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Labour MP Natascha Engel has been elected as the chair of the new backbench business committee.
The election was a two horse race between Engel and former deputy Commons speaker and Conservative MP Sir Alan Haselhurst.
Engel gained the support of 202 MPs compared to Sir Alan's 173, there was one invalid ballot paper submitted.
MPs voted on the position by secret ballot under the Alternative Vote system between 9am and 11am this morning.
The election of the committee's members will be held between 10 am and 12 pm next Tuesday. MPs wishing to get a seat on the committee must be nominated by 5pm on Monday.
Under the rules of the election at least two women and two men must secure a seat on the committee and the members will gain their place through the Single Transferable Vote system.
The committee will have the power to decide what will be debated in the Commons chamber or in Westminster Hall on days set aside for non-government business.
Speaking in the House last week, Commons leader Sir George Young said the committee gave backbenchers the opportunity to "seize back" some of the powers that have been taken away by the government.
"We want to restore to backbench members greater control over the business of the House than they have had for not only a generation," he said.
"The new committee will give back benchers the power and time to schedule debates on issues that matter to them and to their constituents, and allow the House to become more responsive to the world outside."
The move follows the recommendations of the House of Commons reform committee chaired in the last Parliament by the former MP Tony Wright – of which Engel was herself a member.
Engel, the MP for North East Derbyshire, served as parliamentary private secretary to ministers Peter Hain, Liam Bryne and John Denham when Labour was in power.
Article Comments
It was obvious that some measures had to be taken to deal with our dire financial situation. The only thing I would say is let's see how this goes.
What concerns me are headlines on welfare reform. There are many people who are genuinely very ill with a life expectancy which cannot be medically judged. They must get the financial help they need. These people would jump back into work if they were able. They are not, so why no news on how such people are to be safe guarded from any cuts or pointless medicals, of which they will have had many,and made to feel that their genuine illness is accepted and they will be supported. They may live another ten year, they may not. The bottom line is they are too sick to work and not deliberately avoiding work. A few headlines such as 'Help for Chronically Sick' would be quite a change and would bolster the confidence of these patients instead of leaving them feeling like a scrounger. It would also enhance any Governments reputation.
Gerald Phillips
23rd Jun 2010 at 2:28 pm
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