Equalities chief faces committee criticism

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) voices concerns over Mr Phillips's leadership today and questions Cabinet Minister Harriet Harman's decision to push through his reappointment.

The findings follow the resignation of six commissioners from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) last year in protest at Mr Phillips' chairmanship.

They had complained that the body's board was dysfunctional, with members feeling intimidated by Mr Phillips and said his links to a consultancy firm were a potential conflict of interest.

In its report, the JCHR conceded that establishing the commission by merging other watchdogs in 2007 and developing a strong board had been challenging but added: "In the early years of the EHRC's existence this was not done successfully, for which the chair must bear responsibility."

The committee also took issue with the way Mrs Harman, the Equalities Minister, reappointed Mr Phillips to his 112,000 post for another three years. "In our view, the reappointment of the chair and deputy chair of the EHRC should on this occasion have been subject to open competition."

The report welcomed the fact that Mr Phillips had now given up his involvement with media consultancy firm Equate.

"It would appear, however, that it took some time before Mr Phillips was persuaded to take the action necessary to address the perception of a conflict of interest caused by his involvement with Equate," it added.

The committee voiced concerns about the neutrality of the EHRC, saying its credibility would be enhanced if it had a commissioner with links to the Conservatives.