadley greeted members' inquiries began to frost up my computer screen. Even Tory Tony Arbour felt the chill. "You really are closing off any kind of discussion at all," he remarked. I've been told that Wadley's initial interview for that Arts Council job was thin, but can it have been less use than this frosty performance? I was following the proceedings from home, via webcast. Soon, the froideur with which Wadley greeted members' inquiries began to frost up my computer screen. Even Tory Tony Arbour felt the chill. "You really are closing off any kind of discussion at all," he remarked. I've been told that Wadley's initial interview for that Arts Council job was thin, but can it have been less use than this performance?
True, she vowed to deliver "a vision" and a "delivery mechanism," a post-Olympic volunteering legacy through Team London, "support" for the mayor's charities and to maximise philanthropy. She said that what she called phase two of Team London could be backed with money that went unspent during the Olympics, if the government allows it. But she left the general impression that being held accountable for her performance in her new position was really rather bad form.True, she vowed to deliver "a vision" and a "delivery mechanism," a post-Olympic volunteering legacy through Team London, "support" for the mayor's charities and to maximise philanthropy. She said that what she called phase two of Team London could be backed with money that went unspent during the Olympics, if the government allows it. But she left the general impression that being held accountable for her performance in her new position was really rather bad form.
Well, let's make some allowances. Wadley hasn't been in the job long and getting grilled by the assembly can be taxing. In some people, chilly defensiveness is just a symptom of forgivable anxiety rather than, say, evidence of a rather haughty disdain for anyone so impertinent as to question their essential superiority in practically everything. Wadley owes London a considerable debt for her gruesome stewardship of the Standard. Let's hope she's up to the task of repaying it.Well, let's make some allowances. Wadley hasn't been in the job long and getting grilled by the assembly can be taxing. In some people, chilly defensiveness is just a symptom of forgivable anxiety rather than, say, evidence of a rather haughty disdain for anyone so impertinent as to question their essential superiority in practically everything. Wadley owes London a considerable debt for her gruesome stewardship of the Standard. Let's hope she's up to the task of repaying it.