viernes, 27 de abril de 2012

Calls for Downing Street anti-sleaze adviser to resign after sidelined over ... - Telegraph.co.uk

There are no requirements for him to work a certain number of hours, but he is on call to "provide a source of advice to Government ministers on the handling of their private interests".

His predecessor Sir Philip Mawer only completed one investigation during his three-and-a-half years in office and found there was no case to answer against the Labour MP, Shahid Malik.

Sir Philip left the job shortly after he was not called on to investigate the Liam Fox scandal that led to the Defence Secretary's resignation.

Earlier this year, Sir Alex promised he would step down if he ever felt he was being "bypassed", as he gave evidence to the Public Administration Committee of MPs.

Paul Flynn, an MP on the committee, last night called on Sir Alex to resign now the role of independent adviser is being sidelined once again.

"I've said to him I believe you're a poodle," he said. "The committee did not have confidence in his appointment in the first place. He is a career civil servant and is not the right person to be robustly independent. Sir Philip Mawer also was bypassed in the Liam Fox incident.

"I do think [Sir Alex] should resign. It is a non-job. The job has got no dignity. It is not clear what the point of it is."

Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative chairman of the committee, has already called on the Prime Minister to let Sir Alex investigate what happened at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Yesterday, Chris Bryant, a former Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and Labour MP, also said Sir Alex risked being "a laughing stock" unless he stepped in to demand that he is allowed to investigate.

Sir Alex has not spoken out about whether he should conduct an inquiry into Mr Hunt and the final decision over his involvement rests with the Prime Minister.

It is now likely that Sir Alex will be called again in front of the Public Administration Committee to explain his thoughts on the case in the public.

Sir Alex did not answer requests for comment.

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