Prominent former frontbenchers fill select committee roles

A host of former Labour frontbenchers have joined parliamentary select committees, after nominations for vacant positions closed today. 12 committees had vacancies filled without the need for further elections among Labour MPs.

Liz Kendall, Mary Creagh, Rachel Reeves, Emma Reynolds, Ben Bradshaw, Dave Hanson and Stella Creasy are among the most notable names to have joined committees, while Chuka Umunna and Caroline Flint will have to go through a balloting process if they are to end up on their chosen committees. LabourList understood that that high-profile former Shadow Cabinet ministers are putting themselves forward for the positions to ensure that the Government is properly held to account, amid concerns from moderate members of the PLP that the new leadership has so far failed to provide effective opposition.

The new select committee positions, filled without need for election, are:

Communities and Local Government

​Liz Kendall

Culture, Media and Sport

​Julie Elliott

​Energy and Climate Change

​Rushanara Ali

Tom Blenkinsop

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Angela Smith

Environmental Audit

​Mary Creagh

​Geraint Davies

Health

Ben Bradshaw

Julie Cooper

Emma Reynolds

Home Affairs

Naz Shah

Justice

David Hanson 

Rupa Huq

Andy McDonald

Marie Rimmer

Science and Technology

Stella Creasy

Treasury

Rachel Reeves

Work and Pensions

Steve McCabe

Women and Equalities

Siobhain McDonagh

Gavin Shuker

Three committees will require elections among Labour MPs for the remaining positions. The ballot will take place on Tuesday. They are:

Also on Tuesday will be the ballot for the two remaining positions on the Parliamentary Committee (Update: you can see the result of these elections below):

Parliamentary Committee by-election (two places)

Tom Blenkinsop

Karen Buck

Dawn Butler

Ian Mearns

Angela Smith

UPDATE, Wednesday 21st October: Final positions have been confirmed:

Defence

Phil Wilson

Home Affairs

Chuka Umunna 

Public Accounts

Bridget Phillipson, Caroline Flint

Parliamentary Committee

Tom Blenkinsop, Angela Smith