MP calls for change to High Sheriff appointment procedure
Helen Goodman, Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland, has written to the Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw MP, to call for changes to the appointment procedure for High Sheriffs.
A full copy of her letter is shown below:
______________________________________________
Rt Hon Jack Straw MP
Secretary of State for Justice
Ministry of Justice
Selborne House
54 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QW
16 June 2008
Dear Jack,
- Re: Appointment of High Sheriffs
I am writing to ask you to review the appointment procedure for High Sheriffs in England and Wales.
The current procedure – where High Sheriffs are nominated and appointed through the presiding Judge of the Circuit and the Privy Council – lacks transparency and accountability, and consequently fails to engender public support for the incumbent or the position itself.
The appointment process also appears not to take account of such vital criteria as longstanding commitment to the local area or widespread popular support in the community.
In my local area, for example, the current High Sheriff is Paul Townley, who has only lived in the County for six years and has received considerable coverage in the local media for his decision to purchase Whorlton Lido on the banks of the Tees near his home in Wycliffe, Barnard Castle, in order to close it to visitors because he objected to the noise people made while visiting this 100 year-old attraction.
There was a problem with noise at this site one year, but this excessive action has denied this facility to many local families. I am not happy that a person who uses their personal wealth in this way is now in position of trust, representing the County.
Moreover, Mr Townley now claims to be interested in young people and improving their behaviour, when all he has demonstrated is an interest in excluding them from the public space instead of proposing a positive intervention to address the issue.
I really do believe that if the position of High Sheriff is to retain any relevance in modern society, the appointment procedure must be altered and updated.
Could I suggest, therefore, that the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill provides an ideal opportunity to tackle this.
Yours sincerely,
Helen Goodman
Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland
