The B.C. government has withdrawn the $140,000 a year consulting job it offered to former member of the legislative assembly John Les, following accusations of political patronage.

On Tuesday, the province announced it was appointing Les to head a new earthquake preparedness consultation.

Les is already a paid member of the government-appointed Farm Industry Review Board as well as a registered paid lobbyist.

NDP MLA Shane Simpson called the appointment “outrageous” because “absolutely nothing makes him an expert in earthquake preparedness.”

On Wednesday, Premier Christy Clark withdrew Les’s appointment saying it does not fit with the government’s plan to “control spending.”