Labour has found itself engulfed in another cronyism row after Wes Streeting’s fiancé was handed a major party role – with Ellie Costello highlighting he’s not the only senior Labour figure to have family in a senior positions.
Streeting’s partner, Joe Dancey, is set to become Labour’s new executive director of policy and communications, a position second only to the general secretary.
The appointment, which comes with a £104,985 annual salary, follows a series of similar appointments, raising questions about the party’s hiring practices and potential conflicts of interest.
Defending the position on GB News political commentator Scarlett Mccgwire dismissed concerns as a “non-story.”
Scarlett Mccgwire dismissed concerns as a “non-story”
GB News
She told GB News: “It was an open appointment. Lots of people applied and he was probably the best.
“I mean, he’s certainly really, really excellent and has got a CV to die for.”
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She explained: “Everybody knows he’s great at communications. One of the reasons Wes Streeting is such a good communicator is that he’s always had great advice from his media person.
“Some of us think that maybe had he been in number ten, we wouldn’t be in the mess that we’re in.”
Ellie pointed out: “It’s not the only Labour figure though with close family links, is it?
“I mean, Rachel Reeves sister. Then you’ve got Mr Ingham, who is married to Jess Leigh, who’s an adviser to Yvette Cooper. There’s lots of family links here, isn’t there?”
Wes Streeting is the Health Secretary
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Former MP Norman Baker said: “Let’s not forget Boris Johnson giving some of his close associates favours including membership of the House of Lords.
“I mean we’ve got to see it as it is. Sometimes the the papers, it seems to me are being harder on Keir Starmer and the Labour Party than ever were on the Tories.”
Labour maintains that Dancey’s role was publicly advertised and that he was selected based on his qualifications and experience.
The party has declined to comment further on the matter.
Norman Baker said the media are hard on Labour
GB News
Recently, it emerged that the party had requested exemptions from normal recruitment processes for civil servants on 67 occasions, as recorded by the Civil Service Commission watchdog.
While there is no suggestion that Dancey’s appointment broke any rules, the frequency of family connections in senior Labour positions has raised concerns about transparency and fairness
Critics argue that such appointments may create the perception of a closed circle within the party, potentially alienating supporters and undermining Labour’s credibility as it prepares for the next general election.