Parliament and Politics: Senior Tory defends new committee rule

THE CONTROVERSY over the removal of long-serving Tory MPs from Commons select committees intensified yesterday as a senior Conservative defended rule changes that led to the dispute.

Nicholas Winterton, Tory MP for Macclesfield, claimed he was ousted from the chairmanship of the all-party health committee because of his criticism of the Government. He said pressure from the whips had forced his removal.

But Sir Marcus Fox, chairman of the Committee of Selection, said the Tories had introduced a new rule, in the interests of fairness, that Conservatives who had served continuously on select committees since 1979 should make way for others. The issue will be debated tonight in the Commons, where Mr Winterton has tabled a motion demanding that the choice of names be reconsidered.

Sir Marcus, who is also chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, said: 'These are not whips' rules. They are rules made by my Conservative colleagues relating only to Tory MPs and to make room for other people.

'It is misleading and mischief-making to suggest we have been got at by the whips.

'These people are hoping we will change the rules. But there is no way in which we will do that and we are satisfied they have been applied fairly.'