Furious unionists tonight accused the British government of breaking a promise after reducing political representation on the next Northern Ireland Policing Board.
They claimed Stormont was trying to seize control of the authority, a central part of the Belfast Agreement, when British Secretary of State Peter Hain confirmed independent appointments would be in the majority.
His selections for the new body, which scrutinises police performance and spending of its £830 million budget, included a woman whose party is linked to the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force.
But with the politicians receiving just eight of the 19 seats, Ulster Unionist member Fred Cobain was outraged.
The North Belfast MLA claimed the Government welched on an agreement with his former party leader David Trimble and the Democratic Unionist chief Ian Paisley.
When the Board was formed over four years ago they were assured it would always have more political representatives, in line with the Patten blueprint for police reform, Mr Cobain claimed.
He said: "The Government have ratted on that. They have told lies the whole way through this process.
"They have not only corrupted the whole political process, but they have now corrupted the policing process.
"Democratic control has gone, the Board has now become another quango for the Government to manipulate whatever way they want."
The North Belfast MLA also claimed the changes could be part of a ploy to bring an end to Sinn Féin's boycott of the policing arrangements. The party refused to nominate to its allocated two seats.
"There's no reason to change the make-up of the Board unless there has been another deal with Sinn Fein," Mr Cobain said.
Sinn Fein's policing spokesman Gerry Kelly was equally dismissive of the new authority.
"The members of this Board have all been appointed by the British Secretary of State," he said. "This is not what Patten recommended. We need democratic accountability not another quango."
But the Northern Ireland Office hit back at the criticisms, stressing Mr Hain did not have to use Assembly election results or the d'Hondt system based on party strengths to hand out seats.
The new Board will meet for the first time next month when members will elect its chair and vice-chair.
Outgoing chairman Sir Desmond Rea has signalled his willingness to serve again in the top post, with sources saying it would be a shock if he was not chosen.
Two independent representatives, property developer Barry Gilligan and training consultant Pauline McCabe, are believed to be contenders for the vice-chairmanship.
The new appointments included former Irish rugby international and solicitor Trevor Ringland, and Derry businessman Brendan Duddy.
PA