Robert Courts has been elected Chair of the Defence Select Committee, succeeding Tobias Ellwood after the latter jumped before he was pushed. Courts won in the first round with 249 votes, defeating Sarah Atherton (142) and Mark Francois (39). Some advice: avoid praising the effectiveness of the Taliban…
Members are voting for Tobias Ellwood’s successor as Defence Select Committee chairman today – it’s between Robert Courts, Sarah Atherton, and Mark Francois. Francois is reminding MPs of his distinguished record and iron-clad principles this morning with the time-tested method of stuffing leaflets in inboxes. Guido knows of few in Parliament more “unafraid to scrutinise”…
Stay tuned for the results at 2:30 p.m.
Ben Wallace will not be throwing his hat in the ring to succeed Tobias Ellwood as the Chairman of the Commons’ Defence Select Committee. According to the Express, a source “close to” Wallace says he has no interest in the job, in part because it would involve “marking his own homework” so soon after his tenure at the MoD. Many think he should have got NATO Secretary General, despite ruling that out as well…
Nominations to the vacancy will be restricted to Tories, with the role allocated to the party after the 2019 election. There is speculation Liam Fox is mulling a bid, having missed out on a return as Defence Secretary after Wallace’s departure (despite the briefings). Mark Francois has some support from the Tory right, although given all MPs have a vote he may struggle to get over the line. James Sunderland and Sarah Atherton are also possible contenders. Recent Chinese spy revelations are also thought to have hampered potential bids by MPs affected. The vote will take place after the month-long party conference recess. Some advice for whoever wins: try not to do the Taliban’s PR for them…
ERG Chair Mark Francois “strongly recommends” members vote against the Stormont Brake this afternoon. Around 30 MPs in attendance at today’s meeting…
ERG’s Mark Francois reveals their verdict on Rishi’s Northern Ireland deal…
The star chamber’s principal findings are: that EU law will still be supreme in Northern Ireland; the rights of its people under the 1800 Act of Union are not restored; the green lane is not really a green lane at all; the Stormont brake is practically useless and the framework itself has no exit, other than through a highly complex legal process.’
European Research Group Chair Mark Francois has slammed the Stormont Brake element of the Windsor Framework, saying the star chamber has found it “practically useless“:
“I would like to thank the Star Chamber, Chaired by Sir Bill Cash MP and ably supported by Martin Howe KC, Barnabas Reynolds and David Jones MP for their diligent and thorough examination of the legal implications of the Windsor Framework.
“The Star Chamber’s principal findings are: That EU law will still be supreme in Northern Ireland; The rights of its people under the 1800 Act of Union are not restored; the ‘green lane’. is not really a ‘green lane’ at all; the Stormont Brake is practically useless and the framework itself, has no exit, other than through a highly complex legal process.”
The ERG hasn’t come to a collective decision on whether to vote against the deal – they are meeting again tomorrow at 10.30 to make a final call. Sounds like there could be a split…
Read the star chamber’s full report below:
