Stormont Commissioner for Standards steps down a week after appointment approved

The new Stormont watchdog has resigned just a week after his appointment was formally approved.

Former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan was selected as the new Commissioner for Standards at the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He was to follow former commissioner Dr Melissa McCullough, who recently left the role after five years in post.

Stormont speaker Edwin Poots said last week the Assembly approved the appointment of Mr McEwan.

However, he said Mr McEwan has since been appointed as deputy chief constable of the Surrey Constabulary and has therefore stepped down as commissioner of standards with immediate effect as he prepares for his new role.

In a letter to MLAs, Mr Poots said the recent recruitment competition conducted by the Assembly Commission for the appointment of the Commissioner of Standards produced a list of appointable candidates.

“The Assembly Commission will now go through the necessary processes of pre-appointment checks in the coming weeks to come back to the Assembly to nominate a new Commissioner for Standards as soon as possible,” he added.

“While the Assembly Commission would have preferred not to have to come back to the Assembly on this matter so soon, this is a significant appointment for Mr McEwan and I therefore wish him every success in his new role.”