Dominating the news this week has been the continued far-right rioting across the country, which finally looks to be abating. Over the weekend, violent unrest broke out across UK towns and cities, including Hull, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool and Belfast. Missiles were thrown, shops looted and police attacked as thousands of anti-immigration protesters gathered, many shouting racist and Islamophobic slurs. One of the most harrowing scenes came on Sunday, when masked rioters broke into the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Rotherham, which provides accommodation for asylum seekers, and attempted to set it on fire. However, it appears that the tide has now started to turn after widely anticipated disorder on Wednesday night largely failed to materialise. Instead, thousands of anti-racism campaigners turned out across the country, calling for unity as they chanted slogans such as “refugees are welcome here” and “racism off our streets”.
How did the Government respond? After the new Prime Minister found himself facing the first real test of his tenure, just a month into the job, he was quick to condemn what he termed “far-right thuggery” and launch a new National Violent Disorder Programme. Over the course of this week, he has held a number of COBRA meetings, including a third one yesterday in preparation for any further unrest over the weekend. Since rioting began, around 500 people have been arrested and over 150 charged, for offences including violent disorder, assaulting an emergency worker and racially aggravated harassment, as well as publishing online material intended to stir up racial hatred. And a number of those convicted have been given sentences in excess of two years, following through on Starmer’s promise that those involved “will regret it”.
When Parliament returns in September, they’ll be looking to get Select Committees back up and running as quickly as possible – one of the key ways for backbenchers to hold the Government to account and look into specific areas of policy. Just before recess it was announced that Labour MPs will chair 18 committees, the Conservatives will chair 5, and the Lib Dems will chair 3. Nominations will close on 9th September and the ballot will take place two days later. With a month to go, we’ve taken a look at which MPs are putting their names forward and seeking support from their colleagues over the summer…
Business and Trade – Seeking re-election is former Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne, who has been in charge since October 2023. Former Shadow Minister for Higher Education Matt Western has also announced his intention to stand.
Culture, Media and Sport – Another one of only three committees where it is even possible for the chair to remain the same as before the election, Caroline Dinenage has confirmed she is running again. Sarah Champion has also confirmed she is running to stay as chair of the International Development Committee.
Defence – will have its fourth Chair in the space of a year, after Tobias Ellwood was forced to step down, his replacement Robert Courts was made Solicitor General, and his replacement Jeremy Quin lost his seat at the election. As the governing party chair this committee, it will be for a Labour MP to lead and hold the Government to account on its defence pledges.
Education – The new MP for Penistone and Stockbridge, Marie Tidball, has reportedly put her name forward. Having never even sat on a select committee before, it would be very unusual for a brand new MP to immediately become chair.
Energy Security and Net Zero – Bill Esterson, who had been on Labour’s frontbench since 2015 but was not given a Government role, is seeking the chair. He has set out 10 priorities including investigating how GB Energy will be constituted, ensuring a just transition from fossil fuel industries, and creating a clear and highly visible industrial strategy.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – One of the three committees the Lib Dems will chair. Could we see one of the Lib Dem senior MPs go for this? Former leader Tim Farron was Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Spokesperson before the election, and is the MP for the rural constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale.
Environmental Audit – Former Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (for one month) Barry Gardiner has put his name forward. He was also a Minister in Defra under Tony Blair and has sat on this committee since 2020. He has called on MPs to support him as he is Experienced, Articulate and a Champion for the environment.
Foreign Affairs – With the world becoming ever more complexed and dangerous, with the war in Ukraine and the continuing devastation of Gaza, Labour have been given control of this committee, with former chair Alicia Kearns instead becoming a Shadow Foreign Office Minister. Former Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry, the only re-elected member of Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet to not join the Government, is expected to run.
Health and Social Care – Another one to be chaired by the Lib Dems, who did lead this committee as recently as 2019, albeit only because the chair Sarah Wollaston had defected from the Conservatives (via a brief foray to Change UK). St Ives MP Andrew George, who lost the seat in 2015 but has returned to Parliament, did sit on this committee for five years from 2010.
Home Affairs – Former Chair Diana Johnson is now Policing Minister, and the Conservatives have also been given control of the Committee. With the early stages of the Labour Government dominated by protests, it’ll likely be an experienced MP who becomes Chair. Might we see former two-time Home Secretary Suella Braverman put her name forward…? Though as you need the support of MPs from both your own party and others, it seems unlikely she’d be able to garner that support.
Housing, Communities and Local Government – Clive Betts is currently ineligible to stand due to term limits, having been chair since 2010. With the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Renters’ Rights Bill and a Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill to be introduced, this could be a key committee over the course of this Parliament. Might we see Mike Amesbury, former Shadow Housing, Building Safety and Homelessness Minister, run for this one?
Justice – Mike Tapp, the new MP for Dover and Deal, wants to chair this committee. His career before becoming an MP included work in the British Army Intelligence Corp, counter-terrorism in the Ministry of Defence, and work on serious and organised crime in the National Crime Agency.
Northern Ireland – Former Chair Robert Buckland was one of the first Conservative MPs to lose their seat on election night, with Labour only having had one MP – Mary Kelly Foy – on the committee before the Election. Tonia Antoniazzi was a Shadow Northern Ireland Minister during the last Parliament for two years so could run for it.
