Defence Select Committee

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.

The old committee consisted of the following

For the new committee the final appointees aren’t completely in yet (no Liberal Democrats) but this is the story so far.

The Conservative and Labour survivors are to the top of the table and the new members beneath.

Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP (Chair)	North East Hampshire		Conservative
Mr Julian Brazier MP Spoke at the Strategic Defence and Security Review debate	Canterbury		Conservative
John Glen MP	Salisbury		Conservative
Mr Adam Holloway MP	Gravesham		Conservative
Bob Stewart MP Spoke at the Strategic Defence and Security Review debate	Beckenham		Conservative
Rt Hon Jeffrey M. Donaldson MP Spoke at the Strategic Defence and Security Review debate	Lagan Valley		Democratic Unionist
Mr David Hamilton MP	Midlothian		Labour
Mrs Madeleine Moon MP Spoke at the Strategic Defence and Security Review debate	Bridgend		Labour
Alison Seabeck MP Spoke at the Strategic Defence and Security Review debate	Plymouth, Moor View		Labour
Ms Gisela Stuart MP Spoke at the Strategic Defence and Security Review debate	Birmingham, Edgbaston		Labour
John Woodcock MP Spoke at the Strategic Defence and Security Review debate	Barrow and Furness		Labour / Co-operative
Mr Mike Hancock MP	Portsmouth South		Liberal Democrat

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

Tags: Defence Select Committee