A bombshell proposal from the Labour Party has ignited a firestorm in Westminster, with accusations of an 'authoritarian' power grab that threatens the very foundations of parliamentary scrutiny.
Political editor Mikey Smith revealed that Labour is considering a 'staggering' plan to strip MPs of their power to elect the chair of the powerful Treasury Select Committee. Instead, the government would handpick the chairperson itself, effectively neutering one of the most important checks on its economic power.
An Assault on Democracy
The Treasury Committee is renowned for its fierce independence, famously holding bankers' feet to the fire after the 2008 financial crash and scrutinising government spending to the last penny. Its authority stems from its chair being elected by fellow MPs, not appointed by the executive.
Harriett Baldwin, the current Conservative chair of the committee, led the condemnation, declaring the move would 'destroy' the committee's vital role. 'This is a truly terrible idea,' she stated. 'The ability of Select Committees to hold the Government to account is a cornerstone of our democracy.'
A 'Dictator-esque' Move
The backlash was swift and cross-party. The plan was universally condemned as 'dictator-esque' and a blatant attempt to silence opposition and critical scrutiny of the Chancellor's decisions.
Such a move would mark a dramatic centralisation of power, allowing the governing party to install a friendly chair who would be unlikely to challenge its policies or spending decisions, fundamentally undermining the committee's purpose.
Labour's Defence and Mounting Pressure
While Labour sources suggested the change was aimed at improving 'efficiency', critics were having none of it. The proposal is seen as part of a wider, alarming trend towards reducing parliamentary oversight and concentrating control within Downing Street.
Facing a torrent of criticism from all sides, Labour now faces immense pressure to immediately abandon what is being described as one of the most 'anti-democratic' ideas to emerge from a major party in recent years.
