Lady Archer blocked from taking prestigious Royal Parks job
Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, has cancelled the appointment of Lady Archer as chair of London’s Royal Parks in what has been described as a “spiteful” move.
Lady Archer, who is married to the novelist and former Tory MP Lord Archer, was given the prestigious role by the Conservative government in May, and had been due to take up the unpaid job in July.
Before she could start work, however, Labour won the general election and paused her appointment.
On Tuesday the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced that Loyd Grossman, the former presenter of MasterChef, was being reappointed to the role he has held since 2016, with no reference to the fact that Lady Archer had previously been given the job or explanation for the change.
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer cancelled Rishi Sunak’s appointment of General Gwyn Jenkins as national security adviser and delayed the appointment of a new ambassador to the US.
The chairmanship of Royal Parks, a charity that is responsible for 10 parks in the capital including Regent’s Park and Hyde Park, is in the gift of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, rather than the charity itself.
Political appointees who have not yet started their new role when there is a change of government can have their appointments revoked by a new administration.
When Lady Archer was given the job by Lucy Frazer, the then culture secretary, Andrew Scattergood, the Royal Parks chief executive, said he was “delighted” at her appointment.
He said her experience “will be hugely valuable to us as we look forward to an exciting period”.
Four months on, Labour appears to have decided she is not right for the job.
In its announcement, it said: “Any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared.
“This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Loyd Grossman has not declared any significant political activity.”
A similar declaration was made about Lady Archer when her own appointment was announced in May.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, the chair of the Commons culture, media and sport committee, said: “Lady Archer has the qualifications and experience for this role, the Chief Executive of The Royal Parks said so himself.
“Yet, maybe since she was unlikely to be a big Labour Party donor, or buy designer clothes for the Prime Minister’s wife, she was deemed unsuitable.
“It’s disappointing that the government has made this ill judged and spiteful decision.”
A fair and open competition
Mr Grossman has already completed the maximum of two four-year terms as chairman of Royal Parks, and has been asked to carry on until the end of May 2025 while a new permanent chairman is chosen.
A DCMS spokesman said that all appointments made in the run up to the general election were subject to approval by the new government, and that a fair and open competition to appoint a new chairman of Royal Parks would take place.
A DCMS source said the re-run appointment process would include a new job specification to reflect the government’s priorities.
Lady Archer is chancellor of the University of Buckingham and chaired the board of trustees of the Science Museum from 2015 to 2023.
She also chaired the board of Cambridge University Hospitals from 2002 to 2012 and was made a dame in 2012 for services to the NHS.
Royal Parks, which manages around 5,000 acres of recreational land in London owned by the Crown, was an executive agency of the DCMS until 2017, when it became a charity.
Mr Grossman declined to comment but his spokesman said he is not a member of the Labour Party and has no political affiliation.
Lady Archer has been approached for comment. Royal Parks referred media inquiries on to DCMS.