See www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/dec/16/executives-to-join-government-department-boards
Obviously, bringing in successful business people to assist in govt is nothing new, even within the civil service - and Labour was just as enamoured of special advisors fromthe business world.
Interesting to see the calibre of some of the people appointed, though - let us not forget that Lord Browne, (he of the university fees debacle), "left BP in 2007 under a cloud after lying to a court about his relationship with another man. His tenure at BP was tarnished following a fatal explosion at the Texas City oil refinery." So not a great role model. But the government's lead non-executive director.
I also looked up some of the random names I'd never heard of, and whose 'business' success was not sufficiently august to be noted.
Here is a typical example:
"Theodore Agnew - insurance executive who has donated substantial sums to the Conservative Party. The donations listed amount to a total of £134,000 over less than two years. "
What concerns me is that he, along with the other nobodies, will now be paid £15,000 a year for between 12 and 15 days work a year out of the public purse and will get to make major decisions on public sector cuts that affect ALL of us - even sacking the permanent secretaries if they disagree with them - and what is his qualification for this?
That he is a nobody who gave loads of money to to the Tory party. NOT a big-league success.
Should add that he is one of the more successful ones - at least he is googleable. A number of others are so insignificant that their details are not even apparent on google - just one of many with the same name, none of note whatsoever.
So the moral is - if you want to really count in the Big Society, send your cheque to Tory Head Office now.