Cross-party support has paved the way for a government change of heart on reform of the ‘Widdecombe rules' which limit the political role of senior council managers. The Local Government Information Unit welcomed an amendment to the Local Democracy, Economic Prosperity and Construction Bill, to scrap the controversial link between salary levels and senior posts which are deemed ‘politically restricted'. Liberal Democrat and Conservative peers have backed calls for the reform and, although the Bill is still at the Committee stage in the House of Lords, local government minister, Baroness Andrews, has now promised to examine the drafting of an amendment to the legislation in time for the third reading. Baroness Andrews had earlier suggested that the Government wanted separate legislation to reform the Widdecombe rules, but said: ‘We acknowledge that with regard to the link between salary and political restrictions, change to the Widdecombe rules is desirable.' LGIU chief executive Andy Sawford said: ‘Cross-party consensus has won the day. In terms of reigniting interest in local democracy, this is a victory. It will make a real difference for many staff who will be able to contribute to a lively political environment.' The rules emerged from the Widdecombe committee's 1986 report on ‘The conduct of local authority business', which paved the way for the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 which required councils to draw up lists of all politically-restricted posts, and established the link with higher-paid salaries. The reform is one of the key recommendations of the 2007 Councillors' Commission and the all party parliamentary group on local government, which both saw the Widdecombe rules as outdated and a barrier to attracting a wider cross-section of people to stand as councillors. It would also bring the law affecting council staff in England and Wales in line with changes already introduced in Scotland by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.
