City searches for £90,000 spin doctor

Jul 10 2006 By David Bell & Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM'S own "Alastair Campbell" is to be appointed with £90,000 of taxpayers' money - to help council leaders feel more appreciated.

Adverts for a Campbell-style spin doctor, who must be "politically astute with vast experience of dealing with the press", will appear this week.

City council leaders say the occupier of the post will play "a figurehead role communicating our ambition and vision" as well as taking control of the council's £6.6 million a year publicity empire.

The decision to advertise a job left vacant for more than two years follows criticism that the council's ruling Con-Lib Dem coalition were "ditherers" holding back the regeneration of Birmingham.

Today the Labour opposition said the two-year delay was another sign of dithering by the council leadership.

Deputy Labour leader Ian Ward said: "They make temporary appointments and keep posts open because they can't make their minds up. They have not had good publicity recently and this is another gaffe."

Council deputy leader Paul Tilsley (Lib Dem) said: "All this petty criticism is damaging Birmingham.

"It is time the wider community who purport to have Birmingham at heart recognise this. We need somebody with experience of dealing with the press and the community who can sell our achievements."

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