A job offer extended to Kerrie Carmichael, the former Labour leader of Sandwell Council who lost her seat in the May local elections, is currently under internal review by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). This follows inquiries by BirminghamLive regarding allegations of potential cronyism surrounding her appointment by Mayor Richard Parker as Commissioner for Communities and Public Service.
Carmichael had publicly announced her appointment to this prominent part-time role through social media last month and was expected to commence her duties shortly. However, the job offer is now on hold as the combined authority undertakes an urgent internal review. A source close to the mayor denied any misconduct, suggesting the matter is an administrative issue.
Details of the review findings are yet to be disclosed, but it is understood that candidates may be invited for re-interviews. The initial recruitment process, which lasted about a week, attracted 16 applicants. Four candidates were shortlisted, and two were interviewed, with Carmichael ultimately selected.
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Originally, the advertised role was Commissioner for Health, Wellbeing and Public Service Reform before its title was altered. The advert described the mayor’s search for “an exceptional individual” to help “shape the future of public services across the West Midlands,” providing strategic leadership on significant regional challenges and opportunities.
The position entails a commitment of approximately 2.5 days per week and forms part of a broader group of commissioner appointments intended to assist the mayor in delivering the devolution agenda, granting him increased powers and responsibilities.
Critics have suggested the appointment raises issues of patronage, with one source commenting, “Social mobility and opportunities for all certainly ring hollow in the West Midlands mayoralty.” There is no allegation of wrongdoing by Carmichael herself.
BirminghamLive sought clarity from both the mayor and the combined authority regarding the advertising, shortlisting, and appointment procedures for the role. This prompted a thorough review of the recruitment process, which revealed certain shortcomings when evaluated against updated government guidance aimed at preventing potential nepotism.
According to guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), commissioner roles should not be used by mayors to appoint individuals based on political patronage. Instead, appointments must be merit-based, selecting high-calibre candidates with relevant expertise to promote local prosperity.
The guidance requires broad advertising over an “appropriate period” to attract suitably qualified candidates and stipulates that an independent observer be part of the three-person interview panel. However, it is understood no independent observer was present during this recruitment.
Furthermore, officials indicated that recent updates to the guidance may have been overlooked during the process.
Carmichael had served as a councillor for Blackheath for 14 years, holding the position of communities and neighbourhoods lead before assuming the council leadership in 2021 amidst a turbulent period. Despite her efforts to improve services and address corruption, Labour suffered significant losses in Sandwell at the May elections, with the Reform party now leading the council.
In a formal statement, the WMCA explained: “The appointments process was conducted through a competitive recruitment exercise, with the role publicly advertised via the WMCA careers website, WM Jobs, and other job platforms. Sixteen applications were received and anonymised during initial assessment and shortlisting to prevent bias. Four candidates were shortlisted, with two proceeding to full interviews.
“Government guidance emphasises merit-based appointments without political reward. Prior elected office or WMCA Board membership does not automatically confer suitability. The key consideration is whether candidates meet the role’s published requirements and succeed in the recruitment process. The candidate achieving the highest score in such competitive processes is appointed.”
The authority did not officially confirm details of the ongoing review or outline next steps.
Efforts to contact Carmichael for comment have, so far, been unsuccessful. The mayor’s office has also been approached to provide a response.