Opposition Liberal Democrats have criticised the "inappropriate" appointment of a Labour councillor to lead scrutiny at Haringey Borough Council.

The ruling Labour group last week rejected the Lib Dem nominee for chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee, Councillor Pippa Connor, in favour of the Labour councillor Charles Wright.

Cllr Connor will now serve as vice chairman of the committee. 

Lib Dem councillor Bob Hare, who nominated Cllr Connor, cited a report from the Parliament and Constitution Centre in 2006, which stated : “Where there is a majority group, local authorities might consider it appropriate to have all or some of these committees chaired by members outside the majority group.”

The watchdog scrutinises decisions made by the Labour-run council and the Lib Dems said that it was not “best practice” that it be chaired by a Labour councillor.

Leader of the Haringey Lib Dems Gail Engert said: “Many councils have decided the opposition will chair the overview committee.

“However, Haringey Labour has once again failed to follow the examples of best practice provided by other councils.

“I think it is inappropriate that a Labour councillor is leading the committee that scrutinises the work of the Labour-run council.”

The appointment was made at Haringey Borough Council’s annual meeting last Thursday. The previous chairman was Labour councillor Gideon Bull.

A Haringey Council spokesman said: “The political makeup of the overview and scrutiny committee proportionally reflects the political makeup of the council as a whole.

“The decision to appoint a chairman is taken by full council.”