Paul Murphy is to take over as Welsh Secretary from Peter Hain, who quit today after his deputy leadership campaign donations were referred to the police. Mr Hain has been replaced in his other cabinet role as Work and Pensions Secretary by James Purnell (btw elsewhere in Europe – Prodi has resigned as Prime Minister – not that we or the Italians will notice… much).
Murphy’s departure leaves the Intelligence and Security Committee without a Chair at a time when the Government is consulting on the future of the committee. Here’s what Brown said on the subject last summer:
As the security agencies themselves recognise, greater accountability to Parliament can strengthen still further public support for the work they do. So while ensuring necessary safeguards respecting confidentiality and security, we will consult on whether and how the Intelligence and Security Committee can be appointed by, and report to, Parliament. And we will start now with hearings, where possible, held in public; a strengthened capacity for investigations; reports subject to more Parliamentary debate; and greater transparency over appointments to the Committee.
So who will replace Murphy? The current committee looks like this:
- Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP (chair)
- Rt Hon Michael Ancram QCDL MP (Conservative)
- Rt Hon Alan Beith MP (Lib Dem)
- Mr Ben Chapman MP (Labour)
- The Rt. Hon. Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour)
- Rt Hon George Howarth MP (Labour)
- Rt Hon Michael Mates MP (Conservative)
- Mr Richard Ottaway MP (Conservative)
- Ms Dari Taylor MP (Labour)
Not since Tom King has there been a Tory Chair… but if you were the PM would you appoint one at a time like this?
