# UK Information Commissioner **John Edwards** Steps Down **John Edwards**, the UK's Information Commissioner, officially announced his resignation on Friday, effective immediately. The decision follows a period of voluntary withdrawal from his duties in February, prompted by an internal workplace investigation. ## Acknowledging Misjudgment Writing on **LinkedIn**, Edwards stated that while he disagreed with aspects of the investigation's conduct, he accepted that his role had become unsustainable. He admitted to exercising 'poor judgment' and making 'inappropriate attempts at humour' that caused offense. "It is for this reason that I have decided that it is appropriate that I resign from my position," Edwards wrote. He informed **Ian Murray**, the minister for digital, government and data, of his resignation from both Information Commissioner and Chair of the Information Commission roles, emphasizing his desire not to be 'a distraction to the ICO's important work.' ## Background and Interim Leadership Edwards, a New Zealand lawyer who previously served as his country's Privacy Commissioner from 2014 to 2021, took up the UK post in January 2022. Notably, he continued to draw his £200,000 annual salary while withdrawn from his duties and residing back in New Zealand, as reported by **Politico**. Given that the Information Commissioner is a statutory role accountable directly to Parliament, Edwards' temporary absence in February necessitated interim governance. His deputy, chief executive **Paul Arnold**, assumed these responsibilities, acting as the temporary accounting officer. ## Impact on Regulatory Reforms Edwards' departure comes at a critical juncture for the regulator. The **Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)** is slated for future replacement by a new corporate entity, the Information Commission, with its functions, staff, and ongoing matters transferring to the new structure. Edwards was expected to chair the board of this new commission. It is understood that the investigation into Edwards contributed to the stalling of these transitional reforms. This delay coincides with a significant decline in the number of regulatory investigations launched by the **ICO**. Data indicates a drop from over 2,000 investigations in 2019 to just over 200 in 2025. Furthermore, more than 3,000 potential cases, including 133 from 2023, remain unassigned. The search for a successor will now be determined by the **Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)**, as the commissioner is accountable to Parliament rather than employed by the **ICO** itself.