Victims’ Commissioner Dame Vera Baird is to stand down, accusing ministers of 'downgrading' victims’ interests in the Government’s priorities and of 'side-lining' her office.
In a letter to Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis, Dame Vera said that under his predecessor, Dominic Raab, she had twice been invited to apply for a second term in the post, which was due to end in June.
However despite having received assurances from the Ministry of Justice that she was considered to be an 'appointable' candidate, there had still been no appointment and the recruitment process was being re-run.
