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More trouble for Phillips?
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CRITICISED: Trevor Phillips
Head of equalities watchdog blasted over leadership
MORE TROUBLE could be coming for Trevor Phillips following several resignations, criticism over his management style and from the National Audit Office over how money was spent by the equalities watchdog he heads.
The Times reported last week that Phillips, who was again elected chairman for a further three-year term, is likely to face more board-level resignations at the troubled Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
Three commissioners have already resigned and the Times said others are threatening to leave. They have blamed Phillips’ management style and the financial irregularities at the Commission.
The turmoil in the EHRC was compounded on July 20, when the Audit Office criticised the Commission for spending £1 million making senior staff redundant and then re-hiring them as consultants.
Seven of those whose appointments were criticised were from the former Commission of Racial Equality (CRE), which Phillips headed before the organisation was wrapped up and its services combined with the disabilities and gender watchdog agencies to form the EHRC.
But Phillips’ supporters have said it is “unfair” to blame him for problems, and that current commissioners are resigning because of plans to make them re-apply for their jobs.
EHRC deputy chair Margaret Prosser, who publicly backed Phillips, wrote in the Guardian on July 22: ‘Any organisation starting up with a new and complicated mandate on equality and human rights would have had similar experiences.
‘On the issue of the qualification of our accounts, commissioners – including the chair – were not responsible for the appointments referred to in our annual report,’ Prosser said.
She added: ‘Of course, it is disappointing to lose three commissioners, but a strong chair has to show a clear direction of travel. It is the right direction and our three-year strategy was unanimously agreed by the board and shows a clear programme of work that we will be delivering.
‘Under Trevor's excellent leadership we have had plenty of highs… We have also worked hard on improving governance procedures in the Commission, as the National Audit Office recognises.”
Published: 27 July 2009
Issue: 1382
