Interim standards chief appointed

Rita Donaghy will be chairwoman until December

The longest-serving member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Rita Donaghy, has been appointed as its interim chair by the prime minister.

She replaces Sir Alistair Graham, whose appointment was not renewed. Tony Blair said she was "ideally suited to lead the committee at this time".

The government is awaiting a report on the future of the standards body.

The Tories and Lib Dems have criticised the interim appointment, claiming it shows Labour's disdain for scrutiny.

Ms Donaghy, who is a former TUC president and union official, will be interim chairwoman until December, or earlier if a replacement is found.

Mr Blair said, in a statement announcing the appointment: "As the longest serving member... and with the experience gained from the range of posts that she has held in public service, Rita is ideally suited to lead the committee at this time."

Independent?

The government says it is awaiting a report from MPs on the Commons Public Administration Committee on the future of the standards body, before deciding whether it should continue in its present form.

Shadow constitutional affairs secretary Oliver Heald questioned Ms Donaghy's suitability for the role.

"They're replacing [Sir Alistair] with an acting chairman who is a traditional trade unionist and, has additionally canvassed for the Labour Party, at the very moment that the Labour Party is resisting limits on trade union donations to political parties.

"Ministers should appoint an independent Chairman on a permanent basis and do it now."

Liberal Democrat spokesman David Heath welcomed the choice but said he was "staggered" that Ms Donaghy was only appointed in an interim capacity.

"This raises serious doubts about whether the government is committed to supporting this crucial constitutional check.

"After all, Sir Alistair paid the price for being a thorn in the flesh of the government."