The 3 Scottish MPs who wield major power chairing Westminster's biggest committees

Three Scots are set to chair committees in the new Parliament - and they will wield considerable influence in the workings of this UK government.

Select committees, which are reappointed in a new Parliament after a general election, are tasked with examining and challenging government work. They can also run inquiries on specific topics and undertake visits.

Since 2010, most committee chairs have been elected by the whole House, using the alternative vote system. The Commons agreed a motion to allocate committee chairs to parties on July 30, where MPs can only be candidates for a committee chair post that has been allocated to their party.

Given the election result, Labour has dominated the committees. There are now three Scottish MPs on committees, which check and report on areas ranging from the work of government departments to economic affairs. Scottish Tory David Mundell had hoped to chair the Home Affairs Committee, but missed out to fellow Tory Karen Bradley.

Here are the Scottish appointments, how they were elected and what they are in charge of.

Patricia Ferguson, Scottish Affairs

Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Labour MP Patricia Ferguson has won the election to chair the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee by just two votes following a recount.

The Glasgow West MP emerged victorious over her fellow member of the 2024 intake Gregor Poynton, the Labour MP for Livingston.

Ms Ferguson received 237 votes compared with Mr Poynton’s 235.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle had announced the election results for the other committee posts on Wednesday evening, but noted a recount was required for the Scottish Affairs Committee contest.

Ms Ferguson said: “I’m delighted to be elected chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee. This committee is pivotal in the relationship between Westminster and Holyrood, and I will ensure that it gives a voice to people across Scotland.

“This Parliament will see the new government make decisions that will affect all of Scotland. I look forward to working with colleagues from across the House of Commons to properly scrutinise and inform these important decisions.”

Alistair Carmichael, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA)

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael will now chair the EFRA committee

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael was confirmed as chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee in Parliament, after being nominated unopposed. Leadership of the EFRA committee was given to the Liberal Democrats, with a chair to be drawn from Lib Dem MPs in the House of Commons. The remit of the EFRA Committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated public bodies.

Speaking after his appointment, Mr Carmichael said: “I am honoured to be confirmed today as the chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. I look forward to meeting with the EFRA committee team in the coming days and indeed with the different organisations and experts with a role to play in this sector as we begin our work.

“Whether on fishing, farming, water quality or pollution, there is no shortage of issues for the committee to tackle in the coming months. It will take some time for the remaining members of the committee to be appointed and our ‘to do’ list is going to be lengthy, but I intend for us to hit the ground running.”

Jamie Stone, Petitions

Jamie Stone was elected unopposed as chair. | UK Parliament

Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone was the sole nomination for the chair of the Petitions Committee and was therefore elected unopposed.  

The Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP said:  “I am delighted to have been elected chair of the Petitions Committee and look forward to working with the committee on a range of issues and topics that are important to the public.

“The parliamentary petitions process is direct democracy in action and plays a crucial role in our society.

“I cannot wait to see what successes come from the causes and campaigns which choose to go through the petitions process.”