Lackey Overload

There was a discussion on The World at One today about how the government appoints chairmen to the Commons select committees (starts 24 minutes in, online till lunchtime tomorrow). Ian Gibson has lost his place as chair of the Science and Technology committee. He believes that this might be due to his criticisms of the government. Given that select committes are intended to allow backbenchers to hold the government to account, this seems more than a little odd. Criticism is, after all, part of the job.

Perhaps Ian is being overly paraniod, as he himself suggests might be the case. Well, because these appointments are agreed behind closed doors, there is no way to say for sure. What it is possible to do, courtesy of theyworkforyou, is examine the voting record of those that will chair the committees.
The government's nominees are here.

Health - Kevin Barron
Never rebels
(Analysis)

Home affairs - John Denham
Never rebels
(Analysis)

Education and skills - Barry Sheerman
Never rebels
(Analysis)

Foreign affairs - Mike Gapes
Never rebels
(Analysis)

Transport - Gwyneth Dunwoody
Quite often rebels
(Analysis)

Work and Pensions - Terry Rooney
Never rebels
(Analysis)

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister - Phyillis Starkey
Never rebels
(Analysis)

Wales - Hywel Francis
Never rebels
(Analysis)

Human rights - Andrew Dismore
Never rebels
(Analysis)

Rgulatory Reform - Andrew Miller
Never rebels
(Analysis)

That's the lot. Only one of the chairmen, Gwyneth Dunwoody, shows any sign of independent thought, and she had to fight to keep her position. Poor Ian Gibson sometimes rebels. He's out on his ear.

This is a perfect example of what is known in Number 10 as the LRC strategy (Listening and Responding to Concerns). It's apparently very effective.