MayBee70
Are any of them on any committees etc?
The membership of each select committee largely reflects the balance of parties in the HoC so the governing party usually has a majority of members on each committee. While the larger opposition parties will usually also be represented on every committee, minor parties are granted far fewer seats. When initial select committee memberships were drawn up in 2020, the 11 Liberal Democrats MPs were given just two select committee seats (on Scottish Affairs and on Public Accounts). However, the Green Party’s sole MP, Caroline Lucas, was also given a place on the Environmental Audit Committee, highlighting the flexibility of the committee allocations. The exact balance of committee places through negotiation between the party whips at the beginning of each parliament. (Source:Institute for Government).
Lee Anderson is the only Reform (or former Reform) MP to have a seat on a select committee so perhaps he didn’t negotiate very well for his fellow members. Of course, it would be helpful if anybody knew what Reform care about so that they might to sit on committees where they had something useful to contribute.
committees.parliament.uk/committees/?Active=Current&House=Commons&SearchTerm=&page=1
Anderson is a member of the Speaker’s Conference Select Committee, a committee established last October to consider the factors influencing the threat level against candidates and MPs and the effectiveness of the response to such threats. Ironic, considering what’s going on in Reform at the moment.
The argument over representation was to do with the Modernisation Committee, a committee set up to consider reforms to HoC procedures, standards, and working practices, chaired by Labour’s Lucy Powell. SNP Kirsty Blackman proposed that one member from each party to be represented on the 14 person committee. Anderson argued that places should be allocated according to how many votes a party received overall in the GE … “not fair - we got more votes that the Lib Dems”. Powell responded that the House is considered in terms of its members not in terms of the popular vote. 72 seats trumps 5.
A random look at minor party or independent representation on select committees shows:
Ellie Chowns (Green Party) now sits on the Environmental Audit Committee. Sîan Berry (Green Party) sits on the committee for the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. Rosie Duffield (former Labour now Independent) sits on the Women and Equalities Committee. Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru) sits on the Welsh Affairs Committee and the committees for the Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill and Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill. Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru) sits on the committee for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Gavin Robinson (DUP) sits on Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and the committee for the International Freedom of Religion or Belief Bill. Sammy Wilson (DUP) also sits on the Speaker's Conference committee and the Environmental Audit Committee.
My own MP, elected for the first time in 2024, sits on six select committees. Although new to central goverment they were very experienced in local government at a senior level which I suspect has been reflected in the number of nominations and appointments. Demonstrating an ability to work cross-party is key, something which Reform has yet to show.
