Boris Johnson was accused of cronyism last night after it emerged he tried to install former Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley as London Arts Council Chair. Two of the three members of the selection panel described Wadley as "manifestly the least qualified" candidate for the job and agreed not to forward her for interview.
One panel member described Wadley as "inadequate" with "almost no arts credibility" and only Boris's Adviser Munira Mirza disagreed. However, this decision was overruled by Boris, who described Wadley as "highly qualified" and subsequently recommended her for the position.
Amazing. Staggering. Jaw-dropping. Where to begin? For one thing I find it hard to believe that Munira Mirza really considered Wadley suitable for such a job. For another, as Adam says:
Wadley's defence, that one panel member was "a lefty" (Liz Forgan sits on the Scott Trust) is to be expected. However, It is Boris's decision which is the remarkable one, as much for its political naivety as for any apparent breach of the rules. I mean how did Boris think this was going to look?
Not to mention the smell. And yet it seems that Mayor Johnson - a journalist, lest we forget - isn't the least bit embarrassed that under Wadley, her handful of favourites and its previous owner, the Standard demeaned itself, distressed many of its proper journalists and insulted Londoners by becoming the unofficial wing of his election campaign.
The paper is about to become a freebie. But it will surely never again become as cheap as under the Wadley regime.
