Louise Upston expressed concern that the monitor isn't independent enough. Perhaps, in her mind, it was sitting too close to the centre of power and its work would be subject to what she called political considerations. As I've previously made clear, the monitor will be a statutory officer with a duty in legislation to act independently. It will have the ability to initiative reviews of its own accord, and although Ministers will be able to ask the monitor to look into an issue, they cannot direct it not to. 