Bitter Tory divisions over EU referendum set to resurface as MPs battle for control of key Brexit committee in the Commons
Vote Leave supporters sacked by May think being on the scrutiny panel is the “perfect way to hold her feet to the fire”
BITTER Tory referendum divisions are set to resurface tomorrow as Leave and Remain supporters try flood the Commons Select Committee set up to scrutinise Britain’s exit from the EU.
A slate of Brexit backing ex-Ministers including Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, John Whittingdale and Peter Lilley have put their names forward.
They will square off in a ballot today against die-hard Remain supporting Tory MPs like Anna Soubry, Alistair Burt and Jonathan Djanogly for seats on the powerful new committee.
As the Sun revealed in July, senior Vote Leave supporters sacked by Theresa May were planning to put their names forward for the scrutiny panel as the “perfect way to hold her feet to the fire.”
The new committee will be formed of a whopping 21 members from across the political divide.
It will be chaired by Labour’s Hilary Benn and made up of 10 Tories and MPs from six opposition parties.
Voting will take place tomorrow afternoon within parties to decide who will get the slots.
But experts have warned the new Brexit Select Committee “risks being a large and toothless watchdog” with its size leading to “scatter gun” questioning of witnesses.
Last week the Institute of Government warned the new “committee risks becoming a large but toothless watchdog” as Westminster will be awash with “overlapping linesof inquiry, competition for media headlines, and “witness fatigue”.
One former Minister told The Sun tonight it was “a no brainer” to throw their hat in the ring as “there is only one story in town for the next three years.”