Gavin Barwell, the MP for Croydon Central, is recruiting.
“I am currently advertising for a caseworker, who as well as helping me provide support to my constituents would also be responsible for liaison with the local media and developing my communication with constituents via social media,” Barwell has announced. So he is clearly missing his former gobby factotum, Mario Creatura.“The successful candidate will need to have a friendly and patient approach,” Barwell says, indicating that this is not a role once filled by Eddy Arram, who is remembered, not fondly, as the worst mayor in the history of Croydon Council.
Barwell’s new caseworker, on a salary between £19,000 and £29,000 per year, dependent upon experience, will be paid by the tax-payer, and become one of a staff of five or six working for the MP. We’ll leave you to decide whether their priority is the needs of the constituency, or making their MP boss look good.
Barwell, of course, was recently appointed Minister for Housing, Planning and for London, thiugh it seems his new staffer will work only on MP constituency business, which recently has focused on opposing new housing, planning to become the elected mayor of Croydon, and… well, that’s it.
Barwell says that the successful candidate will need “excellent written communication skills”. Judging by what Barwell lists as the caseworker’s other responsibilities, the person appointed will be a bag-carrier extraordinaire, having to do the MP’s bidding up to, but maybe not including, arse-wiping.
The duties, Barwell says, include, “accompanying me to meetings, surgeries and home visits as required; dealing with requests for help from constituents; maintaining accurate electronic records… dealing with press enquiries”.
And “drafting blogposts”.
What do you mean, you thought that everything on Gav’s “a strong voice for Croydon” website was written by the MP himself?
The full job ad can be viewed here.
- Still Croydon’s only independent news source, and based in the heart of the borough: 1.97 million page views 2013-2015
- Inside Croydon: Named among best regional media campaigns, 2014
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event to publicise, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
Let’s hope this applicant will not pursue some over enthusiastic liaisons with some peculiar websites. Remember the Arab Spring quickly just turned into an Arab Winter. No doubt Inside Croydon will be receiving some special scrutiny too.
I might apply, it can hardly be a coincidence that as soon as I get expelled from the Labour Party this’opportunity’ comes along…
It’s hardly surprising you got expelled from the Labour party. Isn’t Momentum a dirty word in Ruskin House? Or is this a misconception?
Oh gawd there isn’t another pressure group called “Misconception?”
You tell me. You’re the wise guy.
Even more so after Monday’s expose in which we saw violence, threats, brick throwing, antisemitism and misogyny not to mention Militant Tendencies. Oh no we didn’t did we?