The Government has defended choosing an all-white improvement panel for a council where more than half the population is black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME).

Croydon LBC staff had questioned why the Government appointed an all-white expert panel for a diverse London borough, where 50.7% of the population are BAME.

Council leader, Cllr Hamida Ali, said: ‘It's a comment that our own staff have made.

'They [the panel] were appointed by government and that's perhaps for government to consider.'

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) declined to comment on race specifically.

But an MHCLG statement in response to a question about the make-up of the panel read: ‘This panel has a wealth of experience in local government finance and is working hard to ensure the residents of Croydon receive value for money from their council.

‘These people have the necessary experience needed – based on both the findings of the independent review and Croydon's own improvement plan - and their appointment had the full support of the council.'

Click here for our interview with Croydon chief executive Katherine Kerswell and leader Hamida Ali