'Discrimination' concerns over Stormont constituency jobs
Dozens of Northern Ireland Assembly members are recruiting staff in a way that could risk claims of unlawful discrimination, a BBC News NI investigation has found.They include First Minister Michelle O'Neill, as the "essential criteria" for some jobs in her constituency office suggested applicants should hold certain political beliefs.Recruitment guidance issued to members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) says they should give "equality of opportunity to all candidates irrespective of... political opinion". The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said that, while there are "exceptions" in employment law, the job ads could be "open to a claim for unlawful discrimination".
An assembly spokesman said MLAs are given "advice on best practice" and "it is for each MLA to appoint employees on merit after a fair and open competition".Sinn Féín said staff are employed by MLAs to "pursue their priorities for constituency and assembly business", and "these priorities may legitimately be influenced by their own political perspective".MLAs claimed more than £8m in expenses in 2023-24 for constituency office staffing costs including wages.The job ads and criteria for almost 300 constituency office posts were examined by BBC News NI.The documents for many of them stated that applications were welcomed from "all backgrounds" regardless of "political opinion".
Some said candidates should have an "understanding of" the objectives or values of the MLA's political party.But others suggested applicants must hold those political beliefs.Most of those jobs were with Sinn Féin MLAs.In the "essential criteria", they said candidates should have a "strong" or "proven commitment to Sinn Féin's values".This included posts with Michelle O'Neill, the party's deputy leader.Some jobs with MLAs for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) had similar wording.
Caseworker jobs in former UUP leader Doug Beattie's office said candidates needed a "strong commitment" to the party's values.Some jobs for Cara Hunter also said candidates should have a "strong commitment to SDLP principles and values".Belfast-based employment solicitor Cormac Rice expressed concern over job vacancies being "contingent upon a predisposition towards a specific political persuasion".He said it "may undermine equality of opportunity and the need to ensure that the best candidate is appointed".
Stormont's "best practice guidance" issued to MLAs for recruitment of their office staff advises that "equality of opportunity is integral".It said recruitment should be "solely on the basis of merit" and provide "equality of opportunity to all candidates", irrespective of protected characteristics including gender, religion and "political opinion".The Equality Commission said all employers must "operate within our equality laws"."Any employer who states or implies in a job advertisement that an applicant must hold, or not hold, a particular political opinion to be eligible for the role, may leave themselves open to a claim for unlawful discrimination," a spokeswoman said.However, she said the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 "includes an exception in relation to political opinion" where the "essential nature of a job requires it"."We advise employers to contact us for advice before publishing job advertisements that rely on this exception," she added.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said: "Every MLA is resourced to employ staff to support them to serve their constituents and pursue their priorities for constituency and assembly business."These priorities may legitimately be influenced by their own political perspective."MLAs can seek HR support from the institution to ensure fair and consistent recruitment processes that promotes equal opportunities."
An assembly spokesman said MLAs employ staff to support their work."This is distinct from support that may be provided centrally by their political party," he added."Guidance published to MLAs by the Assembly Commission provides advice on best practice in recruitment, including the need to ensure that no unlawful discrimination occurs when making employment decisions."Taking this guidance into account, it is for each MLA to appoint employees on merit after a fair and open competition."The UUP was approached for comment.The SDLP said it "remains committed to ensuring a fair and transparent process for all job applicants and appointments are made solely on merit"."We are confident we have upheld these principles throughout," a party spokesman added.
