Welsh minister sacks recently-appointed governance adviser to council over plans to stand for Brexit Party

The Minister for Housing and Local Government in Wales, Julie James, has sacked an adviser appointed last month to give members at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council with politically non-aligned advice and support on effective governance, after it was announced that she would be standing as a candidate for the Brexit Party at the next general election.

The minister had issued a statement in June this year saying she intended to provide the council with formal support under section 28 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009.

Last month James appointed two advisers to deliver the first phase of support, involving an initial scoping review of the issues, on her behalf.

The first was John Gilbert, a former local authority chief executive, who was appointed as an external adviser on corporate matters.

The second was Kate Allsop, a former elected mayor of Mansfield Council, standing as a member of the ‘Mansfield Independent Forum’.

In a written ministerial statement Ms James said: “Her [Allsop’s] role in Merthyr was very clear: she was appointed as an adviser to provide members with politically non-aligned advice and support on effective governance, engaging across political parties and balancing strategic priorities with local needs.

“On the basis of her work she would then provide a report to me on what steps would need to be taken for future support and improvement. Ms Allsop needed to work closely and effectively with the Leader, Cabinet and other council members from all political parties in the Council to develop and strengthen working relationships.”

Ms James said that on 2 August, “without giving me or my officials advance notice”, Ms Allsop announced that she would be standing at the next general election as a parliamentary candidate for the Brexit party.

The minister said that the next day “it was agreed Ms Allsop could no longer continue as a political adviser for this initial phase of formal support”.

Insisting that Ms Allsop had been appointed following a thorough selection process, the minister said that her officials had worked with the Welsh Local Government Association, who liaised with the Local Government Association, to assist in identifying suitable candidates to fulfil the role of an independent peer adviser.

“Given the current political make up of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and after discussion with the Leader, an adviser with an independent political background was a key factor in identifying a candidate with whom the majority of members would work,” Ms James said.

“Ms Allsop gave us no indication either in her CV or subsequent conversations that she was currently affiliated to any political party, or that she was considering standing for a political party when my officials considered her suitability for the role. I therefore made her appointment on this basis as an independent peer adviser, based on her undoubted extensive experience working at the highest level over a number of years as an independent councillor in local government.

“However, Ms Allsop’s declaration to stand as an MP fundamentally changed the nature of her status as independent and therefore compromised the basis on which I made her appointment. I would not appoint a candidate to any adviser post who was prominently engaged in national political activity.”

Describing the series of events as “surprising and unwelcome”, Ms James said: “We must not allow them to deflect from the issue at hand. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s current position is serious and our focus should remain on supporting the Council to ensure it is able to serve the people of Merthyr Tydfil effectively and efficiently; and working hard to ensure this initial phase of support is completed as quickly as possible.”

She said Mr Gilbert would continue his role to undertake the initial review of the council, which will scope the main challenges it faces. He is due to report in mid-September.

Ms Allsop told BBC Wales that she had “done a huge amount of the work in just three-and-a-half days” and claimed that “to be forced out because I'm standing up for democracy is an absolute travesty”.

She added: "Nothing changed in my views and ability and my skillset.

"I'm absolutely gutted - I loved Merthyr, it's a lovely town, I wanted to help the council get back on the right track, improve relationships with members, officers and the public.

"They never asked me if I had any political leanings, and they didn't say when they appointed me it was on the basis that I don't declare any political allegiance."