People & Business: Top watchdog

JOHN MAGILL, the mild-mannered accountant from Deloitte & Touche who became Dame Shirley Porter's nemesis in the Westminster Council "homes for votes" scandal, has been appointed a top national audit watchdog.

Mr Magill now heads the Forensic Services Department at Deloitte & Touche, and is joining the Financial Reporting Review Panel. The 16-strong panel has power to investigate annual accounts of any public or large private company.

Mr Magill was formerly district auditor of Westminster City Council and was appointed by the Audit Commission to investigate the sale of the Council's cemeteries for a derisory sum. He then investigated the sale of council houses involving council leader Dame Shirley and Tory colleagues.

Mr Magill has won the grudging respect of his contemporaries at Deloitte & Touche by his ability to work non-stop on the plane both on the way to New York and then on the return flight to Heathrow. Not a man to cross.