A person appointed to a position, especially in government service, for personal profit and as a reward for political support.
〈英，贬〉禄虫（尤指政府中为个人私利及作为对政治支持的回报而任命的官员）
he vetoed the appointment of a Labour councillor in favour of his Tory placeman
Example sentencesExamples
However, a new way of appointing or electing its members is required which will effectively avoid both placemen and a mix of political views which mirror the House of Commons.
In this respect, the oligarchs and their political placemen who insist that their right to stolen property is sacred make the same crude claim as the regime that we overthrew: that they have an indefeasible right to the exercise of power.
Critics of the selection procedure within the party say that the union influence is installing a number of placemen who will merely act as Labour voting fodder in the House of Commons.
High flat rate payments merely encourage the nomination of placemen who may have little or no connection with the areas they represent and whose attendance may be sparse.
It also indicates that many Labour ministers aren't sincere believers in the Third Way, but are placemen and women interested chiefly in their careers.