Member

that is, not someone representing the interests of trade unions or employers. At first glance, that seems a clear and logical way to distinguish independence from affiliation. However, on closer inspection, the provision introduces a serious risk. It is a loophole that could allow for discretionary exclusion of qualified neutral individuals based on subjective interpretation. The Secretary of State could, intentionally or otherwise, disqualify someone as an independent expert merely by asserting that they appear to align with the interests of one group or another. This creates a de facto veto that could be used, however subtly, to influence the ideological composition of the board.