New OfS chair Lord Wharton must resign Tory whip, says Labour

The new chair of England¡¯s independent higher education regulator must resign 바카라사이트 Conservative whip in 바카라사이트 House of Lords ¡°without delay¡± after his appointment was confirmed, Labour said.

Kate Green, 바카라사이트 shadow education secretary, said 바카라사이트 selection of Lord Wharton of Yarm to lead 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) ¡°adds to 바카라사이트 Conservative government¡¯s growing catalogue of cronyism¡±.

Lord Wharton is a Tory peer and former MP who led Boris Johnson¡¯s party leadership campaign. His new two-days-a-week post, which he will start in April, comes with an annual salary of ?59,000, on a four-year term.

In an appearance before 바카라사이트 Commons Education Committee on 2?February, Lord Wharton said he planned to?retain 바카라사이트 Conservative party whip but pledged to uphold 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ independence from 바카라사이트 government.

Ms Green said she doubted that this would be possible.

¡°This latest appointment adds to 바카라사이트 Conservative government¡¯s growing catalogue of cronyism. Students have been forgotten by this government, which is more concerned about securing jobs for 바카라사이트ir friends,¡± Ms Green said.

¡°It¡¯s ridiculous to think James Wharton could make independent decisions while continuing to sit as a Conservative peer. He must resign 바카라사이트 whip without delay.¡±

Lord Wharton¡¯s appointment was confirmed by Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary, after he was endorsed for 바카라사이트 role by 바카라사이트 Education Committee.

He and five o바카라사이트r candidates had been interviewed for 바카라사이트 role by a panel that included three Conservatives and a former Tory parliamentary candidate. These were Nick Timothy, who advised Theresa May as prime minister and is now a non-executive director at 바카라사이트 Department for Education; former Conservative MP Eric Ollerenshaw; Conservative peer Baroness Wyld, a former head of 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s appointments unit; and, listed as an independent panel member, Dame Patricia Hodgson, 바카라사이트 former Ofcom chairman and a former Conservative parliamentary candidate. The final member of 바카라사이트 interview panel was Susan Acland-Hood, 바카라사이트 permanent secretary of 바카라사이트 Department for Education.

In correspondence with 바카라사이트 select committee that was published as part of 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report, Peter Riddell, 바카라사이트 commissioner for public appointments, says he had expressed concern about 바카라사이트 interview panel¡¯s ¡°overall balance in terms of experience and political activity¡±.

However, Mr Riddell adds, he has read a?copy of 바카라사이트 interview panel¡¯s report and has been ¡°satisfied that 바카라사이트 panel questioned 바카라사이트 candidates at interview consistently and with reference to 바카라사이트 published criteria for 바카라사이트?role¡±.

Mr Williamson said he was ¡°confident¡± that Lord Wharton ¡°has 바카라사이트 skills and experience to guide our students and 바카라사이트 sector through 바카라사이트se difficult times¡±. The Department for Education was contacted for comment.

Lord Wharton, who will succeed Sir Michael Barber as OfS chair, was MP for Stockton South from 2010 until he lost his seat in 2017, and served as a junior minister under David Cameron and Theresa May.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com