Tuesday 24 August 2010

Freedom of information request submitted re William Hague and his new "adviser"

Interest in William Hague’s new special adviser, 25-year-old Chris Myers, shows no sign of abating. As the Mail on Sunday reported at the weekend, Myers, a history graduate from Durham University, has joined the Foreign Secretary’s coterie despite the coalition’s promise to slash spending on ministers’ support staff.

Please can we go and see a musical, Wizziwig, please

Blogger Guido Fawkes, aka Paul Staines, has submitted a Freedom of Information request with the following enquiries: "Has Mr Myers been on any international trips with the Foreign Secretary involving overnight stays?" "How much is Mr Myers being paid?" And "Could you please provide a detailed job description." Myers was appointed two weeks ago to the so-called Tyke Mafia, an inner circle of special advisers who share Hague’s Yorkshire roots. All are believed to be on £30,000 salaries.

Guido terms his FoI request "Just Asking" and opines: "Seems odd that young Christopher Myers (25) should go from driving William Hague (49) around his constituency during elections, where according to the Mirror … they became close during campaigns" to become his third special adviser. The Foreign Secretary’s office says Hague has hired a third special adviser owing to his additional responsibilities as First Secretary of State. Staines acknowledges this on his blog but comments that "[Peter] Mandelson [the previous First Secretary of State] didn’t hire young friends as special advisers, so far as I know".

Pressed further this morning about he detailed nature of his FoI request, Staines is defiant. "It is a question of propriety," he says.