Initial opposition vetoed by DCMS committee

Baronness (Tina) Stowell is the new chair of the Charity Commission.

Matt Hancock, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS), announced Stowell as the successor to William Shawcross despite the DCMS committee formally rejecting Stowell for the post.

Stowell was leader of the House of Lords and the Lord Privy Seal until July 2016. She has said that on appointment she would resign her party membership and the Conservative whip in the House of Lords and become an independent peer and has now done so.

On her appointment, Hancock said: “Tina Stowell will be a brilliant chair of the Charity Commission and I am delighted she is taking up this role. It is an important time for the Commission, and the sector, and I know that she will work tirelessly to protect and promote the great work that charities do and ensure they uphold the highest standards of integrity.

"I would also like to thank William Shawcross for his hard work over the past six years.”

Stowell will be paid £62,500 for the two and a half days a week role and will take the roll for an initial three years.

She said: “I will place the public interest at the heart of everything I do as chair to build the public’s trust in charities and the Commission as their regulator.

"To that end it is vital that we have a constructive, business-like relationship with all our stakeholders and I look forward to listening to a wide range of voices in the days and weeks ahead.”