‘Dark forces at work’ in committee rule change

The UK government has been accused of undermining a powerful back-bench committee by proposing changes to the rules under which MPs are elected to the body.

The Backbench Business Committee, responsible for choosing debates nominated by MPs rather than ministers, will have its members elected by their parties rather than the whole House.

Critics claimed the changes, initiated by the government, were “outrageous” and an indication of the “forces of darkness” at work.

There was also frustration that the change was being rushed through before a report by the Commons Procedure Committee into the operation of the back-bench panel. MPs voted by 203 to 82, majority 121, in favour of the new regime.

Deputy Commons leader David Heath insisted the government would consider any recommendations from the Procedure Committee “very carefully”.

Shadow deputy Commons leader Angela Smith said she supported the motion, adding: “In our view it follows the example set by the new arrangements for select committee membership which were hard fought and hard won.”

Apart from the front benches, there was open hostility to the proposals.

The SNP’s Peter Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said the government’s proposals for minority parties were “clearly deficient and unsatisfactory”, adding: “They give us observer status on a Backbench Business Committee, a committee of the House, as if we were second or third class citizens of this House.”

Previously, the Backbench Business Committee has selected a number of topics which have proved difficult for the government, including banning wild animals from circuses, refusing to accept the European Court of Human Rights ruling on giving votes to prisoners, and holding a referendum on European Union membership.