Labour has accused Suella Braverman of employing an inexperienced “Conservative patsy” as the UK’s independent antislavery watchdog after 18 months during which the statutory role remained unfilled.
Eleanor Lyons, who was a special adviser to Boris Johnson, will take the role of antislavery commissioner in December, the home secretary announced on Wednesday.
The previous appointee, Sara Thornton, was a former chief constable who had chaired a conference on modern slavery when she was appointed. She succeeded Kevin Hyland, who had led the Metropolitan police’s human trafficking unit.
Lyons, currently the deputy children’s commissioner, was a political appointment as a government adviser between 2017 and 2019 to Johnson and Gavin Williamson when he was chief whip and defence secretary. She has more recently worked for the PR and lobbying firm Portland Communications.
Jess Phillips, the shadow minister for safeguarding, has seized upon the appointment as evidence of cronyism.
“It is absolutely no surprise that the government want to give the job, which has previously been held by experts and senior police officers, to a Conservative patsy who will do whatever they want,” she said.
“They couldn’t possibly have anyone who knows anything about slavery because no one who knew anything about it would tell the government they were doing a good job. They are scared and inexperienced and are happy to fail British children being trafficked in ever higher numbers and women being brought here to be repeatedly raped.”
Thornton resigned on 30 April last year, amid concerns that the government’s anti-immigration laws would undermine antislavery laws.
An independent review of the Modern Slavery Act in 2019 recommended that future appointments to the role of watchdog should be subject to a pre-appointment hearing before a select committee. However, there has been no such hearing for Lyons.
Diana Johnson, the chair of the home affairs select committee, said the government has introduced a raft of new laws and regulations with major implications for trafficking victims while there has been no one in post.
“It has been deeply disappointing that there has been no antislavery commissioner to give evidence to our inquiry into trafficking,” she said. “We therefore look forward to hearing from the new commissioner as soon as she comes into post to assess their plans for preventing exploitation, prosecuting perpetrators and protecting victims.”
Whitehall sources questioned whether Lyons had any experience in the field of modern slavery. One said: “This looks as if they have given the job to someone they think will be a friend of the government.”
Another source said: “They are effectively downgrading the fight against slavery.”
A Home Office statement said Lyons was selected “following a robust competition”, conducted within the government’s official code.
Braverman said: “I congratulate Eleanor Lyons on her appointment and look forward to working with her to tackle modern slavery. She will provide tremendous insight and expertise as she takes up this role.”
Lyons said: “Modern slavery and human trafficking are abhorrent crimes. Our response must be focused on prosecuting those responsible, preventing further exploitation and protecting victims, particularly those least often heard. The independent antislavery commissioner was created to drive efforts forward and encourage best practice across the UK.
“I look forward to working constructively with stakeholders and building on the progress that has been made since the role was created. I am committed to a victim-centric approach and to ensuring that survivors’ experiences inform my work to effect meaningful change.”
The government has faced criticisms over appointments of independent watchdogs. It has decided not to reappoint David Neal, the independent immigration watchdog who has been critical of government policies, and has still not appointed a permanent victims’ commissioner sine Vera Baird resigned in September 2022.
Home Office sources defended Lyons’ appointment, saying she had gained experience in modern slavery while working as deputy children’s commissioner. It is understood that Lyons was subject to a ministerial interview before her appointment, but not from Braverman.
According to Home Office statistics, 21,518 potential victims of trafficking, slavery and forced labour were reported in 2022 – an all-time high.
