An ex-senior mandarin has today called for a new Audit Commission as The MJ reveals the draft metrics the Government is considering for its new watchdog.

Writing this week, former head of the civil service Sir Bob Kerslake, who was also permanent secretary at Whitehall's local government department and is an ex-president of the Local Government Association, said he was ‘unequivocal' that the Audit Commission should not have been shut down in March 2015.