3 The candidate
6. The unanimous view of the Panel was that Ms
Jenny Watson should be the next Chair of the Electoral Commission.
Ms Watson is a former Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission
and is currently a non-executive board member of the Audit Commission.
A meeting of the Speaker's Committee on 3 June endorsed the Panel's
recommendation. Following this, Mr Speaker wrote to the leaders
of the main parties represented in the House of Commons, formally
consulting them on the proposal to nominate Ms Watson as required
by section 3(2) of PPERA. No party leader raised any concern or
made any objection to the proposal.
7. The Speaker's Committee invites the House
to approve the decision of the Panel, endorsed by Mr Speaker and
by the Committee, to recommend Ms Jenny Watson for appointment
as Chair of the Electoral Commission for a four-year period, with
effect from 1 January 2009. It believes that Ms Watson, whose
curriculum vitae is annexed to this Report, has both the
experience and the personal qualities to be an outstanding Chair
of the Commission. Her record of change management and her proven
communication skills will be important in leading the Commission
through the period of substantial change that is likely to follow
implementation of the proposals in the recent White Paper on party
finance and expenditure. This is a high-profile and challenging
role that requires an exceptional person. The Committee is satisfied
that in Ms Watson it has found such a person.
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