Fiona Fernie raised concerns about the appointment's effectiveness, stating, 'Four years after the events occurred, it's unclear why Rachel Reeves believes this appointment will achieve more than previous investigations, including the National Audit Office's 2020 review or the Boardman Review in 2021.'
Fernie highlighted the challenges posed by time, saying, 'Those involved in questionable activities during the pandemic have had years to obscure evidence, making recovery efforts even more challenging.'
Regarding the urgency of the appointment, Fernie noted, 'Despite being a Labour manifesto pledge, it took five months into their government for the appointment to be finalised, with frequent public promises of an imminent announcement.'
Fernie concluded with a caution on the practicalities, stating, 'This appointment may easily cost the Exchequer more than it will recover and is unlikely to bring any new information to light.'
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