Committee publication · Report · 26 June 2026 · HC 246

1st Report – Pre-appointment Hearing: The Commissioner for Public Appointments

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Pre-appointment Hearing: The Commissioner for Public Appointments

Government response deadline: 26 August 2026

Summary

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee held a pre-appointment hearing on 24 June 2026 for Fiona Cannon OBE, the Government's preferred candidate for Commissioner for Public Appointments. The committee examined her background in corporate strategy and diversity leadership, her understanding of public appointments governance, and her suitability for the role. Following the hearing, the committee endorsed her appointment.

Key findings

The recruitment campaign took nearly seven months to complete (November 2025 to June 2026), significantly longer than the expected four-month timeframe, with the application deadline extended from 8 January to 16 February without clear justification.
Fiona Cannon OBE brings 30+ years of experience in corporate strategy and diversity leadership, including previous roles at the Equal Opportunities Commission (2000–2007) and Government Equalities Office (2010–2012).
Cannon has disclosed a £200 donation to the Labour Party before the last election and former Labour Party membership, both below declaration thresholds; she has confirmed no conflicts of interest.
Cannon identified four priority areas: raising awareness of public appointments, improving diversity in appointments (particularly regarding disability and socio-economic backgrounds), addressing poor candidate experience (only 12% of 2025 appointments met the 3-month conclusion target), and building relationships with government departments.
The committee noted the irony that the appointment process for the Commissioner—tasked with ensuring timely public appointments—took significantly longer than expected.

Recommendations

The committee endorses Fiona Cannon OBE's appointment as Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-appointmentsgovernancediversity-equalityconstitutional-affairs

Key actors

Fiona Cannon OBE, Simon Hoare, Darren Jones MP, Cat Little CB, Clare Brunton OBE, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Yorkshire Building Society, Cabinet Office

Notable line

“It is disappointing that this appointment has taken almost seven months, and the irony that the appointment process for the Commissioner for Public Appointments has taken much longer that the expected four month is not lost on the Committee.”

Key Quotes

“I believe strongly in the need for a trusted and well-functioning public appointments process. Public bodies spend billions of pounds of public money and touch every aspect of people's lives.”
— Fiona Cannon OBE · On her motivation for applying for the role

“An effective public appointments process which balances necessary ministerial discretion with selection on merit matters both for good governance and building public trust.”
— Fiona Cannon OBE · On the importance of public appointments

“Where I have concerns about the integrity of an appointments process, I would be prepared to challenge departments and Ministers and, if necessary, use the levers available to me to conduct an inquiry.”
— Fiona Cannon OBE · On maintaining independence as Commissioner

“Following her pre-appointment hearing, the Committee endorses Fiona Cannon's appointment as Commissioner for Public Appointments.”
— Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee · Committee's formal recommendation

“We commend Fiona for her transparency on these issues.”
— Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee · On her disclosure of Labour Party donation and membership

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