You’d think the Tories couldn’t top having Caroline Spelman’s nanny paid for by the state.But you’d be wrong. Very wrong. A perusal of the newly published Register of Members’ Interests (in which MPs were compelled to declare whether or not they were employing family members) has indeed turned up something of great interest.
The Conservative Party, who’ll you’ll remember as the “Party of the Family,” have among their ranks one Laurence Robertson, MP for Tewkesbury and Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland, whose declaration is admirably candid:
“I employ my wife, Susan Robertson (from whom I am separated) as Secretary. I employ my partner, Anne Marie Adams, as part-time Secretary.”
Recess Monkey is as liberal as the next guy and understands peoples’ circumstances change.
However…
Despite mentioning his wife in the first sentence, Laurence’s Conservative website CV completely ignores his partner and goes on to remind us he was once “Shadow Spokesman for Economic Affairs”. We felt the banner was particularly apt!
A 2005 article in his local newspaper tells us how the former whip found his future mistress part-time secretary.
“He met 35-year-old Annie Adams when he and Susan moved to Twyning three years ago, and they brought their three-year-old granddaughter to Twyning riding school, which she runs, for lessons. “
Tewkesbury - a handy seat for Lawrence?
This was, of course, ideal preparation for Annie to take a position as a part-time secretary (horse people are naturally suited for office secretarial work) and took her share of his staffing allowance of £78,576 along with his full-time secretary wife along with two others.
So to recap, that’s his mistress AND his estranged wife BOTH funded by the taxpayer.
Having read this, Recess Monkey takes some exception to Laurence’s diagnosis of peoples’
frustration with the political system.
As he says in his website letter on 17th June letter, Laurence says ‘it’s about moral authority and broken promises, both of which he relates to the the handling of the Lisbon Treaty!
“I’m proud of my work and I’m proud of my profession. But I can understand why many people are disillusioned with politicians and the political process…
“…Actually, politicians have no moral authority to override people, because it is in order to represent people that we do the job in the first place. I believe we should live by that maxim, both in our own Parliament and in Europe, which must mean recognising that the European Treaty, which amounts to a constitution by any other name, is dead.”
Hopefully David Cameron DOES have the moral authority to override his shadow Northern Ireland Minister and ask exactly what work his mistress and wife have been doing.
The icing on the cake? As a passionate libertarian, he’s a member of the Freedom Association and against equal opportunities!
Yep - you’ve got to get the job on merit if you want to work for Laurence.
We’ll leave the last word with Laurence, on his personal belief.
“I believe in the freedom of the individual, under the rule of law, and the right for people to behave as they wish as long as it doesn’t harm others. I believe in democracy and the nation state.
“And I believe in protecting the vulnerable and in helping others who can’t help themselves.
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Recess Monkey was clever enough to read Laurence Robertson’s website, but failed to notice who the website’s designer and manager is. Well, Recess Monkey, it is me, Susan Robertson! Building and running the website is just one of the many tasks I carry out, along with helping hundreds of constituents with problems. I get paid by the taxpayer because my JOB is a public sector job. I work damned hard and am heartily sick to death of people who don’t even have the courage to write their own names insinuating that I do not work for my salary.
You and anyone else reading this is welcome to come to Tewkesbury to the Constituency Office and see for themselves the work I do - or would that spoil the “Monkey’s mischief.
Susan Robertson said this on July 4th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Frankly I don’t see the problem with this - it sounds a remarkably civilised arrangement!
whatstheproblem? said this on July 4th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Haha! Classic. Get in there, Susan!
Edward said this on July 4th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Well said Susan! And the mischief maker doesn’t appear to know the difference between a partner and a mistress.
Simian Sceptic said this on July 4th, 2008 at 11:11 am
when did they go onto the payroll?
J said this on July 4th, 2008 at 11:41 am
There is nothing wrong with employing wives, partners, exes or mistresses, one-night stands or just interns who assist orally - so long as they actually do the day job too.
Bill Clinton said this on July 4th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Yeah, so you actually work for what you get paid, are you telling me that is true in all cases? The media’s job is to flag these things up, if they are wrong fair enough, but don’t go on the offensive just because someone dares question what appears, on the surface at least, to be a dodgy arrangement. Let’s face it in any other industry someone employing both their ex-wife and partner at the shareholder’s expense would have to flag that and ensure that there was no question of favourable treatment being given to family. - signed Penfold - not my real name, perhaps when the taxpayer is funding me I will feel the need to sacrifice my anonymity
penfold said this on July 4th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Well done, sir. And well done Susan, for taking the monkey to task!
Tuscan Tony said this on July 4th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Not the last time a monkey will be spanked around here, I’m sure.
jus'askin' said this on July 4th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
AS Susan Robertson is so happy to tell us all about building Laurence’s website and how she works “damned hard” in the constituency office - can she also tell us what Annie Adams does for her publicy-funded pay? Is Susan Annie’s manager? Or do they take direction from Laurence separately?
The Listener said this on July 4th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Susan Robertson was not clever enough to see the point of the post.
Laurence’s CV on the Conservative website references her as his wife but ignores his new partner Annie.
