Politics
Public outcry as Angela Rayner defends 68,000 photographers: “good for democracy” or waste?
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner defended the decision to hire a personal photographer on a taxpayer-funded salary of £68,000, arguing the role helps ensure public accountability. The move has attracted criticism, especially as the salary is £20,000 more than that of the Prime Minister's official photographer.
The role of Simon Walker
Simon Walker, the photographer in question, was appointed earlier this year by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which falls under Rayner's remit. Its role, according to Rayner, is to ensure transparency by documenting its work and public commitments.
Speaking on the ITV program LorraineRayner responded to the criticism: “There's kind of a balance to be found, because sometimes you're like 'well, you never see her' or 'she's only doing this for a photo shoot'. So you try kind of finding the right balance between letting people know what you do and where you are.”
Past criticisms of similar expenses
The decision drew comparisons to Rayner's past criticism of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson for employing three “vanity photographers” during his time in office. Critics say his actions undermine his previous stance on such spending.
Rayner is the first deputy prime minister to have a personal photographer, a distinction which has not gone unnoticed. Although David Cameron was the first Prime Minister to hire a full-time photographer, this role was funded by the Conservative Party rather than public funds.
Other controversial appointments
This isn't Rayner's first high-profile move to attract attention. In October his department appointed Mo Baines, chairman of UNISON's Manchester branch, as senior non-executive director for a one-year term. Right-wing blog Guido Fawkes alleged that the appointment circumvented normal civil service hiring practices, pointing to UNISON's substantial donations to the Labor Party, which amounted to more than £350,000 this year.
Rayner also faced backlash earlier in the year for accepting more than £3,500 worth of designer clothes and a free stay in a New York apartment from Labor peer Lord Alli. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer was also criticized for accepting around £19,000 worth of luxury goods from the same donor. In response to public criticism, Rayner and Starmer pledged to stop accepting clothing donations.
Scandals across party lines
The controversy surrounding the photographer and Rayner's appointments is the latest in a series of financial and ethical questions raised about Labor figures. This fits into a wider historical pattern of scandals often attributed to Britain's main political parties. As the saying goes: “With Labor, it's always about the money; among conservatives, it’s always sex.”
From the controversy over a £1 million donation involving Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone in 1997, to Peter Mandelson's undeclared £373,000 loan the following year, financial scandals have frequently haunted the party. Meanwhile, the Tories have faced their own share of scandals, from the John Profumo affair in 1963 to Matt Hancock's resignation in 2021 for breaking Covid rules with his aide.
Rayner's defense of his £68,000 photographer has divided opinion. Supporters argue that its role with the public requires effective communication, while critics see it as an unnecessary expense during a cost-of-living crisis. The debate highlights ongoing tensions around the use of taxpayer money for political purposes, a topic likely to remain contentious in the months to come.
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