Public Accounts – With the Official Opposition chairing this Committee, it’s the first time in 14 years it won’t have a Labour chair. We’re yet to see any formal announcement on who might take over from Meg Hillier, but with this being a high-profile, key committee in scrutinising government spending, expect a Conservative grandee to be the new chair.
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs – Simon Hoare is aiming to remain a committee chair, having previously run the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. He’ll likely be up against Geoffrey-Clifton Brown, who has been a Tory MP since 1992. Previous chairs of this committee include William Wragg, who was forced to stand down after leaking the mobile numbers of MPs to a stranger he met on a dating app.
Science, Innovation and Technology – Dawn Butler, member of this committee for 4 years, has said if she were elected she would seek to hold social media companies to account, especially with regards to hate speech on their platforms.
Scottish Affairs – The SNP’s near-wipeout mean they will no longer chair this committee, and with Labour having only had two MPs in Scotland before the election and both of these in Government, we will either see a non-Scottish MP or one of the 2024 intake take the chair.
Transport – The Government has already brought forward legislation to nationalise rail operators, and announced a range of road and rail schemes will not be taken forward due to budgetary pressures. Fabian Hamilton, who was Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament for 7 years, has confirmed he’ll be standing.
Treasury – Meg Hillier, who had chaired the Public Accounts Committee for 9 years, will be looking to maintain an influential role in the select committee scene and may run for this committee. Mel Stride, who is running to be the new Conservative leader, chaired this committee from 2019-22.
Welsh Affairs – Newport West and Islwyn MP Ruth Jones is standing, having sat on the committee since 2020. The only other Labour MP remaining in Parliament who was on the committee before the General Election is Tonia Antoniazzi, and she also doesn’t have a frontbench role….
Women and Equalities – The first MP of south-east Asian descent Sarah Owen wants to chair this committee. She has previously cited the racism she has experienced, and is an Honorary Board Member of East and South East Asians for Labour. She has also previously introduced legislation to ensure every woman who goes through miscarriage is legally entitled to paid leave.
Work and Pensions – Former Chair Stephen Timms is now in Government as Minister for Social Security and Disability, meaning there’ll need to be a new chair. Debbie Abrahams, Neil Coyle and Marsha de Cordova all sat on the committee before the Election, though none have publicly announced they are running.
6,000 – Riot police were mobilised in response to the 30+ protests on Wednesday.
Nearly 500 – People have been arrested in relation to the riots.
151,630 – Children are living in temporary accommodation in England.
82% – Decline in the number of monthly applications for health and care visas in July.
14 – Number of gold medals Team GB has at the time of writing (and 52 medals total).
3 – Cancelled Taylor Swift shows in Vienna.
Eluned Morgan MS was officially confirmed as Wales’ First Minister, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Former First Minister Mark Drakeford MS has returned to the Cabinet, after Morgan appointed him as Cabinet Secretary for Health.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves spent the week in North America, visiting CEOs in Toronto and New York, where she highlighted the ‘early steps taken by the Government to fix the foundations and restore economic stability,’ in a bid to show the business leaders that the UK is an attractive place to invest.
Across the pond, Kamala Harris confirmed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her presidential running mate. Appearing alongside Harris in their first rally together this week, Harris took the opportunity to praise Waltz’s record in public service, and career in teaching, as a football coach and serviceman in the US National Guard, while Waltz criticised Donald Trump for being ‘too busy serving himself.’
A strong partnership with business will be key to making Labour’s mission-driven Government a reality, so concludes a new paper from Demos out this week. It highlights that this has been something that UK governments have struggled to achieve for several decades, identifying six policy options that Labour should explore, including publishing a Medium Term Economic Strategy; ‘Policy Locks’ to tackle policy instability; and a comprehensive review of tax incentives. Demos will also be convening a series of roundtables through its Business Partnership Council, bringing together Government, businesses and other experts to understand how they can put the shared desire for partnership into practice.
Economic growth cannot be achieved without unlocking the potential of the UK’s second cities and ‘levelling up lagging regions’, according to the Resolution Foundation. Its latest briefing note assesses the state of geographic economic inequality facing the Government, outlining that whilst wages and employment gaps have fallen since the 1990s, income and productivity gaps remain stubbornly high and child poverty gaps have grown. It calls for action to ensure that living standards improve in all parts of the country.
Keir Starmer’s first net satisfaction rating as PM is net positive, with an Ipsos poll finding that 37% of the public are satisfied with his performance so far compared to 30% who are dissatisfied. Despite this, Starmer ranks lower than figures for Theresa May (54%), David Cameron (57%) and Tony Blair (65%) when they took office; and the jury is still out on Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with 41% saying they are unsure if they are satisfied or dissatisfied with her performance.
Civil Service dress code fetish-wear update: If you read last week’s You’ve Got to Laugh section you’ll have seen us flag Baroness Jenkin’s intriguing written questions asking for the Civil Service policy on ‘fetish clothing in the workplace’, that would surely have made Sid James raise an eye-brow or two. We are now able to report for our readers in Whitehall and beyond that Baroness Twycross has replied to confirm that ‘Civil Servants are required to dress appropriately for work and this would not include fetish clothing’. So now you know.
