No 10 rejects MPs’ plan to stop ministers putting friends on Whitehall boards

Tory MP William Wragg calls decision not to prevent super-spads' being made non-executive directors disappointing'

No 10 has rejected proposals to prevent ministers bringing in personal and political friends on to the boards of Whitehall departments in a move branded disappointing for governance standards by a senior Conservative MP.

Ministers ruled out a series of recommendations from the House of Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee, led by the Tory MP William Wragg, which were aimed at making sure non-executive directors of civil service boards were truly independent and the best candidates.