Top DUP spad Timothy Johnston did work for party as taxpayers paid his £92,000 salary

The DUP’s most powerful backroom figure was overseeing the party’s chief spin-doctor as well as a host of other party political activities – while being paid £92,000 a year by taxpayers, it can be revealed.
DUP chief executive Timothy Johnston was a spad to the first minister at the point where he told Jim Wells that he was ‘line manager’ of John RobinsonDUP chief executive Timothy Johnston was a spad to the first minister at the point where he told Jim Wells that he was ‘line manager’ of John Robinson
DUP chief executive Timothy Johnston was a spad to the first minister at the point where he told Jim Wells that he was ‘line manager’ of John Robinson

Timothy Johnston, the power behind the throne of every DUP leader for 15 years, was acting far beyond the role for which the public were funding his salary, new evidence confirms.

As a result, the DUP was receiving an unfair advantage over its rivals in that it was receiving at least a significant portion of Mr Johnson’s time for free – when other parties had to fundraise to pay for comparable staff.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

When asked by the News Letter if the party would refund the taxpayer for the portion of Mr Johnson’s salary which had been funding party political activity, the DUP did not answer the question.

Although the public inquiry into the cash for ash scandal published its report in March, it has continued to publish previously unseen evidence.

Among that documentation is the revelation that on September 17 2015 Mr Johnston told the former health minister Jim Wells that he was the “line manager” of DUP director of communications John Robinson, his brother-in-law.

The revelation means that both the party’s chief spin doctor and the man overseeing him were both being funded by taxpayers – even though much of the work of a political party’s press office is in the interests of the party, rather than the public interest.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Four years ago the News Letter revealed that Mr Robinson was having his salary paid directly from public funds under a previously hidden arrangement. Several parties were, and perhaps still are, using a little-known Assembly fund – the Financial Assistance for Political Parties (FAPP) Scheme – to fund a total of 10 press officers, some of whom appeared to be on significant salaries, and one of whom was Mr Robinson.

Last year leaked emails revealed that Mr Johnston – who did not return to Stormont as a spad when devolution was restored in January and is now the DUP’s chief executive – was far exceeding the role for which taxpayers were paying him, which was to act as a temporary civil servant in assisting the first minister with departmental business.

The cache of internal DUP emails showed that he was the one to whom DUP associations went to seek clearance for election literature, he gave detailed instructions to the designer contracted by the DUP to design its posters and manifesto as to how his work should be improved, he was involved in advising on Facebook and Twitter advertising, he was involved in decisions about newspaper advertising, quotations for the purchase of DUP equipment were sent to him, he directed the party conference schedule and requests for holiday leave went to him.

The News Letter put it to the DUP that his role in that period, when he was being paid by taxpayers, appeared very close to his current role as party chief executive when the party is having to fund his salary, and asked why the DUP believed that taxpayers should pay for someone overseeing its spin operation and the wider party management. We also asked the DUP whether, if it accepted that was indefensible, it would repay the public purse.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In response, the DUP said in a statement: “The Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry examined a range of issues regarding special advisors, including the role of Timothy Johnston within the party. You are therefore referred to the evidence given to the inquiry which is, of course, a matter of public record. During his lengthy period as a special advisor to the first minister, we do not consider him to have been fulfilling anything comparable to his current role as chief executive and indeed the inquiry report made no such finding.”

When Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill’s department was asked if it would seek to recoup cash from the DUP, it said it “has no plans to recoup any part of the salary paid to Mr Timothy Johnston during his service as a special advisor”.

Mr Johnston admitted to the RHI Inquiry that it “may be perceived” that he exceeded his remit as a special adviser by doing other work for the DUP.

In a witness statement which he submitted in response to inquiry questions last February but which has only now been published, he said: “As indicated in my oral evidence I accept that I was asked to perform additional political functions, some of which may be perceived to be beyond my role as spad to first minister Robinson.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In the first minister’s capacity as party leader I was frequently involved in other party business, which would have been viewed as complementary to my role as Office for the First Minister and deputy First Minister spad to the first minister.”

However, when asked about a claim by former DUP spad Tim Cairns that Mr Johnston had been exceeding his role as a temporary civil servant by doing DUP work, former first minister Peter Robinson told the inquiry: “If his allegation is intended to suggest that Mr Johnston was running the operation and functioning of the party then it is palpably absurd ... the idea that in addition [to his spad work] he was moonlighting as a DUP manager involved in all the party’s business is risible”.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor