MP IN NOMINATION PROTEST AT COMMITTEE STITCH UP

MP IN NOMINATION PROTEST AT COMMITTEE STITCH UP

Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart is set to submit
nomination papers for election to the newly created House of Commons
Backbench Business Committee in protest after MPs from the seven
smaller parties represented in parliament were disqualified from
standing.

Mr Wishart hopes his nomination will be supported by MPs from across
the parties after the Speaker announced that the committee would be
composed exclusively of the Tory-led government and Labour parties.

The newly created Backbench Business Committee is responsible for
setting non-ministerial business in the House of Commons.

Mr Wishart said:

“This committee was supposed to increase accountability and democracy
in the House of Commons, but instead the smaller parties have been
carved-out completely.

“At a time when Westminster has had such a bad, it does not help the
reputation of parliament to exclude democratically elected MPs from
even putting their name forward – it is a democratic disgrace.

“Although the rules disqualify me from being elected to the committee,
I intend submitting nomination papers with support from MPs across the
House of Commons to underline the unacceptability of this situation.”