Yorkshire MP Caroline Flint joins race for Keith Vaz's old job

DON VALLEY Caroline Flint has become the latest Labour MP to enter the race for the chairmanship of the powerful Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, after Keith Vaz quit over a rent boy scandal.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Sep 2016, 11:16 BST
Updated 12th Sep 2016, 16:43 BST
Don Valley MP Caroline FlintDon Valley MP Caroline Flint
Don Valley MP Caroline Flint

Committee member Chuka Umunna will stand for the post and former Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper, MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford, is also considering a run at the job, which is decided by a vote of MPs.

Ms Flint, who has held the South Yorkshire constituency since 1997, is the first to publicly declare that she is running, stating that the committee requires an “experienced, independent-minded chair”.

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The committee, which holds the Home Office to account, had been chaired by Mr Vaz since 2007 until his decision to resign on Tuesday.

Keith Vaz, who has quit as chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in the wake of rent boy revelationsKeith Vaz, who has quit as chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in the wake of rent boy revelations
Keith Vaz, who has quit as chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in the wake of rent boy revelations

Ms Flint, whose ministerial career included a stint at the Home Office, said: “The resignation of Keith Vaz is a tragedy for Keith and his family, but his work as chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee has been widely praised.

“This committee now requires an experienced, independent-minded chair to take its work forward.”

Mr Umunna believes he has the support of many of the existing committee members and will offer continuity to carry on the cross-party group’s work.

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A friend of the Streatham MP said: “Having consulted colleagues and been approached by colleagues from both sides of the House he has decided he is going to put his name forward.”

Keith Vaz, who has quit as chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in the wake of rent boy revelationsKeith Vaz, who has quit as chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in the wake of rent boy revelations
Keith Vaz, who has quit as chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in the wake of rent boy revelations

Mr Umunna believes that, as Mr Vaz was the only MP from an ethnic minority to chair a select committee, it is “important for the BME community” to continue to have representation at a senior level on the cross-party groups.

Ms Cooper would bring her experience as a former shadow home secretary to the role.

The former Labour leadership contender is considering it and “colleagues have suggested she should stand”, a Westminster source said.

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The post, which comes with a £15,025 pay boost on top of the MPs’ salary of £74,926, is open to Labour MPs under the arrangements which divide the chairmanships between the political parties.

Labour committee member David Winnick told the Press Association: “I would be surprised if whoever is elected as chairman will be following the style of Keith Vaz, any more than Keith Vaz followed the style of his predecessors John Denham and Chris Mullin.”

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s office confirmed it had received a complaint about Mr Vaz.

“We have formally received an official complaint and it is under consideration,” a source said.

Related topics:Caroline FlintYvette CooperLabourYorkshire