Results in for some of the most powerful jobs in UK politics
Finally the agony is over for many MPs. The elections for the select committee chairs, nowadays some of the most powerful posts in politics (with extra pay), were announced by the Commons speaker this morning.
The new chair of the public accounts committee is Labour MP Meg Hillier, a junior minister in Blair-Brown governments. She beat Gisela Stuart, Helen Goodman and David Hanson, overcoming Stuart by 303 to 270 on the final vote, even though Stuart was in front on the first round of votes. (Elections are conducted under the alternative vote system, where second and other preferences are redistributed).
Jesse Norman is the new chair of the culture media and sport, triumphing easily against four other very strong contenders – Damian Green, Damian Collins, Jason McCartney and Graham Stuart.
On the final vote Norman beat Stuart by 319 votes to 211, which must be a huge disappointment for Stuart as he’d given up the chairmanship of the education select committee to stand for culture. Norman turned down a minor post in the post-election reshuffle. Labour MPs probably calculated he was the chair whom David Cameron least wanted.
The other big job, chairman of the foreign affairs committee, went to former Tory minister Crispin Blunt, who triumphed in a field of five, overcoming the controversial Nadhim Zahawi by 281 to 231 in the final vote.
Sitting chair deposed
The only sitting chair to be deposed was Adrian Bailey on the business, innovation and skills committee, beaten by the Hartlepool MP Iain Wright.
Stephen Twigg was elected chairman of international development, having turned his back on a career on the Labour front bench.
Frank Field was elected the new chair of the work and pensions committee, 28 years after first becoming chairman (at the say of the whips in those days) of its predecessor, the social services select committee.
Former minister Bob Neill, popular with MPs across the house, is the new chairman of the justice committee. Former anti-CND campaigner Julian Lewis takes over at defence. Neil Carmichael takes over at education. All are Conservatives.
Biggest winner was Sarah Wollaston, who beat David Tredinnick by 532 votes to 64.
Bernard Jenkin returned to public administration and constitutional affairs unopposed. Also unopposed were Louise Ellman at transport, Clive Betts at communities and local government, and Sir Kevin Barron on the standards committee. Former culture secretary Maria Miller was elected without opposition to chair the new women and equalities committee.
The SNP got two chairmanship for the first time – Angus McNeil at energy and climate change, and Pete Wishart at Scottish affairs.
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