As we know, the Standard went into maximum malicious spin mode yesterday over the severance packages Ken Livingstone's former advisers. Predictably, the Tory nationals have "followed up", meaning they've basically re-written the Standard's piece. However, the Telegraph's version differs from the Standard's in one significant way. Unlike the Standard it carries what appears to be the whole of the statement about the matter from the mayor's spokesman which reads as follows:
"The Mayor of London is dismayed he has had to take a decision on the fate of the previous Mayor's staff who were on fixed contracts. He feels he is not best placed to do so and that the law is flawed on this issue. Employment rights for these members of staff overtake the GLA Act which states they are on fixed contracts, hence the position the current Mayor finds himself in."
In his piece Veronica's Crony quotes only from this part of the statement. He does not quote from the remainder:
"The Mayor wants to make clear that he has no problem with the staff who by all accounts served the previous Mayor well. The Mayor has followed legal advice on this matter and made a decision with the taxpayer in mind. These members of staff are entitled to these settlements. They are only receiving what they are entitled to. Some members of staff have over 20 years loyal service in local government and payments were agreed with this in mind."
How interesting that Gilligan didn't quote from any of that section of the statement, either in his front page piece or his comment effort inside. Could that possibly be because to have done so would have undermined - indeed directly contradicted - his insinuation that these payments are not deserved?
Cut: http://img.skitch.com/20080806-1q6fq8aghsbkdqdntjp891seb.jpg
Paste: http://img.skitch.com/20080806-b467wf3ippjbdcawd9m4p8mpd8.jpg
Posted by: Wireman | August 06, 2008 at 04:06 AM