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<p>Political activity of all public appointments is collected and published by the
Commissioner for Public Appointments. The statistical methodology has changed since
2014-15, and the figures are not directly comparative over the last five years.</p><p><em>Political
affiliation as percentage of total number of public appointments:</em></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Date</p></td><td><p>Conservative</p></td><td><p>Labour</p></td><td><p>Lib
Dem</p></td><td><p>Other</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>1.8%</p></td><td><p>10.2%</p></td><td><p>0.6%</p></td><td><p>0.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>3.3%</p></td><td><p>3%</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>1.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013-14</p></td><td><p>1.5%</p></td><td><p>2.3%</p></td><td><p>0.4%</p></td><td><p>0.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>1.2%</p></td><td><p>1.7%</p></td><td><p>0.5%</p></td><td><p>1.1%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Political
affiliation as percentage of those who answered the question on political activity:</em></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Date</p></td><td><p>Conservative</p></td><td><p>Labour</p></td><td><p>Lib
Dem</p></td><td><p>Other</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>6.2%</p></td><td><p>5.0%</p></td><td><p>2.2%</p></td><td><p>1.7%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><sub>NB.
These figures are not comparative with the previous table: the rise is due to the
different methodology.</sub></p><p>Overall, 94% of appointees in 2015-16 declared
no political activity. By contrast, the political activity declaration rates under
the last Labour Government were 10.2% in 2008-09, 10.4% in 2007-08 and 15.8% in 2006-07.</p><p>Being
involved in a political party is a healthy part of civic democracy, and those interested
in politics are often the same people who will be interested in public service. Individuals
are appointed on the basis of their skills and experience, not their party background.</p><p>
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