Restore trust in institutions by making appointments genuinely independent

The erosion of institutional independence is one of the most damaging trends in recent British politics. Appointments to quangos, regulators, and public bodies are increasingly made on the basis of political loyalty rather than competence. The result is institutions that neither the public nor professionals trust.

Ofcom, the BBC board, the Charity Commission, the House of Lords. All have seen appointments that raised serious questions about the qualifications and independence of the people chosen. When the public sees cronies installed in positions of authority, it reinforces the belief that the system serves insiders, not citizens.

Create a genuinely independent Public Appointments Commission with the power to veto ministerial appointments that fail to meet competence criteria. Require all public appointees above a certain grade to appear before a select committee and receive its approval. Transparency and competence are not unreasonable demands. They are the minimum.