Updated - DEFRA Statement
"Staff at certain grades can take part in national and local political activities provided they do not occupy sensitive posts. We can confirm that the civil servant in question is not in a politically restricted role. The Civil Service code sets out the duties and responsibilities of all civil servants, whatever their jobs. Defra takes the impartiality of its employees seriously and is confident that impartiality has not been compromised in this case."
Interesting...
Some further questions:
What is her job?
Why then was "the civil servant in question" allegedly prohibited from attending Labour Party conference this year due to the sensitivity of her role in briefing ministers?
So Defra is fine with their civil servants writing for an
officially endorsed Labour website
?How do the following not compromise impartiality:
"I pay my union dues (I'm a proud Unite member) and a couple of quid to Amnesty. I'm also shelling out for my Labour Party membership, plus Compass and the Fabian Society."Compass and Fabian both actively lobby departments such as Defra.
From
the blog
:"I'm beginning to think it's time to revive tactical voting. I disagree with the Lib Dems on substantial issues. That's why I'm not a Lib Dem, interestingly enough. Still, if I live in a constituency where it's a choice between a Lib Dem and a Tory MP, where the Labour candidate is unlikely to get a look in, I'd strongly consider voting for the Lib Dem candidate."
"In 2005, I had the dubious privilege of a meeting with Davey C, then Shadow Education Secretary, along with university classmates. (Yep, Dave and I have the same degree from the same Oxford college. Only I didn't get a first.) I asked him his feelings on proportional representation. He slammed me down fairly comprehensively in that charming oh-what-a-silly-young-Irish-woman, don't-ask-me-difficult-questions sort of way."
Conservatives - "They'd be funny if they weren't so dangerous."
Plus TB's favourite: "Every time I hear anything about the Tories these days, it reminds me ofHow can they be confident impartiality has not been breached when this impartial civil servant is so clearly repulsed by the prospect of a potential incoming Conservative government?this."
Where does calling Tories c**ts fit in that impartiality thing? Will she be able to form the "same relationship with those whom you may be required to serve in some future Government"?
TB didn't think so either.
UPDATE 16.15: DEFRA Senior Press Officer Sima Parmar has refused to comment on why Quigley was not allowed to go to Party conference. Funny that.
For those faceless anonymous commenters, with a limited number of IP addresses, who are asking why TB wants this person fired, let him make a couple of things clear. He has no desire to see this person fired just the blog and the Young Labour chairmanship to go while she is taking the taxpayers shilling.
UPDATE 16.15: DEFRA Senior Press Officer Sima Parmar has refused to comment on why Quigley was not allowed to go to Party conference. Funny that.
For those faceless anonymous commenters, with a limited number of IP addresses, who are asking why TB wants this person fired, let him make a couple of things clear. He has no desire to see this person fired just the blog and the Young Labour chairmanship to go while she is taking the taxpayers shilling.
Posts
22 comments:
TB:
All departmental civil servants were banned from attending party conferences this year after a specific directive from the Cabinet Secretary. Including those who are not politically restricted.
I remember people grumbling about it at the time; some of the in-house public affairs types at the non-ministerial departments wanted to go.
This is starting to look like harassment TB.
"We can confirm that the civil servant in question is not in a politically restricted role. The Civil Service code sets out the duties and responsibilities of all civil servants, whatever their jobs. Defra takes the impartiality of its employees seriously and is confident that impartiality has not been compromised in this case."
"What is her job?" Well surely thats's none of your business.
You've had your fun and you've got your answer. Defra and to quote again (because it looks as if you missed it):
"Defra... is confident that impartiality has not been compromised in this case"
Time to end this.
said anonymous.
it's called following up an flagrant abuse of the rules
"The civil servant in question is not in a politically restricted role"
PLEASE READ
You are again assuming that an employer paying you for 40 hours a week gains the right to dictate what you do with the other 128. They don't, except in very particular circumstances.
This is no better than the schools threatening to discipline teachers who get drunk at the weekend. What a world we'll be heading for, prisoners allowed to engage in politics, but government employees banned...
Great. I can now tell all my tory friends who work for the civil service that they can come canvassing and delivering after all.
And if their bosses give them any grief they can just reply, "Christine Quigley"!
"The civil servant in question is not in a politically restricted role"
Who rules are these? Defra's or your own partisan ones?
"my tory friends who work for the civil service"
Bloody hell! I thought I was the only one!
"Great. I can now tell all my tory friends who work for the civil service that they can come canvassing and delivering after all."
They always could. If they're using it as an excuse they're either very senior, or they just don't want to canvass for you!
Well...her blog has gone.
You've chased the issue up. She's not in a restricted role. The department are happy with her political involvement.
Perhaps it's time you just gave it a rest, since you're clearly trying to make a mountain out of a molehill?
Something you've quite frankly been doing a lot of recently.
stick with it TB.
I have got accustomed to ignoring weasel words such as "DEFRA is confident that..." They are not actually saying that impartiality has not been compromised.
So take it from an oldie, do not trust what people imply or hint or seem to say or assure. You cannot trust a statement unless it is absolutely clear and unambiguous.
TB,
Refreshing to know that there are others that seek the truth. Keep up the good work and do not always believe what you are led to.
Leave her alone.
If the civil service say that she is in a politically-unrestricted role, then surely that is the end of it?
The Code is actually rather loose when it applies to politically-unrestricted staff. The blog using the name of the civil service to talk about party politics was definately a no-no, which is why it has gone, but there is nothing stopping her from being head of London Young Labour.
Stop trying to muck around with people's jobs and livelihoods.
*A politically restricted member of the civil service, who gave up active campaigning in the Lib Dems to take the job. Happy to provide name and number via email if you think that makes me one of the "faceless anonymous commenters, with a limited number of IP addresses".*
John Oddy who just posted here is a BNP councillor. Who needs enemies with friends like that TB?
So who did you get this news from Tory Bear?
Stick with it.
Clealy a breach of the rules. What's more I don't see how one can be polliically active to this extent and be an agent of the state at the same time.
I really think TB is pushing this a bit too far...
I used to work in the Civil Service and was activiely campaigning to be a PPC - Civil servants should have every right to be political - There are plenty who can't wait to see the back of this lot. And it was definitely not for Labour of course.
In fact, I think they should be entitled to post a comment about a government policy - though probably not on a work computer, that would be foolish.
Gus Baker,
If you insist on reading profiles please do it correctly, you will see the word “Ex” appears. A person’s previous political affiliations have no bearing on the subject matter; what is being allowed is wrong, if you feel differently about that then please come up with a reasonable argument and don’t use my politics to excuse yours.
She didn't get a First and Dave did. Must be bugging her a lot.
People on the left come to Oxford with the idea that they're there for their wits and intelligence, while everyone else is there because daddy bought them a place first at Eton/Winchester, then at Oxford. So when they, after spending most of their time there hacking for OULC (in the better case) or SoWo (in the worse) and living the charmed life of the champagne socialist pseudointelligentsia, come away with a 2.i, they're massively bitter. In more severe cases, they might
"You are again assuming that an employer paying you for 40 hours a week gains the right to dictate what you do with the other 128. They don't, except in very particular circumstances."
Brush up on employment law. If I have an employment contract that includes restrictive covenants, they will be binding on me even if I work for you an hour every month. Were you familiar with actual employment contracts in e.g. R&D, you'd know that such restrictions are plenty.
Game set match with this effort TB.
Good work.