MPs criticise equalities watchdog chairman
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."
The committee also took issue with the way Ms Harman, the equalities minister, reappointed Mr Phillips to his £112,000 post for another three years.
In other words, Trevor Phillips is Harman's pet houseboy?
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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