William Shawcross has suggested that he will address perceptions that the Charity Commission is seen as ‘anti-Christian’, as he is approved as its new chair by the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) today. 

Shawcross, who will start his chairmanship at the Charity Commission in October, suggested that he will be keen to review how the Commission assesses the public benefit of religion, at a pre-appointment hearing with the PASC on Wednesday.

During the hearing, MPs grilled Shawcross on his political views, general background and plans for his role as chair with the Charity Commission.

Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke was keen to stress that his constituents believed the Charity Commission used public benefit “as a weapon to suppress religion”, while Labour MP Paul Flynn insisted that independent schools damaged the charity sector. MPs also quizzed Shawcross on the regulation of chuggers and charging charities for Charity Commission services.

Shawcross closed the hearing by saying one of the key things he would like to achieve as chair of the Commission would be to dispel the perception that the regulator was seen as ‘anti-Christian’.

During the hearing, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs Paul Flynn, David Heyes and Greg Mulholland all raised concerns that Shawcross could not act as an impartial chair, citing his past political writings in support of the Iraq war and the Conservative party.

All three voted against the appointment of Shawcross to the chair role, while four fellow PASC members voted for the appointment.

Commenting on the appointment, Francis Maude, minister for the Cabinet Office, said: “I am pleased to announce that William has been appointed to this important role. William has long been involved in the charity sector, particularly in human rights and international aid. His writings have helped shape the debate on the accountability of humanitarian organisations.

"He brings strong leadership skills, broad knowledge and experience of the sector, and intellectual ability to the Charity Commission, which acts as the independent and impartial regulator of the charity sector.”

Shawcross beat 25 applicants to the role

Twenty-six people applied to the Cabinet Office for the chair role, and three were shortlisted and met with Maude.

In a letter to PASC chairman Bernard Jenkin MP on the applicants, Maude says they were disappointing in terms of diversity. He adds that the “degree of controversy and media interest associated with the role” may have had a bearing on this.