MP Kevin Hollinrake bids for high profile select committee role

The role is widely accepted as the most important of the Parliamentary Select Committees and examines the expenditure, administration and policy of HM Treasury and its associated bodies, such as HM Revenue and Customs and the Bank of England.

Mr Hollinrake said: “The position will be hotly-contested, but I am confident that I have the necessary background and qualifications for this role. I have a strong record of holding the Treasury, banks and FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) to account and of developing compensation schemes as the co-chair of the APPG for Fair Business Banking since 2017.

“I have also a clear understanding of economics thanks to 27 years of building a business from a start-up to a national network employing around 1,000 people, as well as extensive experience of Select Committee work. In addition I believe I could command the respect of opposition MPs, as well as those on the Conservative side of the House with my balanced, non-partisan, robust, Yorkshire straight talking approach, which I believe would give me the authority to fulfil this role.”

With the Brexit deadline only months away the role of chairman of the Treasury Select Committee takes on even greater significance as it will be responsible for holding ministers and Whitehall to account for the Government’s Brexit policy.

Mr Hollinrake, who voted to remain has always maintained that Parliament has a duty to the British people to deliver Brexit. He has supported the new Prime Minister’s stance that “no deal” should be left on the table, however, Mr Hollinrake said that this was not the outcome that he wants.

“If we are going to be successful in our negotiations we need to offer an alternative solution to ‘no deal’,” he said. “I would want to know which preparations are on track, where there is work to be done and what is being done to ensure we are ready to leave without a deal so that everyone knows where we stand”.