Towards the end of the last parliament the Select Committee was unflinching its criticism of the MoD, the last couple of reports definately pulled no punches.
Read the transcripts of the sessions, rather than the sanitised final reports and it is clear that the relationship between the committee and military and civilian staff at the MoD was difficult to say the least.
As the MoD wrestles with its runaway equipment programme, implements budget cuts and manage overseas operations, the job of the select committee is as important as ever.
There has to be a strong team.
What about the new members
Alison Seabeck, Labour MP for Plymouth Moor, formerly Plymouth Devonport (spot he naval connection) and is the partner of Nick Raynsford MP, the same Nick Raynsford that was reported as earning thousands from construction organisations connected with his ministerial position.
Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgebaston brings some useful foreign affairs experience to the committee, having served on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
John Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness and is a strong advocate of anything to do with submarines, remind me what gets built at Barrow.
Julian Brazier, Conservative MP for Canterbury and Whistable with a long military background, just don’t ask him about gay rights though.
John Glen, Conservative MP for Salisbury, part of the 2010 intake of new MP’s.
Bob Stuart, Conservative MP for Beckenham and the well known former commander of the Cheshire Regiment, BBC soundbite man and general thorn in the side of the MoD. One of his best quotes in relation to the MoD is accusing them of acting with the speed of a striking sloth, I have high hopes for Bob, a real soldier with an interesting background, exactly what we need.
For example, when asked what he could do that outgoing MP Jacqui Lait could not, he replied: “I can ejaculate!” He later tried to backtrack by insisting he used the word “educate”
Priceless
The only problem I have so far is with those not on the list.
If the list is correct, it’s source being the FT’s Westminster Blog, it would seem that the Liberal Democrats yet to be appointed will outnumber the Conservative and Labour members.
What.
Eh.
Surely some mistake.
It will be interesting to see the remaining pieces of the jigsaw fall into place.
UPDATE
I had not picked up that the new select committee have been reduced in size so the Liberal Democrats only have 2 positions.
Thanks to ‘A’ in comments
“it would seem that the Liberal Democrats yet to be appointed will outnumber the Conservative and Labour members.”
The size of select committees have been reduced, I belive, to 11 members (+ the chairman). So just 2 LibDems left to be chosen
Ah, I see
Thanks for the info A and welcome to TD
it does appear the Cons are rather unrepresented……?
Does seem a bit odd that there should be 1 more LAB than CON on the committee, unless the coalition govt. are confident that the LIBs will vote with the CONs (in which case they have a majority of 1) . . .