Too much democracy
I’M REALLY not impressed with this voting malarky in the House of Commons.
Everyone welcomed the so-called Wright proposals for ending behind-the-scenes shenanigans, when whips of both main parties would appoint MPs onto select committees and the chairs of those committees would “emerge” through the usual channels.
So now we have elected the chairs of the committees and today Labour MPs are electing colleagues to sit on those committees.
But there are flaws in this dynamic New Politics. For example, every single Labour MP who has expressed an interest in serving on the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee was first elected six weeks ago. Which means that there will be no opposition MP of any experience sitting on a vital committee.
When colleagues are asked to elect each other, we tend to vote for those we know, those with whom we’re friendly. And that means that (aside from the BIS example), newer members tend to be at a disadvantage. Similarly, it’s impossible to guarantee any kind of gender balance on committees by election. Whips of both parties used to be very effective at making sure new and female members were adequately represented on select committees.
When I first came in, I was appointed to the Science and Technology Select Committee, not because I had requested it, but because the whips needed another Labour member on it. It turned out to be fascinating, working under the chairmanship of the excellent Ian Gibson (who was so appallingly treated by the Labour Party during the expenses scandal).
That is an experience I probably would have missed had this new system been in effect at the time. When nominations had been open for just a few minutes last week, I went to the Parliamerntary Labour Partry (PLP) office to register my interest in transport. I cast a glance over the other committee lists and noted that while the number of applications for membership of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee was already high, the number of colleagues expressing an interest in serving on the Environmental Audit Committee was, at the time, zero.
But even the less interesting and less high-profile committees are important, and the whips, in days gone by, would have made damn sure there were enough people to serve on them.
I suspect we can’t roll back on the question of electing committee chairs – although the problems there are identical to the problems in electing committees’ memberships. But I have to say I don’t think this eperiment in democracy has been a success so far, and if there were a move to return to the old system, I think I’d probably support it.
On the other hand, if I’m elected to the Transport Select Committee, maybe I’ll revise my position…