Richard Blakeway named as preferred candidate for Office for Legal Complaints

The departing Housing Ombudsman has been announced as the preferred candidate to become chair of the Office for Legal Complaints.

Richard Blakeway announced earlier this year that he would step down as Housing Ombudsman in July after seven years in the role.

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The Legal Services Board has now announced him as its preferred candidate to chair the legal ombudsman for England and Wales, following an open competition.

Its recommendation has been approved by justice minister Sarah Sackman, with Blakeway now set for a scrutiny hearing before the justice select committee next month.

If approved, he will take over from Elisabeth Davies, whose term of office finishes at the end of next month..

>> Read more: Blakeway confirms tenure as Housing Ombudsman will end in July

Blakeway has previously served as Boris Johnson’s deputy mayor of London for housing, chair of the Homes for London board and non-executive director of Homes England. 

He has also worked in the No10 Policy Unit and served as an election observer in Ukraine and Somaliland.