SNP gains control of two parliamentary committees

THE SNP will chair two Westminster committees in the new parliament as the Liberal Democrats’ disastrous showing on May 7 leaves them without a single chairmanship.

Nicola Sturgeon is joined by the newly-elected SNP MPs earlier this month. Picture: Jon Savage

The Nationalists have been handed control of the Energy and Climate Change Committee - paving the way for potential clashes over fracking and wind energy - and the Scottish Affairs Committee.

Chairmanship of the latter was held by Labour during the last government, but the party’s near wipeout north of the Border, leaving them with just a single Scottish MP in Ian Murray along with 56 SNP MPs - has seen them relinquish control.

The Liberal Democrats, previously in charge of the Justice Committee and International Development Committee hand control to the Conservatives and Labour respectively.

Two new committees have been set up - the Women and Equalities Committee, to be chaired by the Conservatives, and the Labour-led Petitions Committee.

The Conservatives will chair 14 committees in total, an increase of two, while Labour maintains control of ten committees.