08 November 2002
The appointment was attacked by the Conservative opposition because Strachan is the partner of arts minister Baroness Blackstone.
Former party chair David Davis, John Prescott's shadow at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, said it was 'singularly inappropriate for the partner of a government minister to be in charge of an organisation whose be-all and end-all is impartiality'.
Downing Street insisted that the appointment had been made on merit. 'It would be wrong to discriminate against someone because of who their partner is,' said the prime minister's official spokesman.
The appointment of a successor to Dame Helena Shovelton has been mired in controversy. Former transport and local government secretary Stephen Byers blocked the appointment earlier this year of Labour peer Lord Warner after objections from members of the Local Government Association.
News last month that Strachan was the preferred candidate brought accusations of cronyism from members of the Commons' public administration select committee.
Local government minister Nick Raynsford, who announced the appointment, said: 'This appointment comes at a challenging time for the commission, especially with the implementation of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment of local authorities.'
Strachan, who begins his three-year term immediately, said: 'The commission has built a reputation for being a staunchly independent regulator which combines well-researched work at the national level and a strong local network of auditors and inspectors. I am determined to develop and protect this reputation.'
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