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Professor Al Aynsley-Green, England's first children's commissioner, is ideal for the job. Top of the paediatric profession, leader of the national service framework task force, then national clinical director for children at the Department of Health, he is an establishment man to his finger tips. He will be a worthy champion for children, respected in the corridors of power and able to use his persuasive skills to good effect.

Any idea that his medical background will focus too much of his attention on fashionable subjects such as child obesity is dispelled by the breadth of the national service framework.


If there are lingering doubts, they concern the post rather than the man. The English commissioner role is weak, promoting awareness rather than defending rights, and too close to government. With Aynsley-Green's appointment the government got it half right, but it should have done better.