Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

My Lords, the amendments that I am bringing forward in this group were the subject of debate at different stages, and your Lordships’ views were made very clear. I promised during our last debate on this issue to take what was then an opposition amendment away for consideration. These amendments, therefore, address one aspect of what has become known as the Widdecombe rules—the link between salary level and the designation of a local authority post as politically restricted, which means that the holder of the post is barred from taking part in certain political activities. While the Government continue to support the policy behind the Widdecombe rules generally—indeed we recognise the importance of preserving the visible political impartiality of senior local authority employees—we also recognise that the salary bar is a blunt instrument and an unnecessary bar to political activity. We decided, therefore, that its removal will not undermine the important principle that senior local authority employees should be, and be seen to be, impartial. These amendments will ensure that senior local authority employees and the holders of genuinely politically sensitive posts in local authorities will remain subject to the wider Widdecombe rules, but that the artificial and arbitrary link between salary and political restriction is removed. In effect, this means that those who wish to be active in politics—we have debated this and recognised it should be considered as a worthy and legitimate aspiration—will not be barred from doing so simply because they earn a certain level of salary. It will also allow those who are committed to political activity to occupy certain posts in local government where before they could not do so. I know that our support for this change is shared by other noble Lords, including the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, and the noble Lord, Lord Hanningfield, neither of whom is in their place today. The noble Lord, Lord Tope, also spoke in support of this measure during previous debates. I think the measure will be welcomed by those who recognise that, while it is important that certain posts in local authorities remain politically restricted, those posts should be determined because of their seniority or their political sensitivity and not because of a link to their salary. I beg to move. Amendment 1 agreed.