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…
Tobias Ellwood has resigned as the Chair of the Defence Select Committee. There were whispers swirling today that he was to face a no-confidence motion as soon as tomorrow, with Mark Francois and Richard Drax leading the charge for the Tories to turf him out. Kevin Jones and Derek Twigg were doing the same for Labour. This all kicked off after Ellwood claimed Afghanistan was a “country transformed” with security “vastly improved” since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Sounds like he’s jumped before he was pushed…
Tobias Ellwood will face a motion of no-confidence in his Chairmanship of the Defence Committee after he praised Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as a “country transformed” in a now-deleted Twitter post. Ellwood has faced a strong retaliation to his remarks, not least from Mark Francois, who blasted the “silly and naive” intervention. As a result, a remorseful Ellwood told Piers Morgan Uncensored, that “the last couple of days have probably been my most miserable as a Member of Parliament”. Guido’s heart bleeds.
Ellwood carried out a swift retreat, at Piers’ request he deleted the video and he has since issued a clarifying statement. This hasn’t deterred the Defence Committee’s counter-offensive. The Times reports Tobias was informed of the plot on Wednesday, as MPs have tabled a confidence motion – meaning a vote will take place in September. The rebels are confident of victory.
