Westminster's anti-sleaze watchdog may be reappointed if she applies for her job, the Commons leader has said.

Dropping a strong hint that the government is now ruing its decision to make Elizabeth Filkin re-apply for her job of parliamentary standards commissioner, Robin Cook said the process may not be repeated in the future.

"The decision on process has nothing to do with the merits of Ms Filkin," he said. "She has done a good job, that is why she is a candidate, and if she is the best candidate she will be offered a further contract if she wishes."

Filkin had been told that she must re-apply for her post when her contract runs out next year and the process will be opened up to other candidates with adverts to be placed in national newspapers.

He added there were "many cases" of other public appointments that were now on fixed-term contracts, such as ambassadors, and that the initial decision was right.

The decision by the House of Commons Commission, of which Cook is a member, was "not only the way to ensure we have the best candidate for the job but also must be the most open and transparent".

"I find it slightly odd that there have been accusations that this is a closed decision when actually we have gone for an open process," Cook said.