Home Business Stormont’s Standards Commissioner quits after one week in post

Stormont’s Standards Commissioner quits after one week in post

by wellnessfitpro

MLA’s approved his appointment last Monday

Stormont exterior
MLAs approved the appointment of the new Standards Commissioner last week (Image: Rebecca Black/PA Wire)

Stormont’s newly appointed Standards Commissioner has quit after just one week in the role to take up a post as Deputy Chief Constable of the Surrey Constabulary.

The Commissioner for Standards is responsible for investigating complaints made against MLAs and Ministers.

Mark McEwan was appointed to the role of Standards Commissioner at Stormont after 26 years in policing, including in the Metropolitan Police in London, most recently serving as Assistant Chief Constable in the PSNI before his retirement in 2024.

His appointment by the Assembly Commission was approved by MLAs when they returned from summer recess on 8th September; however, Speaker Edwin Poots has today written to MLAs to inform them that Mr McEwan has stepped down with immediate effect.

“Last week the Assembly approved the appointment of Mark McEwan as the new Commissioner for Standards,” Edwin Poots wrote.

“Mr McEwan has today informed the Clerk/ Chief Executive that he has been appointed as Deputy Chief Constable of the Surrey Constabulary and he has therefore stepped down as Commissioner of Standards with immediate effect as he prepares for his new role.

“The recent recruitment competition conducted by the Assembly Commission for the appointment of the Commissioner of Standards produced a list of appointable candidates. The Assembly Commission will now go through the necessary processes of pre-appointment checks in the coming weeks to come back to the Assembly to nominate a new Commissioner for Standards as soon as possible.

“While the Assembly Commission would have preferred not to have to come back to the Assembly on this matter so soon, this is a significant appointment for Mr McEwan and I therefore wish him every success in his new role.”

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