Balls accused over new commissioner

In heated Commons exchanges, shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said Mr Balls had already appointed Dr Maggie Atkinson "to do his bidding" in three previous "patronage roles".

Mr Balls in turn accused Mr Gove of impugning Dr Atkinson's integrity, insisting she had been far and away the best candidate for the post and that she would be "no patsy".

The row erupted after Mr Balls announced he was going ahead with the appointment even though the Commons Children's, Schools and Families Committee had refused to endorse her as successor to Sir Al Aynsley-Green.

It was the first time a select committee had failed to approve a major public appointment since being given powers earlier this year to scrutinise candidates at pre-appointment hearings.

In an interview with the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, the committee chairman, Labour MP Barry Sheerman, said it was "a bad day for parliamentary democracy". He added: "Most of us know that Ed Balls is a bit of a bully and he likes his own way."

In its report, the committee questioned the willingness of Dr Atkinson - who is currently Gateshead Council's director of children's services - to "assert the independence of the role" and to champion children's rights.

In the Commons, Mr Gove said that, in three previous appointments under Mr Balls, she had "consistently" supported the Government line and had never taken "the lead in any critique of Government policy".

Liberal Democrat children's spokesman David Laws said the Government was in danger of appointing a series of "rather tame poodles" to posts that required "ferocious watchdogs".

Mr Balls angrily rejected the claims, insisting that Dr Atkinson had been chosen through an independent appointments process.