Scrap modernisation committee, says senior Tory
By Alex Stevenson
A senior member of the Commons’ modernisation committee thinks it should be scrapped, dismissing it as little more than an “arm of government”.
Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Winterton was on the committee when it was established soon after New Labour came to power in 1997.
Since then he has grown disillusioned with its use by the government. It is chaired by the leader of the House, currently Harriet Harman.
“My concern is the modernisation committee isn’t precisely what it states – ie a committee that will objectively decide how the procedures of the House can be modernised and improved and made more relevant,” he told politics.co.uk.
“It is an instrument of government.”
Sir Nicholas, who said the modernisation committee had not met so far this year, believes its functions should be subsumed into the Commons’ modernisation committee, chaired by fellow Tory Greg Knight.
“Then you would have all the committees under a backbencher – not one of them chaired by a Labour Cabinet member who is clearly using the committee as an arm of government,” he added.
The Macclesfield MP will stand down at the next election but said he was passionate about reforming parliament.
He would like to see formal consultation introduced between the parties about the amount of time each bill will be given and wants the government’s complete control over the Commons’ agenda broken.
“To my mind, to ensure there is much greater democracy in respect of the business of the House, I think a business committee should be established,” he suggested.
The government would maintain a majority on the committee but backbenchers would be appointed by secret ballot – not by government whips – under Sir Nicholas’ proposal.
“To my mind that would make this place much, much more relevant, much more exciting and it would be able to respond much quicker to the changing circumstances,” he added.
The modernisation committee adopted a more radical tone during the chairmanship of Robin Cook after the 2001 election.
His resignation over the Iraq war ended its reforming zeal, however, which has only recently, thanks to the expenses scandal, again come into vogue across parliament.
