28.07.11
Key No 10 adviser floats ideas to scrap maternity leave and consumer laws
Downing Street’s strategy director, Steve Hilton, architect of many Conservative and Coalition policies and ideas, has come under attack for radical suggestions to scrap maternity pay, abolish consumer protection laws and getting rid of JobCentres.
Hilton, known for his ‘blue skies’ thinking and unorthodox style, wants more unusual ideas and creative thoughts to help tackle economic malaise.
The anonymously leaked suggestions risk undermining some of the Coalition’s key themes, centrist positioning on many issues, and the Liberal Democrats.
One Whitehall ‘insider’ told the Financial Times newspaper, which revealed the story: “Some of his ideas are great but a lot of time is spent at an official level trying to deconstruct his maddest thoughts.”
Attention could now turn to guessing the identity of the anonymous leaker briefing against Hilton – and where it was a politician or civil servant.
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