John McTernan
John McTernan (born Edinburgh) is the Director of Political Operations at 10 Downing Street. He provides political management and support for the development of the Government's political strategy. The Labour Party pays his salary.
Serial special adviser
In 2002 McTernan had already completed two tersm as special adviser to New Labour:
- My view: John McTernan John McTernan has just finished his second period as a special adviser, working initially for Harriet Harman in the Department of Social Security, then as head of strategy for Scotland's former first minister, Henry McLeish.'It's an extremely rich experience,' he says. 'You get unparalleled access to government at the highest levels. If you like politics - and most of the people who become advisers are complete addicts - this is the ultimate job. It's like The West Wing, only you're in it instead of watching it.
- 'It's incredibly insecure, but so are the careers of senior politicians. There's not enough done by the civil service to support special advisers when they leave - you get three months' redundancy, that's all. You wouldn't do it if you were at all risk-averse.'[1]
Blair's man in Scotland
He has been seconded to the Scottish Labour Party to run its campaign for the Scottish Parliament general election on 3 May, 2007.[2]
Controversy
In late 2006, it was reported that McTernan had been interviewed under police caution [3][4] under Scotland Yard's ongoing cash for peerages inquiry. McTernan has himself denied these reports[5].
However, he was questioned 'under caution' by police in January 2007.[2][6]
References
- ↑ Jill Insley 'Spin doctors' The Observer Sunday March 31, 2002
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Honours probe quiz for No 10 aide", BBC News Scotland, 24 January 2007; "Blair aide sent to stem SNP tide", The Scotsman, 16 January 2007; "Now Holyrood election chief quizzed in peerages inquiry", The Scotsman, 24 January 2007
- ↑ Police quiz Tory donors over cash for peerages. Article on www.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved January 12.
- ↑ PM's aide interviewed in peerage inquiry. Article on www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved December 29.
- ↑ SNP Welcome Downing Street's McTernan to Scotland. Comment made by McTernan on 5thnovember.blogspot.com. Retrieved January 12.
- ↑ Mirror.co.uk, 23 January 2007
