Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Boris Johnson packs the House Intelligence Committee
We are still waiting for the first meeting of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee and the long-anticipated report into Russian infiltration in the to be published. At least the committee now has a chair, even it is the accident-prone Chris Grayling, but the government are determined to take no chances.
The Independent reports that the Prime Minister has handed himself an in-built majority on the committee, prompting fresh accusations that it is being neutered:
The furore over the likely selection of the accident-prone Chris Grayling as its chair has been fuelled by a decision to strip out its one independent member.
It means the nine-strong intelligence and security committee (ISC) will now have five Conservative MPs – allowing them to outvote the remaining four Opposition members.
The move triggered a protest in the House of Lords that Downing Street had “packed it with willing supporters with no expertise in this area”.
Dominic Grieve, its former Tory chairman, told The Independent: “The committee has always been independent. If that is now being departed from for partisan reasons, that’s very regrettable.”
And John Healey, Labour’s shadow defence secretary, said: “This move is part of a pattern to surround the prime minister with yes-men.
“They’ve fixed the committee membership because their pick for chair can’t command the cross-party authority for this crucial role of holding the intelligence services to account.”
The move follows fierce criticism that Mr Grayling, an arch-Brexiteer who backed Mr Johnson for the Tory leadership – and who has no experience in security matters – will fail to be a powerful, independent voice.
Meanwhile, the delay on publishing the Russia report is now nine months, and counting.
The Independent reports that the Prime Minister has handed himself an in-built majority on the committee, prompting fresh accusations that it is being neutered:
The furore over the likely selection of the accident-prone Chris Grayling as its chair has been fuelled by a decision to strip out its one independent member.
It means the nine-strong intelligence and security committee (ISC) will now have five Conservative MPs – allowing them to outvote the remaining four Opposition members.
The move triggered a protest in the House of Lords that Downing Street had “packed it with willing supporters with no expertise in this area”.
Dominic Grieve, its former Tory chairman, told The Independent: “The committee has always been independent. If that is now being departed from for partisan reasons, that’s very regrettable.”
And John Healey, Labour’s shadow defence secretary, said: “This move is part of a pattern to surround the prime minister with yes-men.
“They’ve fixed the committee membership because their pick for chair can’t command the cross-party authority for this crucial role of holding the intelligence services to account.”
The move follows fierce criticism that Mr Grayling, an arch-Brexiteer who backed Mr Johnson for the Tory leadership – and who has no experience in security matters – will fail to be a powerful, independent voice.
Meanwhile, the delay on publishing the Russia report is now nine months, and counting.
Comments:
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Should not Grieve be far stronger with his words rather than just saying 'very regrettable' when our democracy is being taken over by a charlatan?
I note that Cummings has also been visiting certain intelligence offices. Why?
The Independent being removed does seem like he is fixing the Committee with his yes men to ,possibly,cover up any 'indisgressions' that happened with his involvement.
This position gives Grayling a chance to rise above his critics and become a successful politician or become just another yes man who will fall when the whole Johnson edifice collapses
I note that Cummings has also been visiting certain intelligence offices. Why?
The Independent being removed does seem like he is fixing the Committee with his yes men to ,possibly,cover up any 'indisgressions' that happened with his involvement.
This position gives Grayling a chance to rise above his critics and become a successful politician or become just another yes man who will fall when the whole Johnson edifice collapses
How things work out under the surface.Expecting Grayling to succeed!
I hope we now get the Russian Report published and Johnsons dealings,if any?!, exposed.
However,alas, Lewis believes in Trident and is an arch Brexiter.Waiting to see how it all unwraps.
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I hope we now get the Russian Report published and Johnsons dealings,if any?!, exposed.
However,alas, Lewis believes in Trident and is an arch Brexiter.Waiting to see how it all unwraps.
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