Question
Despite concerns, Reform rushed through the appointment of Norfolk county council’s new CEO, Dennis Bacon. Thanks to Councillor Ben Weston, we now know that Mr Bacon hosted senior Reform councillors at his luxury B&B the day before job applications opened. Norfolk Reform has failed on three Nolan principles: selflessness, integrity and objectivity. Does my hon. Friend agree that a slap-up meal should not get someone a £215,000 job?
Answer
My hon. Friend raises concerning point. I thank my hon. Friend and Councillor Ben Weston too for highlighting the issue. I obviously cannot get into the specifics of the case—local authorities are independent employers, so individual employment decisions are a matter for them—but I am concerned that there is a pattern of conduct and behaviour in Reform councils that we would not usually find acceptable, and we should not allow it to be normalised.17% point-scoring 17% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (34/100)
The minister did not directly confirm or reject whether hospitality received before job applications opened should rule out the chief executive appointment. The reply said employment decisions are for the councils and expressed general concern that such conduct should not be normalised in Reform-led councils, but it did not commit to a view on this specific appointment. Because the answer is hedged and indirect, the person who asked would likely need to submit a follow-up to get a clear position.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does the minister agree that hospitality provided to senior councillors the day before job applications opened should not secure the appointment of a chief executive on a £215,000 salary? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The item asks whether the minister agrees that hospitality before job applications opened should not secure the chief executive appointment. The reply declines to discuss the specific case and says employment decisions are for the councils, which is a stated reason. It then voices concern about a general pattern of unacceptable conduct in Reform councils and says it should not be normalised, which is close to agreement in substance. However, it never directly endorses the specific proposition about this appointment, and its wording is rhetorical rather than committal. |