Bridget Phillipson, whose Education Bill is already causing Labour much grief, has appointed four new non-executive board members to the Department for Education, promising they would “provide strong advice and challenge” to her, her ministerial team, and senior officials. That challenge might be a little one-sided—since two of the four are Labour or Co-operative Party members…
Naomi Eisenstadt isn’t just offering her expertise; she’s also offering Labour £10 a month as a party member. Margaret Casely-Hayford, another appointee, declared her membership in the Co-operative Party. Meanwhile, Kevan Collins, the department’s lead non-executive board member, is both a Labour member and a donor, handing over £500 to the party. With a board like this, Phillipson won’t be facing much finger wagging…
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”