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Trevor Phillips was today urged to stand down as chairman of the Government's equality watchdog as a sixth commissioner announced he was quitting the troubled organisation.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of gay rights charity Stonewall, said he was standing down from the Equality and Human Rights Commission because Mr Phillips's leadership was tarnishing its image.
He also warned that the continuing controversy surrounding Mr Phillips was undermining the £70million-a- year quango's efforts and said the former broadcaster should stand down to prevent further damage to the struggle for equal rights.
In a further blow to Mr Phillips - after the publication this week of a highly-critical National Audit Office report on the watchdog - it emerged today that another senior member of the organisation, the chairman of its disability committee Alun Davies, had resigned.
The most damaging rebuff, however, came from Mr Summerskill. "Trevor has always made no bones about being a party politician as well as chairing a public body and he will be well aware that when you become the story it ends up damaging the organisation you represent and that it might be the time to reconsider your position," he said.
"This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make. The commission was set up to help millions of people in this country, from women who are underpaid to men who are unable to take advantage of family-friendly working and it needs the very best leadership."
Mr Summerskill is the fourth commissioner to quit the watchdog this month following the Government's decision to reappoint Mr Phillips for a further three-year term. Two others had already resigned.
Several have criticised Mr Phillips's management, with one, disability campaigner Sir Bert Massie, describing its corporate governance as a "shambles". Another, Kay Hampton, accused Mr Phillips of "poor leadership driven by self-interest" and warned of a breakdown in trust in the watchdog.
The decision to reappoint Mr Phillips came despite the National Audit Office criticising the commission's hiring of seven of his former colleagues on high salaries shortly after they received large pay-offs from the Commission for Racial Equality, which he led, at a cost to the taxpayer of almost £1million.
The auditors said there was "insufficient evidence" to show the seven gave "value for money".
Mr Phillips has faced several disputes since becoming chairman of the commission in 2006, one being when the Equate consultancy group, of which he was the director, was paid to advise Channel4 over a racism row on Celebrity Big Brother - even though the commission scrutinises the broadcaster's activities.
His supporters insist the criticisms are unjustified. They also say he has no intention of resigning.
Reader views (4)
Each of these Commissioners have their own agenda, it's no wonder it fell apart.
- Paul, Rochester UK, 27/07/2009 08:33
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When Phillips is the only remaining time waster on this quango what sort of salary will be paying him ? And what sort of pay off and pension when he goes ?
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 24/07/2009 18:40
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Good riddance to bad rubbish. Ben Summerskill should never been on this body in the first place and hopefully the Tories will abolish the whole farce when they are elected. This paen to the multiculturalist lobby has become dangerous to fundamental civil liberties, namely the right to say what you think free from accusations of hate crimes.
- Dominic, london, 24/07/2009 18:16
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Close this money wasting quango along with the bulk of all the other quangos.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties, 24/07/2009 17:02
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