Member News
By Ned Simons - 15th February 2011
A Conservative MP who was selected for her seat by an open primary has attacked the way the political party machine silences backbench MPs.
Speaking on the BBC's Today programme this morning, Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston criticised the way backbenchers are placed on Bill committees, the panels of MPs that scrutinise legislation, without any regard for the individual specialist knowledge or interests.
"The point is it's made very clear the purpose of a Bill committee is to repel all borders and get legislation through to the next stage," she said.
"Basically I feel that I came into this process in an unusual open primary, I have no doubt the reason I was selected was I said I would stand up for the NHS and use my experience in the health service and teaching to help scrutinise legislation."
The former GP had wanted to be given a seat on the committee scrutinising the Health and Social Care Bill but instead had been placed on one discussing "double taxation in Oman".
She told a Commons debate earlier this month that she knew "nothing much" about double taxation and sent a worried note to the Whip in charge asking if she had been put on the right committee.
"I received a note to say that my only duties were to turn up on time, say nothing and vote with the government," she said.
She added: "Nobody died as a result of my knowing nothing about double taxation in Oman.
"However, could the same be said for the Health and Social Care Bill?"
And she said that while she may be committing "career suicide", the public should be worried that several members of the Health and Social Care Bill committee have "no experience in, and have never expressed any interest in" health or social care.
"I do not think that the job description for a member of a committee should be to turn up on time, say nothing and vote with the government," she said.
Article Comments
Your headline writer needs to expand his definition of what constitutes a 'career.'
We should dispense with the idea that the only career in the House of Commons is about ministerial (or shadow ministerial) office. There is a career for those who want to be legislators and scrutineers.
Some of us are determined to ensure that Parliament's ability to do its job is strengthened by strengthening the independence of MPs.
Bernard Jenkin MP
16th Feb 2011 at 11:52 am
I think Sarah Wollaston is entirely correct in her observations. If party whips can subvert the democratic process by attempting to silence or sideline MPs it merely begs the question as to why they want us to vote in the first place.
MPs should contribute according to their expertise and experience, particlularly if they can make a more meaningful contribution than a junior minister who may have no relevant experience at all. Perhaps the whips would prefer a return to 19th century 'rotten boroughs' and vote buying.
Paul Dawson
15th Feb 2011 at 5:59 pm
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