Spin doctors face inquiry

The inquiries will be headed by Sir Nigel Wicks

By Peter Mulligan Senior parliamentary reporter BBC Radio 4's Today in Parliament

An inquiry into the role of special advisers is to be launched on Monday by Sir Nigel Wicks, chairman of the committee on standards in public life.

The move comes in the wake of the row between Stephen Byers' adviser Jo Moore and civil servants in the transport department.

Tit-for-tatting can in some ways undermine the perception of trust and confidence in our institutions

Sir Nigel Wicks

Sir Nigel, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today in Parliament, said there was a case for giving the impartiality of civil servants protection in law.

The probe will run alongside a separate review of the way MPs are regulated.

Sir Nigel said one of his main concerns was that tit-for-tat complaints by rival parties had hurt the reputation and standing of politicians with the public.

Elizabeth Filkin

He said: "I can understand why that goes on but it does give me a little bit of hesitation sometimes.

"A lot of the complaints are not upheld but I sometimes suspect that the perception of the general public is different... that [they believe] all these complaints are upheld.

"So tit-for-tatting can in some ways undermine the perception of trust and confidence in our institutions - it is certainly one of the issues that my committee will be looking at."

Sir Nigel's investigation will focus on the highly controversial work and role of MPs' sleaze watchdog, the parliamentary commissioner.

The last incumbent, Elizabeth Filkin, was effectively sacked by MPs amid a widespread view that she investigated complaints too rigorously.

Critics' evidence

MPs protested that complaints against them were often reported in the press yet nothing was reported when they were found to be innocent of any charge.

Ms Filkin's successor, Phillip Mawer, secretary general of the Church of England general synod, is in the process of taking over now.

Philip Mawer is the new sleazebuster

In his interview with BBC Radio 4's Today in Parliament programme, Sir Nigel made clear that Ms Filkin and some of her biggest critics are likely to give evidence to his inquiry.

He also urged people disenchanted with the work of Parliament and politicians to look not just at the rowdy exchanges of Prime Minister's Questions but at the work of the select committees, which investigate the work of government departments and which call ministers, civil servants and others to give evidence in public.

Sir Nigel is a former high flying civil servant who was private secretary to three prime ministers including Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher.

He was also one of the top civil servants at the Treasury.

The full interview with Sir Nigel Wicks is broadcast at 2330 GMT on Friday on Radio 4, and is available online until Monday evening. Click on the grey box on top right of this page to listen to the programme.