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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| MPs snub choice for child supremo | MPs snub choice for child supremo |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| MPs have challenged the suitability of a woman picked by the government to be England's next children's commissioner. | MPs have challenged the suitability of a woman picked by the government to be England's next children's commissioner. |
| Former children's services chief Maggie Atkinson was nominated by Children's Secretary Ed Balls to take up the post. | |
| But a committee of MPs told him to restart the selection process saying she had not shown enough effort to assert the independence of the role. | |
| Children's charity Barnardo's said the MPs' snub "beggars belief" and Mr Balls has decided to appoint her anyway. | |
| Barnados chief executive Martin Narey said: "I am astonished that the select committee has failed to endorse the appointment of Maggie Atkinson as the new children's commissioner. | |
| "Maggie is an excellent choice and will fearlessly and independently promote the interests of children in England. This verdict beggars belief." | "Maggie is an excellent choice and will fearlessly and independently promote the interests of children in England. This verdict beggars belief." |
| 'Independence of mind' | 'Independence of mind' |
| Labour MP Barry Sheerman, who chairs the committee for children, schools and families, said members had not been convinced of Ms Atkinson's suitability for the role. | Labour MP Barry Sheerman, who chairs the committee for children, schools and families, said members had not been convinced of Ms Atkinson's suitability for the role. |
| Mr Sheerman told the BBC's Today programme: "Maggie Atkinson is a very competent woman but we just didn't think she had the independence of mind to stand up to a secretary of state who likes to get his own way." | Mr Sheerman told the BBC's Today programme: "Maggie Atkinson is a very competent woman but we just didn't think she had the independence of mind to stand up to a secretary of state who likes to get his own way." |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| Describing Mr Balls as "a bit of a bully", Mr Sheerman said he thought the children's secretary's decision to ignore the committee's recommendation marked "a bad day for parliamentary democracy". | Describing Mr Balls as "a bit of a bully", Mr Sheerman said he thought the children's secretary's decision to ignore the committee's recommendation marked "a bad day for parliamentary democracy". |
| Mr Sheerman, a recently vocal critic of Gordon Brown, denied that his committee's move was related to reports he is considering standing to be chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party. | |
| The decision to turn down Ms Atkinson was taken unanimously without a vote by all eight committee members which included MPs from all three major parties, he said. | |
| Bob Reitemeier, the Children's Society's chief executive, said he was "disappointed and surprised" by the committee. | Bob Reitemeier, the Children's Society's chief executive, said he was "disappointed and surprised" by the committee. |
| He added: "We believe that Maggie is a strong candidate appointed by a rigorous process." | He added: "We believe that Maggie is a strong candidate appointed by a rigorous process." |
| The National Children's Bureau also said the committee was wrong to oppose her appointment. | The National Children's Bureau also said the committee was wrong to oppose her appointment. |
| Chief executive Sir Paul Ennals said: "Everyone who knows Maggie knows of her robustness, her independence of mind, and her strength of character." | Chief executive Sir Paul Ennals said: "Everyone who knows Maggie knows of her robustness, her independence of mind, and her strength of character." |
| The children's sector knows of the value of a strong commissioner and they will back Maggie to undertake that role with vigour and commitment Sir Paul Ennals | The children's sector knows of the value of a strong commissioner and they will back Maggie to undertake that role with vigour and commitment Sir Paul Ennals |
| He had been on the interview panel which had arranged for her to be questioned by children as part of the process. | He had been on the interview panel which had arranged for her to be questioned by children as part of the process. |
| "The children and young people judged her to be the best candidate for the post and the interview panel were unanimous in their recommendation," he said. | "The children and young people judged her to be the best candidate for the post and the interview panel were unanimous in their recommendation," he said. |
| "The children's sector knows of the value of a strong commissioner and they will back Maggie to undertake that role with vigour and commitment." | "The children's sector knows of the value of a strong commissioner and they will back Maggie to undertake that role with vigour and commitment." |
| Dr Atkinson taught English and drama for 10 years before moving into a national training and advisory role on the national curriculum in the late 1980s. | Dr Atkinson taught English and drama for 10 years before moving into a national training and advisory role on the national curriculum in the late 1980s. |
| She became director of children's services in Gateshead in 2003. She was president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services until March 2008, and is currently chair of the National Expert Group on the Children's Workforce and national chair for the new Centre of Excellence in Outcomes. | She became director of children's services in Gateshead in 2003. She was president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services until March 2008, and is currently chair of the National Expert Group on the Children's Workforce and national chair for the new Centre of Excellence in Outcomes. |
| A spokesman for the Department of Children, Family and Schools said Ed Balls had endorsed the selection process which chose Ms Atkinson before nominating her as the preferred candidate. | A spokesman for the Department of Children, Family and Schools said Ed Balls had endorsed the selection process which chose Ms Atkinson before nominating her as the preferred candidate. |
| "In accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, the children, schools and families select committee held a pre-appointment hearing on 12 October and will publish its report on Monday. The secretary of state is considering the report, an advance copy of which he received on Friday, and will respond shortly," he said. | "In accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, the children, schools and families select committee held a pre-appointment hearing on 12 October and will publish its report on Monday. The secretary of state is considering the report, an advance copy of which he received on Friday, and will respond shortly," he said. |