Chairman of equalities watchdog is slated by ministers

Published on Sunday 14 March 2010 21:54

EMBATTLED equalities watchdog chairman Trevor Phillips was today criticised by an influential group of MPs and peers.

The joint committee on human rights (JCHR) voiced concerns over Mr Phillips' leadership and questioned Cabinet minister Harriet Harman's decision to push through his reappointment.

The findings follow the resignation of six commissioners from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) last year in protest at Mr Phillips' chairmanship.

They had complained that the body's board was dysfunctional, with members feeling intimidated by Mr Phillips, and warned that his links to a consultancy firm were a potential conflict of interest.

In its report, the JCHR conceded that establishing the commission by merging other watchdogs in 2007 and developing a "strong corporate board" had been a challenging task, but added: "We conclude that in the early years of the EHRC's existence this was not done successfully, for which the chair must bear responsibility."

JCHR chairman Andrew Dismore said:

"Major questions remain over the leadership of the EHRC. We regret that the reappointment of the chair was not subject to open competition."

A spokeswoman for the government equalities office said: "Following the departure of the chief executive, it was important to have continuity of leadership for the commission over this critical period, with the Equality Bill before parliament."

An EHRC spokesman said: "It is disappointing that the committee has allowed itself to be distracted by events dating back to 2006-7 rather than focusing on our record over the last year, and by the comments of a small number of ex-board members which were rejected by other board members who gave evidence."