'Social media officers'
The recruitment documents were obtained through Freedom of Information requests.They also give an insight into who is being recruited by MLAs, and the kinds of jobs being advertised.Eleven of the 90 MLAs have declared employing family members.More than 60% of the staff recruited since May 2022 were members of their MLA employer's political party.Many of the jobs advertised have titles such as constituency caseworker, manager or policy adviser.Nearly 50 had "communications" in their title, while a further 19 were "social media officers".Pat McCartan, a former member of an independent Stormont panel which set rules on MLA expenses, expressed concern about some of the job titles."It's very far removed from assisting people with their constituency enquiries," he said."They're not paid to be extra party workers."Mr McCartan said there was a need for a "serious audit of the financial arrangements".An assembly spokesman said MLAs employ staff for "a range of roles such as casework, research and communications"."This is distinct from support that may be provided centrally by their political party," he added.He said staff support MLAs "to serve their constituents and pursue their priorities for constituency and assembly business"."Those specific priorities will differ for each member and may be naturally influenced by their political perspective."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
44 minutes ago
- BBC News
Sizewell C nuclear plant gets go-ahead with £14.2bn of government funding
Update: Date: 08:29 BST Title: Sizewell C should be generating electricity by mid-2030s, Miliband confirms Content: Miliband is then asked if he can provide a target date for Sizewell C to start providing electricity to the UK's power grid. The energy secretary says that it will take "about a decade", and should start supplying power in the mid-2030s. Update: Date: 08:27 BST Title: China will not be able to invest, Miliband insists Content: Although the government is investing at least £14.2bn in Sizewell C, there will also be other investors. Miliband is asked whether China will be able to invest in the new power station. "No," he tells Justin Webb - but declines to go into the details on who private bidders might be. "It's majority public investment in Sizewell C," he says, adding that there will be "some" private investment but all bidders will go through national security checks. Update: Date: 08:26 BST Title: Why not just invest in 'green' renewables? Content: Miliband continues, saying some people may be wondering why the government doesn't just invest in renewables. We do want renewables, he says, "but we also need nuclear". Electricity demand will double by 2050 as we move away from fossil fuels, he adds, and "most of our nuclear fleet is retiring". "This is absolutely the right thing to do" in terms of value for money and for the taxpayer, he says. Update: Date: 08:23 BST Title: Sizewell is already approved - so what's different this time? Content: After again being pressed on the government's U-turn on winter fuel payments, Miliband is asked by Justin Webb on the Today programme what is different from previous announcements on Sizewell C. (As a reminder, regulators approved Sizewell C during the previous government.) Miliband says the difference is "that we're funding it - we're putting forward the money to make it happen". He says this is the biggest investment in nuclear in half a century. "We are doing this because we want long-term energy security," he adds. Update: Date: 08:12 BST Title: Ed Miliband speaking to Today - watch live Content: The energy secretary is now speaking to our colleagues on BBC Radio 4's Today programme - you can watch live at the top of the page. We'll have all the key lines here. BBC Radio Suffolk's breakfast show with Wayne Bavin is live from the neighbouring Suffolk town of Leiston this morning. Update: Date: 08:09 BST Title: This is state-sponsored ecocide, claims campaign group Content: Alice CunninghamBBC News, Suffolk Campaign group, Together Against Sizewell C, says it is "outraged" by the funding announcement. Chris Wilson from the group says initial works on the power plant have already harmed the local environment. 'Sizewell C's preparatory works have caused the loss of thousands of trees and miles of hedging as well as covering hundreds of acres with concrete and tarmac, much in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Landscape," he says. "Together with the hundreds of millions of fish that will be killed annually in its cooling water system during its 60 years of operation, in our eyes, the Sizewell C project is state-sponsored ecocide." Update: Date: 08:02 BST Title: New investment but work has already begun Content: Ben ParkerBBC News, Suffolk Thousands of tonnes of soil are being moved ahead of construction of the power station Despite today's announcement of fresh government investment, work on Sizewell C started some time ago, which includes: Update: Date: 07:57 BST Title: Government determined to 'go big' on nuclear Content: Henry ZeffmanChief political correspondent Sizewell was first formally identified, external as a potential site for a new nuclear power plant in 2009 by the then Labour government and its energy secretary - Ed Miliband. Sixteen