The government is facing serious allegations of undermining local democracy after Communities Secretary Kemi Badenoch blocked the appointment of a key figure to Greater Manchester's decision-making body.
Zafar Mahmood, a respected solicitor with extensive public service experience, had been nominated by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to serve as the independent chair of the audit committee for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
Unexpected Rejection Sparks Outrage
In a move that has stunned local leaders, Badenoch's department rejected Mahmood's appointment despite his impressive credentials. The solicitor has served as a non-executive director at the Department for Education and currently chairs the GMCA's independent remuneration panel.
Andy Burnham expressed his disbelief, stating: "It's very difficult to understand the rationale for this decision. Zafar is exactly the kind of person we should want in public life - someone of high integrity and extensive experience."
Pattern of Government Interference?
This incident follows a similar pattern where the government blocked the reappointment of Liverpool City Region's interim director last year. Local leaders are increasingly concerned about what they see as Whitehall's tendency to override local decisions.
A government spokesperson defended the decision, stating they "do not consider the proposed candidate to be suitable for the role," though no specific reasons were provided for this assessment.
Qualifications Questioned Despite Strong Credentials
The rejection appears particularly puzzling given Mahmood's qualifications. As an experienced solicitor and former non-executive director at a major government department, he possesses precisely the kind of expertise needed for such a role.
Greater Manchester leaders have emphasised that the appointment followed proper due process and that Mahmood was the unanimous choice of the GMCA's appointments panel.
Broader Implications for Local Governance
This confrontation raises significant questions about the government's commitment to its own "levelling up" agenda and the autonomy of local authorities. The incident suggests ongoing tensions between central government and metro mayors over who controls local decision-making.
As one local official noted: "If ministers can veto appointments like this, it fundamentally changes the relationship between central and local government and calls into question what 'devolution' really means in practice."
