Barometer | 8 September 2016

In it together

Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley were elected co-leaders of the Green party. Has a political party had co-leaders before?
— The Green party of Aotearoa, New Zealand, founded in 1990 from an earlier Values Party, has been co-led since 1995, when Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald were elected. The party, which gained 6.9% of the vote in the 1990 general election, is currently the third largest political party in New Zealand with 14 seats and 10.7% of the vote in the 2014 general election.
— Inspired by its example, New Zealand’s Alliance Party also adopted co-leaders in 2004, but failed to arrest its decline. It was de-registered as a political party last year.

New, improved Vaz

How much could Keith Vaz earn selling commercial washing machines?
— Experienced laundry sales person to maintain and increase client portfolio within north of England. From £30K, with commission and car, MAG laundry equipment.
— Area sales manager, commercial laundry, Birmingham. £32–£38K plus £15K uncapped OTE and car, mobile, laptop and pension, www.reed.co.uk
— Technical account manager, industrial laundry. £37–£42K plus car, pension, healthcare, laptop, www.e3recruitment.com

Passage to Oz

Some ways of gaining the 65 points required under Australia’s points-based immigration system:
— Age 18-24: 25 points; age 25-32, 30; age 33-39, 25; age 40-44, 15; age 45-49, 0.
— Superior English, 20; proficient English, 10; competent English, 0.
— Doctorate, 20; bachelor degree, 15; diploma/trade qualification, 10.
— 8-10 years skilled employment, 15;
5-8 years skilled employment, 10;
3-5 years skilled employment, 5.

Living on zero

Sports Direct has said it will now guarantee workers a minimum number of hours. How many people in Britain are on zero hours contracts?
— Between October and December 2015, 1.7m zero hours contracts were estimated to be in operation.
— 801,000 people (2.5% of the workforce) had one as their main job, up from 697,000 (2.3%)