years, seven prime ministers, and 10 energy secretaries later, the new energy secretary - Ed Miliband - believes the £14bn extra investment in Sizewell C will end the "years of delay" over the project. Government sources say they are determined to "go big" on nuclear power. While Miliband himself has long believed nuclear power is a key way to combat climate change, the government also views it as a reliable power source in a new age of energy insecurity. Yet even if the government's new commitment is the crucial final piece of the puzzle, it's important to stress that Sizewell C is still likely to take at least a decade to complete. Update: Date: 07:55 BST Title: A huge task that will take at least a decade to complete Content: Simon JackBusiness editor Building a nuclear power station is a colossal engineering and financial undertaking. The government has committed to spending £14bn of public money over the next four years on a project it insists will: But it will take at least a decade to complete and the plant of which it is a copy, Hinkley Point C in Somerset, will switch on in the early 2030s - over a decade late and costing billions more than originally planned. The project has faced opposition at local and national level from those who believe Sizewell C will prove to be a costly mistake. But the government insists that nuclear provides enormous amounts of low carbon, non-intermittent energy that will form a crucial part of the UK's energy future. There is also funding to develop smaller reactors and money for research into fusion. This is not the first government to enthusiastically usher in a new nuclear age and realising it will take ages yet. Update: Date: 07:52 BST Title: The history of Sizewell Content: Nuclear power has been produced from Sizewell since the 1960s Sizewell is no stranger to nuclear energy. In 1955, Sizewell A was first proposed as part of the government's post-war White Paper titled A Programme of Nuclear Power. It wanted to build a number of nuclear power plants across the country and Sizewell A, a Magnox plant, was fully operational by 1966. Sizewell A was eventually decommissioned and shut down in 2006, with work still ongoing to demolish the site. Plans for Sizewell B, a pressurised water reactor, were first announced in 1969. After a lengthy planning process, it started generating electricity in 1995. It is still in operation and produces 3.1% of the UK's energy needs. It is the UK's only pressurised water reactor. Update: Date: 07:48 BST Title: We'll learn from Hinkley C to build Sizewell C, says Miliband Content: BBC Breakfast's Jon Kay further presses Miliband on the timetable for Sizewell C. Kay says he remembers as a young reporter when Hinkley C - a power plant in Somerset - was being talked about, and it still isn't completed. He asks Miliband what lessons can be learned from that plant. Miliband says they are "replicating Hinkley at Sizewell", and says lessons from the Somerset plant will help Sizewell built more easily. The government is "confident it can be built quicker and cheaper" than Hinkley, he adds. Update: Date: 07:46 BST Title: Is this the final go-ahead? Content: Vikki IrwinBBC Suffolk political reporter I do not think you can say definitely just yet, but I think this is a major step forward in terms of getting the money and attracting investors to this project. The final investment decision will be in July and obviously it is a lot of money. That is what some of the detractors say about this project say - that it is way too expensive. Update: Date: 07:45 BST Title: When will the plant actually deliver electricity? Content: The energy secretary is now asked when the plant will actually begin providing energy. As a reminder, the plant is expected to take at least a decade to build. Miliband declines to give a precise timetable, but says the government is making "long-term decisions for the future of the country" - adding that's what they were elected to do "and that's what Sizewell C is about". Update: Date: 07:43 BST Title: We're investing in the future, says Miliband Content: After being pressed on Labour's U-turn on winter fuel payments - which was confirmed yesterday - Miliband stresses that expanded investment in nuclear will deliver "clean energy". Sizewell C "shows what we will see this week from the chancellor - a commitment to invest in the future," Miliband says. As a reminder - Chancellor Rachel Reeves is delivering her Spending Review tomorrow Update: Date: 07:32 BST Title: Ed Miliband about to speak - watch live Content: Our colleagues on BBC Breakfast are about to interview Energy Secretary Ed Miliband - watch live at the top of the page. Update: Date: 07:29 BST Title: Trade unions welcome 'good, skilled, unionised jobs' Content: Trade unions have so far welcomed this morning's news. The GMB union's regional secretary Warren Kenny says that "without new nuclear, there can be no net zero". He also says Sizewell C will provide "thousands of good, skilled, unionised jobs" - a sentiment echoed by Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect union. "New nuclear is essential to achieving net zero, providing a baseload of clean and secure energy, as well as supporting good, unionised jobs," he says. The plant's construction is expected to create 