The post DID NOT IN ANY WAY suggest that Susan Robertson was not active but drew attention to Annie and, although mockingly, questioned what qualifies a horse riding instructor to be a part-time secretary? Especially now as Susan is demonstrably so capable.
It also take exception to the suggestion made by Laurence that what frustrates people about politics is the treatment of the Lisbon Treaty.
bonoboy said this on July 4th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Bonoboy “what qualifies a horse riding instructor to be a part-time secretary?”
What qualifies a formerly low-grade employee at Scottish TV (3 years experience under the belt) to be PM?
Tuscan Tony said this on July 4th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
My God! He’s no oil painting!
But then again…………I haven’t seen the secretaries! LOL
Silent Hunter said this on July 4th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Did Brown go straight from TV to PM? I thought he’d been elected to Parliament…served in the Shadow Cabinet…was Chancellor for 11 years during a time which the economy grew every quarter (which never happened before) and was then elected by his peers to become the leader of his Party in Government.
Perhaps he was married to the Labour electorate and they just gave him the job and now he says he deserves it because he works hard…but the former is the generally held understanding.
Bonoboy said this on July 4th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
and was then elected by his peers to become the leader of his Party in Government….????
Did I miss an election?
Bill Quango MP said this on July 4th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
More interesting than the declared relationships are the undeclared ones which your post prompted me to check. See my humble emporium for more.
Praguetory said this on July 4th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Elected unopposed is still elected. Not very satisfactory but yes, you appear to have missed it or have little understanding of the rules of each of the main Parties or of your own democracy.
Bonoboy said this on July 4th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
The fact remains that throughout the normal world of work it is de rigeur to advertise, shortlist and interview applicants to find the best person for publically-funded posts, as judged against a detailed job description. I’m sure Mr Robertson went through these procedures but he must have been staggered that the best people on the shortlist turned out to be his wife and his mistress! What a coincidence!
Tony Pandy said this on July 4th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Well thats you stuffed recess monkey - and it seems Guido can only be bothered to read headlines and not the comments.
Why the pejorative term ‘mistress’ - you pompous twit?
He is separated from his wife and has another partner now — so what?
In the final analysis MPs are judged every general election - unless this guy has made some criticism against divorce etc his private life is no ones concern. There is a limit set to how much is paid by public purse to secretaries - I see no difference to paying a wife etc or some other person who may be even more useless. Why should wives/ partners make bad secretaries?
Pathetic crap pointless and useless story - I am getting fed up of them all. No wonder we get useless MPs. Start criticising them for their opinions not their private lives or employment practices.
TrevorH said this on July 4th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Pathetic crap pointless and useless story - I am getting fed up of them all. No wonder we get useless MPs. Start criticising them for their opinions not their private lives or employment practices.
Trevor - are you blind mate?
“Recess Monkey is as liberal as the next guy and understands peoples’ circumstances change.”
The criticism is ignoring the new partner on the Conservative CV and putting them both on taxpayer payroll. We also said the declaration was “admirably candid”.
Bonoboy said this on July 4th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
oh aye, nowt wrong with MPs employing members of their family, and extended family at the taxpayer’s expense.They must keep themselves in the style they are accustomed while they hunt down single mothers earning £20 a week on the side while claiming benefit.We all hate parasites after all!!!!
Gizzajob said this on July 4th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
John Prescott’s going on were alright then?
sheepdip said this on July 5th, 2008 at 7:53 am
22 comments, this is your most successful blogpost in a long time!
Cheese eating surrender monky said this on July 5th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Sorry I left the e out of moneky
Cheese eating surrender monkey said this on July 5th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I’m now worrying that people won’t understand the joke mispelling.
Cheese eating surrender monkey said this on July 5th, 2008 at 8:35 am
irrespective of whether you work hard or not susan (i personally doubt it very much) the fact of the matter is you got the job because you fucked the boss and for no other reason. If you’re really worth the money the taxpayer pays you then you should have no trouble getting a job on merit instead of living as a parasitical hanger on to the political gravy train
jabberwocky said this on July 5th, 2008 at 8:59 am
as long as they have both been working for him on a full time basis since they have been paid, i can’t see a problem - the problem with the conway incident was that they were being paid when they weren’t even about… doesn’t sound like thats the case here
Bro said this on July 5th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Having his cake and eating it. Only Tories get away with this sort of thing.
Cornelius said this on July 5th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
It’s not just about working hard in fact. Willing AND able should be the test.
Chris paul said this on July 5th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
The problem is simple - in others walks of life it is generally unacceptable to employ someone who is not a true third party when you are spending someone elses money. The public sector recognise this, businesses often have formal policies in place.
Given the unusual nature of MP’s work I’m sure that employing partners aids family life and emotional stability, whist getting excellent and committed staff in many cases. But face facts - it looks opportunistic and I cant believe that in many cases it is not.
AJ said this on July 6th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
[…] Recess Monkey proving that Labour supporting blogs can do attack dog stuff just as well as the drunken driver and […]
The new left of centre blogging « Dogstarscribe’s Weblog said this on July 8th, 2008 at 8:59 am