Eight years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.
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NHS England– Chair
“NHS England shares responsibility with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for promoting a comprehensive health system in England, for securing improvements in physical and mental health, and for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ill-health… The Chair will play a crucial role in holding the organisation to account to deliver improvements in patients’ care, value for money and broader health reforms. This will include elective service recovery and creating a new integrated system between health and social care, focussed on improving outcomes required as a result of the new health and social care levy.”
Time: 2-3 days per week
Remuneration: £63,000 per annum
Closes: 16 November
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Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority – Board Member
“Now is an exciting time to be a Board member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, as the organisation is embarking on a major programme of transformation (as set out by the 3-year Corporate Plan 2021-24), with a real desire to put customer service at the forefront of its regulatory functions. IPSA’s mission is to enable MPs to focus on what really matters by providing an exemplary, seamless regulatory service, underpinning its purpose of supporting democracy with great service, fair rules and wise spending. Its purpose, mission and values are all newly defined through extensive internal and external engagement and IPSA have recently secured additional funding through the Speaker’s Committee for IPSA (SCIPSA) to deliver its Corporate Plan.”
Time: 2-3 days per month
Remuneration: £400 per diem
Closes: 22 November
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UK Government Investments – Non-Executive Directors
“UK Government Investments (UKGI) is the government’s centre of excellence in corporate governance and corporate finance. The organisation works across government on some of its most interesting and complex commercial and financial tasks. It is responsible for promoting good governance of publicly owned businesses, supporting the government’s private sector interventions and delivering orderly transactions that generate value for money. UKGI are looking for two Non-Executive Directors to join the Board. The Board provides strategic direction and ensures UKGI is equipped to perform its functions, including having sufficient resourcing and a suitable organisational structure. The Board also enables effective arrangements to be put in place to provide assurance on risk management, governance and internal control.”
Time: No less than 3 days per month
Remuneration: £25,000 per annum
Closes: 22 November
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Ofcom – Non-Executive Board Member
“Ofcom is the regulator for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications, wireless communications, radio and postal services. Ofcom has also taken on new duties in 2021 in regulating content on Video Sharing Platforms and has a new role in making sure telecoms networks have adequate cyber security. Ofcom is also preparing for new online duties to help make the internet a safer place. Ofcom is accountable to Parliament but is independent of both Government and those it regulates.”
Time: Up to 2 days per week
Remuneration: £42,519 per annum.
Closes: 24 November
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UK Space Agency – Board Chair
“The UK Space Agency, an executive agency of BEIS, supports BEIS in the delivery of the strategic direction for the UK’s civil space activities and provides funding and other support to grow the UK’s space sector and foster ground-breaking science and innovation, with an aspiration to be a meaningful global leader in space. The Agency’s work covers a broad spectrum of activity, from fundamental research into the origins of the universe to investment in down-to-earth uses of space, such as weather forecasting, telecommunications and safety-critical navigation.”
Time: 24 days per month
Remuneration: £13,000-20,000 per annum
Closes: 28 November
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Ofcom – Chair
“The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is looking for an outstanding individual to appoint as the new Chair for Ofcom… Ofcom is the regulator for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, telecommunications, wireless communications, online, radio and postal services. Ofcom is accountable to Parliament and is independent of both Government and those it regulates. Ofcom operates at the cutting-edge of the digital communications industries in the UK and in a fast changing environment. Ofcom’s principal duty is to further the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate, by promoting competition.”
Time: 3 days per week
Remuneration: £142,500 per annum
Closes: 29 November
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Research England – Executive Chair
“The Executive Chair, working with the Research England Council Members, is responsible for setting the strategic vision for RE and contributing to the wider direction of UKRI. As a visible and credible leader of Research England you will provide direction, ensuring delivery research, skills, and infrastructure investments. As a member of UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Executive Committee, the Executive Chair will be accountable to, and work closely with, the UKRI Chief Executive Officer. The Research England’s Executive Chair may also be responsible for leading and delivering one or more cross cutting areas for UKRI.”
Time: Full time
Remuneration: £120,000-144,500 per annum, plus bonus
Closes: 16 December