The GSD has said that the Government’s latest reaction to the Principal Auditor’s Report “beggars belief.”

A statement continued: “On the one hand they embarked on a vicious and unjustified personal campaign against the Principal Auditor – an individual with an exemplary record of long-standing public service - but on the other they have no compunction to selectively, even if inaccurately, refer to sections of the report which they consider complimentary of them if they have to. 

“The Minister for Housing has the gall to remarkably pat herself on her back by referring to the Auditor’s comments regarding her arrears strategy by stating that he reports that she has been “very successful at preventing further arrears from accruing”. This is not, however, what he reports and she should be quoting him in full. An honest, non-partisan and non-selective referencing of what the Report actually states will show, in fact, that the Auditor warns of a “gradual rise in the level of House Rent arrears” and that this rise is a“cause for concern”. He further states that any “perceived decrease in House Rent arrears during...2021- 22” was only as a result of write-offs amounting to £531,445."

Damon Bossino said: “It is astonishing but not surprising that this Government should so aggressively embark on a wholly unprecedented attack against the Principal Auditor by questioning the independent discharge of his functions simply because he has been severely critical of it, yet choose to twist what he says in support of its actions. You cannot make this up.”