MPs demand stronger ministerial watchdog

A committee of MPs has claimed that the new investigator of ministerial misconduct lacks the independence to do his job effectively.

A new report from the Commons public administration committee on Monday welcomed the creation of a new post but said that it was inappropriate to describe the watchdog as "independent" of the government.

The cross-party group said the creation of the role, currently held by former parliamentary standards commissioner Sir Philip Mawer, was a "significant step towards fair, defined accountability for ministerial conduct".

However it added that the post-holder should be able to initiate their own inquiries into alleged breaches of the ministerial code, rather than be directed by the prime minister.

The report also said that it was "troubling" that the investigator can effectively be dismissed by the prime minister at any time; criticised the role's reliance on the government's Cabinet Office for staff and funding; and said the post should have a greater public presence, including its own website.

The MPs recommended a new "yellow card" level of offence for minor misconduct, recognising that "not every ministerial misdemeanour should be a sackable offence".

Committee chairman Tony Wright said: "It is in the government's interest to get this right.

"Ministers should be innocent until proven guilty like the rest of us – but the public won't swallow that as long as the prime minister still acts as judge, jury and executioner.

"The appointment of an investigator is welcome and overdue, but it is of limited value while his hands are tied.

"Genuine independence of action is needed. If the new regulatory system is to have credibility, decisions on when to investigate must be taken out of the political sphere."