Six years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts.
Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, every week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented.
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Horserace Betting Levy Board – Chair
“We are seeking to appoint a new Chair to the Horserace Betting Levy Board. We are looking to appoint a candidate with strong leadership and relationship management qualities, excellent communication skills and experience in being responsible for the strategic distribution of funding and spending decisions. This is an exciting opportunity to work with both the public and private sector in supporting one of Britain’s greatest sports. The Chair will be responsible for providing leadership to the Board, overseeing a rigorous collection procedure and decision making for Levy distribution.”
Time: Up to six days per month.
Remuneration: £39,600 per annum plus expenses.
Closes: 25 September
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Parole Board – Vice Chair
“The Vice Chair of the Parole Board plays an important role in the leadership of the Board by: chairing or sitting on Parole Board panels deciding cases considered high profile, or otherwise noteworthy; supporting the Parole Board to fulfil both its statutory functions and performance objectives on member practice and decision making; deciding non-disclosure applications in accordance with the statutory Parole Board rules; approving panel listings for noteworthy or other nominated cases; assisting the Board as necessary when dealing with reconsideration applications…”
Time: 30 days per annum minimum.
Remuneration: £350 per diem (if applicable).
Closes: 27 September
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Civil Aviation Authority – Chair
“The Chair’s role has a diverse remit falling into five key areas. Strategic development and policy oversight: work proactively with the board and with Government to keep the strategic objectives under continual review so that the CAA has clear direction and leadership; build strategic consensus across the board and guide strategy development and delivery; provide strong and constructive challenge to the executive, ensuring policy delivery follows strategic direction; whilst the CAA operates in a complex, safety and security critical environment, you will ensure that it continues to put consumers’ needs first…”
Time: Two days per week.
Remuneration: £130,000 per annum.
Closes: 27 September
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Independent Family Returns Panel – Chair
“The Chair is appointed by the Home Secretary to oversee the operation of the Independent Family Returns Panel (‘the Panel’). The Chair has overall accountability for the Panel’s work and is responsible for overseeing the operation and output of the Panel, in collaboration with the Home Office Sponsorship Unit and Family Returns Unit. As the Panel Chair your key responsibilities will be: providing effective leadership to deliver the safeguarding objectives of the family returns policy; and manage the Panel’s operation to ensure the necessary level of safeguarding of children’s interests…”
Time: 1-2 days per week.
Remuneration: £500 per diem.
Closes: 27 September
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Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy – Pubs Code Adjudicator
“The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (SBEE Act) requires the Secretary of State to appoint a Pubs Code Adjudicator. The PCA’s primary role is to govern the relationship between pub owning businesses and their tied tenants and to enforce the Pubs Code. The Adjudicator’s powers include: giving advice and guidance; investigating non-compliance with the Code and consider which, if any, enforcement measures should be taken; and arbitrating disputes under the Code and award redress if a breach is proven, including arbitration of rent disputes. The Adjudicator also raises awareness of the Code and the Adjudicator’s role amongst tied tenants and the pub-owning companies in scope of the Code…”
Time: Full-time, part-time available.
Remuneration: £130-140,000 per annum.
Closes: 29 September
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Youth Justice Board – Chair
“The Chair has the overall responsibility for ensuring that the YJB properly discharges its statutory functions. The Chair is responsible for the appraisal of the Board members and the Chief Executive. With support from the Chief Executive, the Chair is responsible for ensuring that Board members fully understand their duties and responsibilities as public appointees. Provide leadership for the YJB in setting priorities and supporting whole system improvement. The Board’s plans are set out in their Business and Strategic Plans. Hold the organisation to account in delivering its objectives; support whole system performance which reflects that those within the system are children…”
Time: Two days per annum.
Remuneration: £400 per diem.
Closes: 02 October
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Nuclear Decommissioning Authority – Chair
“The Chair of the NDA is a critical and highly visible role of national importance, providing effective leadership and direction to the Board, offering appropriate and robust challenge in shaping the organisation’s strategy. Appointed by the Secretary of State for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in consultation with Scottish ministers, the Chair will lead the NDA through a period of change, maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders, and representing the NDA externally.”
Time: 2-3 days per week.
Remuneration: £187,500 per annum.
Closes: 07 October
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Commission on Human Medicines – Commissioner
“Commissioners are required to: possess or develop a working knowledge and understanding of the UK/European medicines regulatory procedures; attend all scheduled and unscheduled meetings of the CHM (and to be present for the whole meeting); consider, comment and contribute by drawing on their individual expertise and judgement, as appropriate, on all agenda items and to assist the CHM to frame clear and unequivocal advice to Ministers in accordance with the CHM’s terms of reference; be able and prepared to speak on a range of relevant issues and not just on their own areas of specialism; provide formal and informal advice to Ministers between meetings when required…”
Time: Approx. 22 days per annum.
Remuneration: £325 per meeting.
Closes: 08 October
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Gambling Commission – Commissioners
“Under the leadership of the Chair, the Commissioners have responsibility for (in summary): ensuring that the Gambling Commission fulfils its statutory objectives and duties; ensuring that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with; setting the overarching strategy for the organisation and making strategically significant decisions; setting organisational risk appetite and ensuring a framework for effective identification and mitigation of top risks; ensuring that the Board receives and reviews regular information and data concerning the management of the Commission; setting the overarching stakeholder engagement strategy; [and] demonstrating high standards of corporate governance at all times.”
Time: Approx. one day a week on average.
Remuneration: £295 per diem.
Closes: 10 October