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Phillips led by 'intimidation and cliques' at equalities watchdog
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor11 Nov 2009
Trevor Phillips today faced fresh pressure to quit as head of the Government's equalities watchdog after a damning assessment of his leadership was submitted to Parliament.
In a letter to MPs and peers, disability campaigner Baroness Campbell of Surbiton said Mr Phillips had allowed an intimidating and divisive culture marred by cliques to fester at the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
She also claimed his conduct as chairman of the organisation, which he has run for three years, was "severely damaging" its effectiveness and accused him of failing to deliver in key areas of his work.
The peer, who resigned as an equalities commissioner this year, also accused Mr Phillips of a "blatant breach" of Whitehall rules to prevent conflicts of interest by carrying out private paid work on racism at the same time as holding his government post.
Baroness Campbell's letter was disclosed at a hearing of Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights, which is investigating the operation of the commission. Her criticism follows expressions of discontent by four other former commissioners.
She wrote: "I can honestly say quite a number of commissioners felt intimated by the divisive culture that was allowed to fester.
"It was more suited to those who enjoy the cut and thrust of a political culture of inner and outer circles and caucusing. Those with an alternative view were isolated or treated with indifference. Trevor Phillips's conduct and approach towards governance were severely damaging."
Mr Phillips defended his record before the committee. He said that, although he would be the "last person" to say his organisation's board was perfect, it was wrong to suggest a "culture of intimidation" existed.
Committee members raised concerns about his commercial activities and decision to hire three of his former colleagues from the Commission for Racial Equality as consultants at a cost of £323,708 - shortly after they received redundancy payouts when thecommission's predecessor was wound up.
Mr Phillips insisted he was not responsible for this decision and rejected claims that he stifled debate. He said the former commissioners who had attacked him were all "experienced people who frankly were not, in my recollection, that shy in putting forward their views".
Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris urged Mr Phillips to quit: "If you are in a position where five former commissioners are making such strong criticism, doesn't that make your position untenable? What about resigning?"
Reader views (1)
So effectively, an in-equalities Minister!
- Joe, Thornton Heath, London, England, 11/11/2009 09:13
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