Watchdog: Nine months to assess complaints against politicians

A watchdog investigating allegations against politicians is now taking nine months to deliver an initial assessment of complaints.

The Ethical Standards Commissioner revealed the delay after Audit Scotland found a “disturbing” number of failings at the watchdog, with too many submissions dismissed. A statement on the commissioner’s website said: “We are very sorry that it can take up to nine months to conduct an initial assessment of your complaint.”

The Ethical Standards Commissioner is an independent regulator that handles complaints against MSPs and councillors.

It is funded by the Scottish Parliament with reports about MSPs referred to Holyrood’s standards committee. Commissioner Caroline Anderson has been on extended leave since March last year, with Ian Bruce standing in.

He said the watchdog was “absolutely committed” to earning the trust of the public after auditors, in December, reported serious failings in how complaints are investigated.

He added: “I recognise that we have much more to do but I feel that we are on the road to recovery.”

Previously Audit Scotland found a disturbing number of failings at the watchdog, with too many complaints dismissed. It said every probe run since August 2020 should be reviewed.

Scottish Conservative Party chairman Craig Hoy said: “It has been almost a year since Audit Scotland released a damning report, yet there seems to have been little improvement. It’s essential the public can have faith in this complaints process but there seems to be a worrying lack of leadership at the watchdog. As we approach the anniversary of Audit Scotland’s report, it’s important that we see some visible improvement.”

Dr Joshua Hobbs, lecturer and consultant in applied ethics at Leeds University, said there were analogies between Downing Street and Scotland. In June, No 10 confirmed the role of ethics adviser to the prime minister may be scrapped after Lord Geidt resigned from the role over being put in what he called an “impossible” position”.

Hobbs said: “Not having a commissioner in place is a bad look but it is a problem if it’s a role which doesn’t have the ability to actually do anything. That is about being seen to be doing something but does not seem hugely useful or convincing.”