I don't believe my office is biased, says watchdog

Michelle Morris said the review will examine between 670 and 700 cases

Wales’ public services watchdog has said she does not believe an independent review will find evidence of political bias in her organisation’s decision-making.

But Public Services Ombudsman Michelle Morris said there will “probably be things that we need to do better, or differently”.

The investigation follows the resignation of ombudsman investigator Sinead Cook, who allegedly made comments on social media, including one using offensive language about Conservatives.

Ms Morris said the episode damaged her office’s reputation and “people’s trust and confidence in our work”.

She also announced, giving evidence to the Senedd’s Finance Committee on Thursday, that Northern Ireland Assembly Standards Commissioner Melissa McCullough would now lead the review, after the original choice was abandoned.

Welsh Conservatives had raised concerns about the appointment of senior barrister James Goudie KC, due to his long-standing links to the Labour Party.

The ombudsman’s office investigates complaints made by the public about public bodies and councillors accused of breaking their code of conduct.

The review’s remit will include an examination of cases where Ms Cook and her team decided not to investigate.

Its stated aim is to “provide assurance that its processes, for considering complaints that councillors have breached the councillor code of conduct, are sound and free from political bias” and to “identify lessons that can be learned from what has happened”.

Melissa McCullough is also standards commissioner for the Channel Islands

Ms Morris told the committee: “I have to say, I don’t believe that there will be evidence of political bias in our decision-making, but the review is there for someone else to properly look at that.”

But she added “there will probably be things that we need to do better, or differently, as a result of this review, whether there’s evidence of political bias found or not”.

Ms Morris said she believed the “staffing matter” with Ms Cook had been dealt with “quite swiftly” but had “left us damaged, in terms of our reputation and people’s trust and confidence in our work” investigating allegations counsellors had breached the code of conduct.

She said the review would examine between 670 and 700 cases but that she hoped the work could be completed by the end of the summer, in time to report back to the committee this autumn.

Ms Morris said the report will be published.