Tories accused of ‘colonising’ state by granting public roles to allies

Tory peer Philippa Stroud, a former chief of staff for Iain Duncan Smith, was appointed chair of the Low Pay Commission earlier this year. Photograph: Alecsandra Raluca Drăgoi/The Observer

Britain’s system of public appointments needs to be overhauled by an incoming government over alleged Tory cronyism that has seen dozens of former MPs, party supporters and donors given key public roles, campaigners have urged. The public appointments system was reformed in the 1990s, but ministers still retain significant powers during the selection process. Experts say the current system in effect allows a party to “colonise” key parts of the state.

It was announced last month that former Tory minister Rob Wilson will be the new chair of the Consumer Council for Water, which represents water and sewerage customers across England and Wales.