This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/19/strong-leadership-and-clear-plan-needed-for-brexit-says-thinktank

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Strong leadership and clear plan' needed for Brexit says thinktank 'Strong leadership and clear plan' needed for Brexit says thinktank
(35 minutes later)
Parliament’s scrutiny of Britain’s exit from the European Union risks becoming a “chaotic competition for the limelight”, according to a report from a Whitehall thinktank.Parliament’s scrutiny of Britain’s exit from the European Union risks becoming a “chaotic competition for the limelight”, according to a report from a Whitehall thinktank.
The Institute for Government has found that MPs and peers are already running 31 separate inquiries into the impending Brexit – even before the election of MPs to a new Brexit select committee.The Institute for Government has found that MPs and peers are already running 31 separate inquiries into the impending Brexit – even before the election of MPs to a new Brexit select committee.
Turf wars over who should scrutinise the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) mean the exiting the EU select committee which is supposed to scrutinise its work has still not been set up, the report has found.Turf wars over who should scrutinise the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) mean the exiting the EU select committee which is supposed to scrutinise its work has still not been set up, the report has found.
The report has been released hours after it emerged that Vote Leave supporter Kate Hoey will stand against the former foreign secretary Hilary Benn to be chair of the committee.The report has been released hours after it emerged that Vote Leave supporter Kate Hoey will stand against the former foreign secretary Hilary Benn to be chair of the committee.
Entitled Scrutinising Brexit, the paper warns that without strong leadership and a clear plan to engage the Brexit ministers, the select committee risks becoming a large but toothless watchdog.Entitled Scrutinising Brexit, the paper warns that without strong leadership and a clear plan to engage the Brexit ministers, the select committee risks becoming a large but toothless watchdog.
But so far Commons committees have already launched over 18 inquiries into the effects of Brexit, while 13 are underway in the Lords, the report noted.But so far Commons committees have already launched over 18 inquiries into the effects of Brexit, while 13 are underway in the Lords, the report noted.
In recent years, select committees have gained a growing reputation for influencing policy and holding Government and individuals – such as the media mogul Rupert Murdoch and businessman Mike Ashley – to account. In recent years, select committees have gained a growing reputation for influencing policy and holding government and individuals – such as the media mogul Rupert Murdoch and businessman Mike Ashley – to account.
The paper argues that Brexit will either be the issue that unravels this progress or embeds the place of select committees in our democratic system.The paper argues that Brexit will either be the issue that unravels this progress or embeds the place of select committees in our democratic system.
It concludes that a proliferation of parliamentary inquiries into Brexit will lead to overlapping lines of inquiry, competition for media headlines, and “witness fatigue”.It concludes that a proliferation of parliamentary inquiries into Brexit will lead to overlapping lines of inquiry, competition for media headlines, and “witness fatigue”.
The report has been released before Thursday’s election of new chairs for select committees.The report has been released before Thursday’s election of new chairs for select committees.
Dr Hannah White, the author of the report, said: “Select committee scrutiny of Brexit risks becoming a chaotic competition for the limelight, diverting huge amounts of ministerial and official time which might have been better spent elsewhere. The MPs who sit on these committees – and the new chairs being newly elected on Thursday – face a huge task undertaking scrutiny of Brexit. But they must rise to the challenge, because ultimately better scrutiny will mean better Brexit.”Dr Hannah White, the author of the report, said: “Select committee scrutiny of Brexit risks becoming a chaotic competition for the limelight, diverting huge amounts of ministerial and official time which might have been better spent elsewhere. The MPs who sit on these committees – and the new chairs being newly elected on Thursday – face a huge task undertaking scrutiny of Brexit. But they must rise to the challenge, because ultimately better scrutiny will mean better Brexit.”
The government has been accused of trying to avoid scrutiny of its Brexit strategy by creating a parliamentary committee that is too big to do its job properly.The government has been accused of trying to avoid scrutiny of its Brexit strategy by creating a parliamentary committee that is too big to do its job properly.
Twenty-one MPs from every party in the House of Commons except Ukip and the Greens, will sit on the new Brexit select committee.Twenty-one MPs from every party in the House of Commons except Ukip and the Greens, will sit on the new Brexit select committee.
Hoey and Benn – who was sacked by Jeremy Corbyn for disloyalty – have been nominated to chair the Exiting the EU Committee, one of two vacant select committee chairs allocated to Labour.Hoey and Benn – who was sacked by Jeremy Corbyn for disloyalty – have been nominated to chair the Exiting the EU Committee, one of two vacant select committee chairs allocated to Labour.
Benn, who campaigned vigorously for remaining in the EU, was backed to chair the exiting the European Union select committee by the former Labour leader Ed Miliband and other senior colleagues, including Angela Eagle, Dan Jarvis and Andy Burnham.Benn, who campaigned vigorously for remaining in the EU, was backed to chair the exiting the European Union select committee by the former Labour leader Ed Miliband and other senior colleagues, including Angela Eagle, Dan Jarvis and Andy Burnham.
Hoey, a long-time vocal advocate for leaving the EU, joined Ukip leader Nigel Farage’s Leave.EU group to make the “leftwing case” for an EU exit. The MP for Vauxhall, south London, counts both leave and remain-backing MPs among her supporters, including the Labour Brexiters John Mann, Frank Field and Gisela Stuart and the pro-remain SNP MP Alex Salmond.Hoey, a long-time vocal advocate for leaving the EU, joined Ukip leader Nigel Farage’s Leave.EU group to make the “leftwing case” for an EU exit. The MP for Vauxhall, south London, counts both leave and remain-backing MPs among her supporters, including the Labour Brexiters John Mann, Frank Field and Gisela Stuart and the pro-remain SNP MP Alex Salmond.
The committee will be nearly double the size of almost every other Commons select committee after a deal struck between Conservative and Labour whips.The committee will be nearly double the size of almost every other Commons select committee after a deal struck between Conservative and Labour whips.
But some senior MPs have claimed that the committee has been made deliberately large so that it is less effective at scrutinising the government’s strategy and less able to reach a consensus.But some senior MPs have claimed that the committee has been made deliberately large so that it is less effective at scrutinising the government’s strategy and less able to reach a consensus.