Boothroyd attacks MPs' sackings

Boothroyd: Says ministers are trying to manipulate parliament

Former Commons speaker Betty Boothroyd has attacked the government for sacking two outspoken Labour MPs as heads of two key parliamentary committees.

Lady Boothroyd on Friday accused ministers of trying to manipulate parliament after the dismissal of Gwyneth Dunwoody as chairman of the Commons Transport Select Committee and Donald Anderson as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

It is outrageous that the government cannot stand the heat of a bit of criticism

Lady Boothroyd

She says MPs should reinstate the pair when the issue is debated in parliament on Monday.

But Downing Street has defended the government's actions in the wake of the damaging attack, saying such changes were not unusual after an election.

Manipulation

Lady Boothroyd has given new fire to the row with an interview with the Times newspaper.

"It seems that the government is manipulating parliament," she said.

"Select committees are not an arm of government.

"They are a mechanism of parliament to scrutinise government.

"The two people concerned have huge reputations in this House and have won great respect for the jobs they have done as chairman as well as outside the House.

Donald Anderson: Commons in unique position

"It is outrageous that the government cannot stand the heat of a bit of criticism."

The Commons will have a free vote on Monday on the entire select committee membership list, rather than individual names, but changes can be proposed via amendments.

Lady Boothroyd has urged the Commons to take that chance to "use its authority" by reinstating the two chairmen and taking power away from the government whips.

Respect for Boothroyd

The former speaker's comments have added new heat to the debate after the government's decision provoked fury among backbenchers.

Gwyneth Dunwoody: Seen as fiercely independent

Donald Anderson welcomed her remarks, saying Lady Boothroyd had to be treated with respect.

"I guess that there will be an enormous temptation just to roll over and let the executive do what they will," he said.

"But at the start of the parliament, parliament is in a unique position to say are we effectively a rubber stamp for the executive, do we allow the executive to appoint its own committees and chairmen, or do we stand now and say enough, no more, no further?"

The Swansea East MP said he felt he and Gwyneth Dunwoody had been the victim of "greater power machinations".

Downing Street's defence

On Thursday, Downing Street had referred questions about the row to Commons Leader Robin Cook.

But on Friday morning, Tony Blair's spokesman defended the government.

He said it was "not unusual to have changes in select committee teams" after general elections "in the same way that after an election there are changes to a ministerial team".

The spokesman said the prime minister "has always had a high regard for Betty Boothroyd" but he refused to be drawn on the substance of her criticism.

Placating MPs

Robin Cook said on Thursday the government had moved "in the fastest time" ever to ensure the committees could start work quickly.

"I have given them more freedom, more discretion," he said, pointing to other forthright MPs who have been nominated for appointment to the committees.

Monday's vote on the issue will test if Mr Cook has successfully placated backbench MPs.

Many of those MPs are anxious any opposition they put up does not prevent the new select committees from being set up until after parliament's summer recess, which starts next Thursday.

Lady Boothroyd's remarks coincided with newspaper reports that senior Labour MP Clive Soley called for radical reforms in parliament to "break the cycle of disillusionment" felt by activists and backbench MPs.