ELIZABETH Filkin, the controversial parliamentary standards commissioner who led the investigation into ministers John Reid and Keith Vaz, has been effectively sacked.

The move prompted immediate condemnation last night. Martin Bell, the former independent MP, who was a member of the Commons standards and privileges committee, said he was concerned over the decision not to offer her a second term.

''I am deeply disappointed. I think it sends a very dispiriting signal about parliament's willingness to police itself thoroughly,'' he said.

''I think a lot of senior MPs were not happy with her thoroughness, but that is the whole point of having an independent commissioner.

''I think she has been an outstanding public servant and has done a magnificent job, and she should have been offered a second term.''

Peter Bottomley, Tory MP for Worthing West and a member of the committee, accused ''shadowy figures'' of trying to prevent Mrs Filkin from further embarrassing the government.

However, the senior Liberal Democrat MP Archy Kirkwood, representing the House of Commons commission, said there would be an open competition to fill the post once her current tenure as parliamentary commissioner for standards comes to an end in February.

Mrs Filkin will be allowed to reapply for the position.

The outspoken commissioner ruffled feathers among some MPs with her rigorous investigations into complaints made against them, most notably her long-running inquiry into Mr Vaz, the former minister for Europe, which embarrassed the government in the run-up to the last general election.

In December 2000, Mrs Filkin's independence was called into question when the standards and privileges committee published a report clearing Dr John Reid, then Scottish secretary, and John Maxton, Glasgow Cathcart MP, of breaching parliamentary rules, despite Ms Filkin upholding complaints against them.

MPs insisted her ''modus operandi'' had to be considered concluding that ''the evidence . . . does not reach the standard we require to uphold the complaint''.

However, Mr Bottomley insisted last night that Mrs Filkin had done a good job and - under the guidance for senior appointments drawn up by Lord Nolan - should have been offered a second term.

''My belief is that she has done the job perfectly impartially and fairly and she should have been invited to accept a second term,'' he said.

''I think that some people in senior positions clearly don't like the results of her work.

''The House of Commons should assert itself and get these shadowy figures to either say openly what the problem is or they should let the House of Commons do the right thing and invite her to consider accepting a second term.''

Meanwhile, John Prescott yesterday tried to defend the decision not to sack ministerial adviser Jo Moore amid fresh claims that she broke the spin doctors' code of conduct.

Ms Moore - who called September 11 a ''good day to bury bad news'' - has been accused of trying to involve a government press officer in a smear campaign against London Transport supremo Bob Kiley.

Mr Evans moved from his post as director of communications in the transport department following a reported clash over the incident.

The department has refused to discuss the allegations. However, it emerged yesterday that Whitehall sources had told Dr Tony Wright, Labour chair of the powerful watchdog public administration committee, that she did break the code of conduct separating the activity of political advisers and civil servants.

Dr Wright asked Mr Prescott, the deputy prime minister, why the claims had not been investigated.

He told Mr Prescott: ''I don't know what went on, but my information from inside the civil service is this did happen and so something needs to be done about it.''

Those sentiments were echoed by several MPs on the committee.

Mr Prescott insisted anonymous claims in the media could not be investigated and an official complaint must be made.

He told Dr Wright: ''I would be grateful for any information you could give me.''