Shadow children's minister Tim Loughton has branded Maggie Atkinson's appointment as England's children's commissioner a "farce" and indicated the Conservatives could scrap the role if they gain power.
Loughton confirmed that the role and its support office 11 Million is included in the party's plans for a government-wide review of advisers and quangos. Children's Secretary Ed Balls last week overruled a Parliamentary select committee's rejection of Atkinson's nomination.
If the role is kept, Loughton wants to see the commissioner accountable directly to Parliament.
A further question mark has been put over Atkinson's future after Loughton described her failure to meet with him once during her presidency of the Association of Directors of Children's Services as "strange."
