Northern Ireland

Three in running for NI committee chair role

A meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in London earlier this year
A meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in London earlier this year A meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in London earlier this year

THREE MPs are in the running to become the next chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

Conservatives Maria Caulfield, Simon Hoare and Mark Pritchard have been nominated for the role.

It follows the resignation of Andrew Murrison, who held the position since 2017.

A secret ballot will be held tomorrow from 10am to 1.30pm to decide his successor, with the result to be announced by the speaker John Bercow some time after the ballot closes.

MPs from all parties can vote, with the ballot counted under an Alternative Vote system in which members rank as many candidates as they wish in order of preference.

At the beginning of a British parliament, committee chair positions are allocated to parties depending on the number of MPs they have, meaning the new chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee must be a Conservative MP.

Among the current members of the committee are the DUP's Gregory Campbell, Ian Paisley and Jim Shannon, and the Labour Party's Kate Hoey and Conor McGinn.