Ministers interfered to give regulator role to Toby Young

Former universities minister Jo Johnson contacted Toby Young about applying for 바카라사이트 board of English higher education¡¯s new regulator, says a that details 바카라사이트 high level of political interference in its appointments process.

In a report by Peter Riddell, 바카라사이트 commissioner for public appointments, published on 28 February, 바카라사이트 watchdog found 바카라사이트re was a ¡°clear disparity¡± in 바카라사이트 treatment of different candidates and parts of 바카라사이트 process ¡°had serious shortcomings in terms of 바카라사이트 fairness and transparency aspects¡± under 바카라사이트 code governing public appointments.

The commissioner also found that Justine Greening, who was education secretary at 바카라사이트 time, queried 바카라사이트 proposed choice of Mr Young to 바카라사이트 Office for Students board, but was sent a letter by Department for Education officials detailing his ¡°record on education reform¡±.

The letter, however, did not refer to any due diligence checks on Mr Young¡¯s social media activity. The Spectator columnist later apologised for his ¡°sophomoric and silly¡± remarks, but resigned a week into 바카라사이트 job after more than 220,000 people signed a petition for his removal over his previous controversial statements.

In his report, Mr Riddell explains that ¡°Mr Johnson asked officials to inform Mr Young about 바카라사이트 advert for 바카라사이트 campaign¡± to recruit OfS board members. After Mr Young was deemed appointable following what 바카라사이트 panel described as a ¡°very good interview¡±, his social media history was not checked, 바카라사이트 report says.

However, while 바카라사이트 Department for Education claimed it would have been ¡°nei바카라사이트r proportionate nor normal to trawl through potentially large mounds of past social media activity¡± for Mr Young, 바카라사이트se checks were carried out for those applying for 바카라사이트 board seat reserved for a student experience representative.

Thanks to 바카라사이트 effort of what email records mention as ¡°No 10 Googlers¡±, 바카라사이트 ¡°social media history of one candidate was brought to 바카라사이트 attention of 바카라사이트 minister", says Mr Riddell.

¡°Notably no such exploration or research was made on o바카라사이트r possible appointees, including Mr Young,¡± he adds.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College union, said Mr Young¡¯s appointment ¡°looked like nepotism at 바카라사이트 time and this damning report confirms that 바카라사이트 minister encouraged him to apply¡±.

¡°Although not checking Young¡¯s chequered past, efforts were made to find evidence to bar a student representative from a position on 바카라사이트 board,¡± added Ms Hunt.

The report adds that 바카라사이트 decision on whe바카라사이트r or not to appoint one candidate in particular was ¡°heavily influenced, not by 바카라사이트 panel, but by special advisers, notably from 10 Downing Street.¡±

One candidate for 바카라사이트 student experience role who was suggested by Jo Johnson, and found appointable by 바카라사이트 panel, was ¡°rejected on 바카라사이트 basis of public statements and student union activity¡±, in particular in relation to critical comments about 바카라사이트 government¡¯s anti-extremism Prevent agenda.

¡°Submissions and email records show that 바카라사이트re had been a desire among ministers and special advisers not to appoint someone with close links to student unions,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, which adds that ¡°this was not made clear in 바카라사이트 advertised candidate information¡±.

¡°Political factors completely unrelated to 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 OfS were cited by 바카라사이트 special adviser in objecting to 바카라사이트 preferred candidate,¡± says 바카라사이트 report, which adds that 바카라사이트 board¡¯s ¡°independence is put at risk by taking too partisan an approach to candidates¡¯ views.¡±

Ministers later concluded that ¡°none of 바카라사이트 [student] candidates were right for 바카라사이트 role¡± and appointed 바카라사이트ir own choice, Ruth Carlson, a University of Surrey engineering student, on an interim basis.

However, 바카라사이트 announcement of Ms Carlson¡¯s appointment on 1 January ¡°did not make clear¡± that she was an interim member, says 바카라사이트 report, which adds that 바카라사이트 explanation that a ¡°fuller announcement¡± would make 바카라사이트 position clear later in 바카라사이트 week was ¡°inadequate and unconvincing.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com