BORIS Johnson is reportedly facing a revolt in the Tory ranks over his plans to promote one of Carrie Symonds’s “best friends” to a high-level role.
The news has reignited allegations of cronyism and corruption within the Conservative Party, according to the Daily Mail.
The Prime Minister wants to promote Ross Kempsell, a Radio Times journalist, to the £90,000-a-year role of Conservative party director of research.
Kempsell, 28, is apparently on very close terms with Symonds, the Prime Minister’s third, and current, fiancee.
The role is not currently vacant, so Kempsell’s appointment would mean ousting Iain Carter, who has done the job since October 2019 according to his Linkedin profile.
Carter was previously the party’s political director, meaning he was Symonds’s boss in 2018, when she was forced to resign as Tory communications director after being accused of abusing her expenses.
After Johnson became Prime Minister, Carter was demoted to research director and stripped of control of the communications team.
READ MORE: Top medical journal slams UK 'state corruption' and 'suppression of science'
A Tory HQ source told the Daily Mail: “Ross Kempsell is a political novice without the background in serious political thinking needed to lead CRD [Conservative research department].
“It takes more than being chums with the PM and his partner. It would be outrageous to get rid of Iain like this.”
The CRD plays a key role in putting together the party’s manifesto.
According to Kempsell’s website, he “worked for a year as a policy adviser in the 10 Downing Street Policy Unit”.
He is reportedly a member of Symonds's network of friends, and attends events she hosts at her Downing Street flat.
Kempsell’s interview with Johnson, during which the now Prime Minister said the UK would leave the EU by October 31 “do or die, come what may” made headlines during the Conservative leadership race.
Symonds’s influence on Johnson became apparent recently following the resignation of Downing Street communications director Lee Cain, when it emerged that she had spoken against him to the Prime Minister.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel