THE SPEAKER S COMMITTEE ON THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Transcription

1 POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS ACT 2000 THE SPEAKER S COMMITTEE ON THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION FIRST REPORT 2018 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner HC 901

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3 POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTIONS AND REFERENDUMS ACT 2000 THE SPEAKER S COMMITTEE ON THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION FIRST REPORT 2018 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner Presented to the House of Commons in pursuance ofparagraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 14 March 2018 HC 901 Published on 14 March 2018 by authority of the House of Commons

4 The Speaker s Committee The Speaker s Committee is appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 to perform the functions conferred on it by that Act. Membership Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons (Chair) Rt Hon David Lidington MP, Minister of State (Cabinet Office) Mr Bernard Jenkin MP, Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Rishi Sunak MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) (Local Government) Kirsty Blackman MP Gloria De Piero MP Andrea Jenkyns MP Jessica Morden MP Bridget Phillipson MP Previous Publications First Report 2016 was published in May 2016 as HC 969 of Session Second Report 2016 was published May 2016 as HC 21 of Session Third Report 2016 was published July 2016 as HC 500 of Session Fourth Report 2016 was published October 2016 as HC 499 of Session First Report 2017 was published 27 February 2017 as HC 1031 of Session Second Report 2017 was published 6 November 2017 as HC 535 of Session Third Report 2017 was published 14 December 2017 as HC 688 of Session Contacts The Secretaries of the Speaker s Committee are Mike Everett and Robin James. Correspondence should be addressed to: The Secretary of the Speaker s Committee Journal Office House of Commons London SW1A 0AA speakerscommittee@parliament.uk Telephone inquiries:

5 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner 1 Contents 1 Introduction 3 The Candidate 3 The recruitment process 4 Statutory Consultation 5 Approval 5 Appendix A: Role and person specification 6 Job description 6 Person specification 6 Essential criteria 7 Desirable criteria 7 Appendix 2: Candidate s CV 8 Current roles 8 Previous roles 8 Other appointments 8 Voluntary Sector Activities 8 Education 9 Appendix C: Response to statutory consultation with the party leaders 10

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7 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner 3 1 Introduction 1. The Electoral Commission was established by Parliament as a body independent of Government. The Chair of the Electoral Commission and the other Electoral Commissioners are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen, following an Address from the House of Commons. The Speaker s Committee on the Electoral Commission is required to oversee the procedure for selecting candidates for appointment to the Electoral Commission by section 3 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as amended by the Political Parties and Elections Act Candidates names are put before the House with the agreement of the Speaker. 2. This report provides information about the procedure followed by the Speaker s Committee during the selection of a candidate to replace Commissioner Toby Hobman. His term of office expired on 31 December Mr Hobman had been a Commissioner since 2010, serving two terms. We are grateful to Mr Hobman for the contribution he has made to the Electoral Commission since his appointment. 3. A recruitment process was conducted in mid-2017 for a new Electoral Commissioner. This process, and the final recommendation of the Speaker s Committee, is described in the Committee s Third Report of , Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner The Speaker s Committee agreed with the recommendation of the recruitment panel that Professor Sir Ian Kennedy should be appointed as an Electoral Commissioner. In accordance with Section 3(2)(b) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as amended, Mr Speaker subsequently consulted with the registered leader of each registered party to which two or more Members of the House of Commons then belonged. No objections to the proposed recommendation were received, so the Committee invited the House to approve an Address to Her Majesty for the appointment of Professor Sir Ian Kennedy as an Electoral Commissioner for the period from 1 February 2018 to 31 January The House of Commons debated the motion that an Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for the appointment of Professor Sir Ian Kennedy as an Electoral Commissioner on 23 January The motion was negatived on a division In light of the House s decision, the Speaker s Committee decided that the recruitment panel s second-placed candidate, Sarah Chambers, be recommended for appointment as an Electoral Commissioner. Ms Chambers met all of the essential criteria required for the role and was found to be extremely close to the initial recommended candidate in calibre and ability. 1 Speaker s Committee on the Electoral Commission, Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner, Third Report 2017, 14 December 2017, HC House of Commons Debates, 23 January 2018, Volume 635, cc

8 4 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner The Candidate 7. Sarah Chambers currently serves on the Board at the Competition and Markets Authority. She has a broad understanding of a wide range of complex organisations, political issues and regulatory frameworks, developed over many years working as an economic regulator and government policy maker, and more recently as a Board and committee member of a number of public organisations, including the Bar Standards Board. She was formerly a Civil Servant. 8. The candidate s CV can be found in appendix B. The recruitment process 9. Although this is not a Ministerial appointment, the Speaker s Committee had regard to the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. In order to assist with identifying possible candidates for the post the Committee in February appointed the following independent Panel: Joanna Place (Independent Chair) Sir John Holmes (Chair of the Electoral Commission) Bridget Phillipson MP (Speaker s Committee on the Electoral Commission) 10. As with previous appointments to the Electoral Commission, funding was provided to support the use of recruitment consultants, who were appointed under the House Service s framework agreement, which was awarded following a competitive tender. The Panel agreed to employ the recruitment consultants Veredus. 11. The Panel considered and noted the role description and person specification which had been agreed between the Commission and Mr Speaker, and agreed to the contents of the recruitment pack. All candidates were required to submit a written application. 12. The post was publicly advertised and the panel approved the text of an advertisement. The panel was advised by Veredus that web-based advertisement, in conjunction with the active search by the consultants, represented the best option to source a strong field. The position was advertised in the following places: Sunday Times Online Guardian Jobs Online Cabinet Office Public Appointments website Veredus s website 13. The Panel met on 27 September to consider the report from the recruitment consultants and agreed to shortlist five candidates for interview. The interviews took place on 10 October. All candidates were questioned on the same areas relevant to the role. They were assessed as to how they met the essential criteria for the role.

9 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner The Speaker s Committee was entirely satisfied that the selection process was rigorous and that the panel discharged its duties conscientiously and with all due regard to the requirements of thoroughness, fairness and propriety. The Committee is grateful to Joanna Place and her fellow panel members for their work on this recruitment process. Statutory Consultation 15. Section 3(2)(b) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, as amended, requires that the proposal to appoint (or re-appoint) a member of the Electoral Commission be the subject of consultation with the registered leader of each registered party to which two or more Members of the House of Commons then belong. The Speaker accordingly wrote to the leaders of the qualifying parties in February 2018 to consult them on the proposed candidate. No concerns or objections were received (appendix C). Approval 16. The Committee invites the House to approve an Address to Her Majesty for the appointment of Sarah Chambers as an Electoral Commissioner for the period from 31 March 2018 to 30 March 2022.

10 6 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner Appendix A: Role and person specification Job description As a Commission Board member you will be helping to: Set the overall strategic direction of the Commission and ensuring delivery of its strategic goals within the statutory framework and with the resources determined by Parliament to ensure public confidence in democracy. Set the Commission s regulatory priorities and monitoring its regulatory activity in the areas of both party and election finance and electoral administration. This includes oversight of the publication of statutory election reports. From time to time, take regulatory or other statutory decisions on key issues within the Commission s remit. This may include deciding the appropriate response to significant breaches of the regulatory framework for political parties and candidates, as well as decisions relating to the conduct of referendums. Ensure efficient and effective use of public funds and that the Commission operates within the limits of its statutory authority to high standards of governance. You may also be asked to: Serve as a member on the Audit or Remuneration and Human Resources Committees if required and participating in informal reference groups from time to time. Perform any other roles or functions which the Commission asks them to discharge personally Person specification All candidates are expected to meet the criteria listed below. They must also not be disqualified by law from being appointed as Electoral Commissioner, Wales because they have in the last five years been an elected politician (other than a parish or community councillor), an officer or employee of a political party, or a reported donor or lender to a political party. In addition, the Electoral Commissioner, Wales once appointed may not be a member of a registered political party. The relevant legislation can be found in section 3(4) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and section 74 and Schedule 1 of the Electoral Administration Act With a personal profile at national level, the successful candidate should be able to demonstrate substantial experience and significant achievement of:

11 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner 7 Essential criteria Proven experience contributing to the leadership and strategic direction of a complex organisation operating in a political environment, including experience in a non-executive role, and the ability to scrutinise and challenge from a nonexecutive perspective. Evidence of excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrable and highly-developed understanding of the regulatory and political landscape from either a regulator or regulated perspective based on excellent analytical ability and a capacity to think clearly about regulatory decisions from a principles-based perspective. Track record operating in an environment subject to significant scrutiny from a range of quarters, including from the regulated community, from politicians, and from the media. Demonstrable understanding of the relevance of equality and diversity to the work of the Electoral Commission. Clear evidence of complete integrity and commitment to transparency in decision making, and of independence and objectivity. This includes the need for the Commission to be perceived as completely unbiased when fulfilling its responsibilities. You should pay particular attention to the information on political activity contained in Appendix B. Desirable criteria Knowledge and experience of IT and digital projects. For this role we welcome candidates whose previous experience has been gained through the private sector, but experience from the public or not for profit sectors is also welcome.

12 8 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner Appendix B: Candidate s CV Current roles Non-Executive Director and Panel Member of Competition and Markets Authority Judicial Appointments Commission Panellist Civil Aviation Authority Consumer Panel Member Chair of the Applications Panel of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code Trustee of Zamcog, a Zambian education charity Previous roles Member of the Qualifications Committee, Bar Standards Board Independent Director, Payments Council Director of Renewable Energy Deployment, Department of Energy and Climate Change Director of Consumer & Competition Policy, Department of Business and Industrial Strategy Chief Executive of Postcomm Director of Automotive Unit, Department for Trade and Industry Director of Strategy and Competiveness, Department for Trade and Industry Director of Licensing and International Affairs, OFTEL Civil Service Other appointments Member/Chair of the Joint Regulators Group Advisory Board Member, Centre for Competition Policy, UEA Voluntary Sector Activities Trustee (and latterly Chair), Shepherd s Bush Families Project and Children s Centre Trustee of Zamcog, a Zambian educational charity Nov Education BA Hons (First Class), Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University of Oxford (1979)

13 Appointment of an Electoral Commissioner 9 Appendix C: Response to statutory consultation with the party leaders No responses received.