Boris Johnson employs David Cameron's former personal photographer
Andrew Parsons returns to Downing Street having previously been removed from the public payroll after it sent the "wrong message".
Monday 13 January 2020 19:59, UK
Boris Johnson has employed David Cameron's former personal photographer as a special adviser.
Andrew Parsons, the co-founder of a picture agency, has joined the prime minister's team having last month taken a series of candid images of Mr Johnson during election night.
Mr Parsons previously worked in Number 10 for Mr Cameron as part of the so-called "vanity staff" the ex-prime minister employed on entering Downing Street in 2010.
He had also been Mr Cameron's personal photographer while the former Conservative leader was in opposition.
However, just months later - in November 2010 - Mr Parsons was removed from the public payroll.
Mr Cameron's team admitted the employment of a photographer at taxpayers' expense sent the "wrong message" at a time when the government was imposing spending cuts.
At the time, Mr Parsons earned a salary of between £36,000 and £44,000.
His salary for joining Mr Johnson's team has not yet been disclosed.
Last month it was revealed the current prime minister's more than 40 special advisers earn salaries worth between £40,500 and £145,000.
Mr Parsons is well known to Mr Johnson and has previously photographed the politician as both an MP and London mayor.
He snapped a staged photo of Mr Johnson signing his resignation letter when quitting as foreign secretary in July 2018 in protest at Theresa May's Brexit strategy.
More recently, he toured the country with prime minister during the general election campaign.
And he photographed Mr Johnson and other top Conservatives as they secured a thumping victory on election night.
Mr Parsons also took photos of Mrs May during her time in office, telling Sky News earlier this year that although the ex-prime minister had a reputation for being incredibly straight "she would have a bit of a laugh and a giggle and stuff like that".
It has been reported Mr Parsons is re-entering Downing Street in a role that will see him focus on modernising Number 10's digital and video output.
He is a co-founder of the i-images picture agency and a former photographer with the Press Association news agency.