10,000 jobs, according to the Treasury. Thousands more are expected to be created in firms supplying the plant. Once operational, Sizewell C is expected to employ 900 people. Update: Date: 07:19 BST Title: Come clean on the total cost, says pressure group Content: As we reported earlier, the cost of building Sizewell C has been estimated at £20bn - and builders EDF have rejected claims that the true cost could double to £40bn. Alison Downes, of the Stop Sizewell C pressure group, said ministers had not "come clean" about the full cost of the project. "There still appears to be no final investment decision for Sizewell C, but £14.2 billion in taxpayers' funding, a decision we condemn and firmly believe the government will come to regret, " she says. "Where is the benefit for voters in ploughing more money into Sizewell C that could be spent on other priorities, and when the project will add to consumer bills and is guaranteed to be late and overspent just like Hinkley C? "Ministers have still not come clean about Sizewell C's cost and, given negotiations with private investors are incomplete, they have signed away all leverage and will be forced to offer generous deals that undermine value for money. "Starmer and Reeves have just signed up to HS2 mark 2." Alison Downes Update: Date: 07:15 BST Title: What is Sizewell C? Content: Sizewell B's single white dome on the blue building is to the left of the proposed double-reactor plant (on the far right). Sizewell A is the grey building on the far left of the picture, casting a shadow on to the beach French energy company EDF wants to build a new two-reactor nuclear power station that could generate 3.2 gigawatts of electricity. It is estimated it could power the equivalent of six million homes and operate for 60 years. It would sit immediately to the north of Sizewell B, which began generating electricity in 1995. Sizewell A opened in 1967 but it stopped generating power in December 2006 and the lengthy decommissioning process is ongoing. Update: Date: 07:10 BST Title: Investment will deliver 'golden age of clean energy' says Miliband Content: Energy Secretary Ed Miliband says the £14.2bn investment is necessary "to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance". He says that the plant is "he only way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis". In comments to the Guardian newspaper, Miliband adds that it will get the country "off the fossil fuel rollercoaster". As a reminder, Miliband will speak live to the BBC at 07:30 and 08:10 - you'll be able to watch live on this page. Update: Date: 07:07 BST Title: How much has already been invested? Content: Various different funding announcements have been made over the years by different governments. A spokesperson for the Department of Energy Security confirmed that with today's announcement, a total of £17.8bn of taxpayers' money had been put towards the project. This included some funding from a subsidy scheme called Devex. The project is still looking for private investors before building work can get under way. Visitors to the area, and to the RSPB's Minsmere nature reserve will have already seen that some preparatory work has taken place to the north of the existing Sizewell site.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Reeves says nuclear investment shows UK ‘back where it belongs'
Rachel Reeves has committed £16.7 billion to nuclear power projects as the country shifts away from fossil fuels. The Chancellor has signed off on £14.2 billion of investment to build the new Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk, while Rolls-Royce has been named as the preferred bidder to build small modular reactors (SMRs) in a programme backed by £2.5 billion of taxpayers' cash. Ms Reeves will use Wednesday's spending review to allocate tens of billions of funding for major infrastructure projects over the rest of the decade. Officials hope SMRs will be cheaper and quicker to build than traditional power plants, and projects could be connected to the grid by the mid-2030s. Ms Reeves said: 'The UK is back where it belongs, taking the lead in the technologies of tomorrow with Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred partner for this journey.' The SMR project could support up to 3,000 new skilled jobs and power the equivalent of around three million homes, with a first site expected to be allocated later this year by state-owned Great British Energy – Nuclear. Tuesday's announcement of Rolls-Royce as the preferred bidder came after the Government confirmed financial support for Sizewell C. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said new nuclear power capacity was needed to deliver a 'golden age of clean energy abundance'. Trade unions welcomed the Sizewell move, which the Treasury said would go towards creating 10,000 jobs, including 1,500 apprenticeships. But the head of a campaign group opposing the plant criticised the decision to commit the funding, saying it is still not clear what the total cost will be. Nuclear plants are seen as increasingly important electricity sources as the Government tries to decarbonise Britain's grid by 2030, replacing fossil fuels with green power. The last time Britain completed one was in 1987, which was the Sizewell B plant. Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, is under construction and is expected to produce enough power for about six million homes when it opens, but that may not be until 2031. The Energy Secretary said: 'We need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance, because that is the only way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis. 'This is the Government's clean energy mission in action – investing in lower bills and good jobs for energy security.' It will get the UK off the 'fossil fuel rollercoaster', he separately told The Guardian. 'We know that we're going to have to see electricity demand at least double by 2050. All the expert advice says nuclear has a really important role to play in the energy system. 'In any sensible reckoning, this is essential to get to our clean power and net zero ambitions.' The joint managing directors of Sizewell C, Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, said: 'Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Sizewell C, the UK's first British-owned nuclear power plant in over 30 years.' At the peak of construction, Sizewell C is expected to provide 10,000 jobs and the company behind the project has already signed £330 million worth of contracts with local businesses. The plant, which will power the equivalent of six million homes, is planned to be operational in the 2030s. The GMB union said giving Sizewell C the go-ahead was 'momentous'. Regional Secretary Warren Kenny said: 'Nuclear power is essential for clean, affordable, and reliable energy – without new nuclear, there can be no net zero. 'Sizewell C will provide thousands of good, skilled, unionised jobs and we look forward to working closely with the Government and Sizewell C to help secure a greener future for this country's energy sector.' Alison Downes, of Stop Sizewell C, said ministers had not 'come clean' about the full cost of the project, which the group have previously estimated could be some £40 billion. She said: 'Where is the benefit for voters in ploughing more money into Sizewell C that could be spent on other priorities, and when the project will add to consumer bills and is guaranteed to be late and overspent just like Hinkley C?' The Government has also promised £2.5 billion over five years for fusion energy research and £6 billion of investment for the industrial base supporting the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Jamie Oliver show a 'boost for dyslexia education'
Jamie Oliver's campaign to improve education for dyslexic children has already made a "massive difference", according to a Nottinghamshire Juliet Campbell, who represents Broxtowe, is a long-time campaigner and features prominently in the Channel 4 documentary, Jamie's Dyslexia MP has spent the past decade calling for better teacher training and since her election in 2024 has chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on son was not diagnosed as dyslexic until he was 14. She described him as an "incredibly intelligent young man" but he "just did not enjoy school at all".She added: "I just couldn't understand why."I think if teachers were skilled in recognising dyslexia, or had more training in how to teach dyslexic children we would have probably got an earlier identification."In the documentary, Oliver asks AI software to find existing campaigners and Campbell's name came a video call with the TV chef, she said: "The research shows that if you teach the whole class in the way a dyslexic child learns, everybody benefits."She then arranged an event in the Houses of Parliament, where an emotional Oliver told a room of politicians how he felt "thick", "worthless" and "dumb" at school."Whether it's the mind or the tummy, let's feed our kids," he added. Research suggests 10 to 15% of children have dyslexia and campaigners argue it's essential the education system doesn't write them told the BBC that society was "already paying" for a lack of action, pointing to figures that suggest around half of the adult prison population is has urged the government to make two key changes - to improve training on dyslexia for new and existing teachers, and to screen all primary school children for the condition as early as said teachers are "begging" for more training."In a two or three year teacher training course, they are doing half a day's training," he said."Four hours is just not enough, it's not appropriate." 'Screening is everything' The documentary ends with Oliver meeting education secretary Bridget what commitments he'd secured, Oliver said Phillipson had agreed to "completely reimagine" teacher training for dyslexia and neurodiversity from September onwards."What she seems to be dragging her feet on is the screening, and for me the screening is everything," he at a preview screening of the documentary, Phillipson insisted she was "determined" to improve the added the government had commissioned research to ensure "the very best evidence" around screening is applied in all said she was confident the government was "listening".She added the involvement of Oliver had made a "massive difference" and given the issue a "real boost"."He's got a history also of making a difference," she said. "We saw what he did with school dinners. My hope is that we can move the dyslexia discussion on."
