By David Williams
14 September 2010
Electoral Commission chair Jenny Watson has told MPs that she will not be cowed on voting reform, despite personal criticism from government sources.
Watson, who next month will be making recommendations on the coalition’s plans to introduce an ‘alternative vote’ polling system, was giving evidence to the Commons political and constitutional reform committee this morning.
Last week, unnamed sources – reportedly close to government – were quoted in the press deriding her public service record after she lost her seat on the Audit Commission board.
Conservative committee member Christopher Chope attributed the comments to ‘a senior secretary of state in the government’, and suggested they could ‘force an atmosphere of compliance’.
Chope then asked Watson: ‘Can you assure us that you’re not in any way inhibited in criticising what the government may be doing?’
Watson pointed out that the comments were anonymous, adding: ‘I don’t intend to dignify them with a response.’
She said: ‘I can certainly give you my assurance that we are an independent electoral commission, independent of government and any political party, and we will set out our views independently and very forcefully.’
Both the committee and Watson have expressed concerns about the tight timescale of the government’s plans to hold a referendum on the alternative vote, planned for next spring.
