Quality | 2010.02.10
Trevor Phillips could face investigation over alleged contempt of parliament| Andrew Sparrow
Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission is accused of trying to influence members of a committee shortly before they published a report about him
Trevor Phillips, the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, is likely to be the subject of a parliamentary investigation. He has been accused of trying to influence members of committee shortly before they published a report about him.
The revelation came out this morning in a very short report from the joint committee on human rights. It only runs to one paragraph. This is what it says:
We met on 9 February to discuss a draft Report on the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It emerged at the start of the meeting that Trevor Phillips, the chair of the EHRC, had recently spoken to at least three members of the committee about the committee\'s consideration of the draft report and the publication of written evidence with the report. In our view these discussions could constitute a contempt of both houses in that they may be an attempt to influence the views of certain members of the committee shortly before it considered a draft report directly relevant to Mr Phillips in his role as chair of the EHRC. We recommend that the matter should be subject to investigation by the privileges committees of both houses.
Phillips gave evidence to the committee in relation to its inquiry into the EHRC last year. Apparently, it was a fractious hearing partly because four former commissioners had previously complained to the committee about Phillips\'s leadership.
It will now be up to the two privileges committees in parliament – the standards and privileges committee in the Commons and the privileges committee in the Lords – to decide whether to pursue the complaint.
2pm update: In response to the committee\'s report today, the EHRC issued this statement:
Neither Mr Phillips nor the commission is aware of any reason why any of his actions might amount to contempt of the Houses of Parliament. Should the parliamentary authorities decide to take this matter further, both Mr Phillips and the Commission would be happy to cooperate fully.
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/[...]hillips-contempt-of-parliament
