Whip withdrawn from Tory committee chair

Tory MP Julian Lewis has been thrown out of the Conservative Parliamentary Party after being elected chairman of Westminster’s intelligence watchdog.

Former Cabinet minister and fellow Tory Chris Grayling missed out on the chairmanship he had been touted to take amid claims Mr Lewis worked with Opposition MPS to secure the role at the helm of the Conservative-domintated Intelligence and Security Committee.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was widely believed to want former transport secretary Mr Grayling to become the chairman of the body which oversees the work of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. But committee members voted instead for former defence select committee chairman Dr Lewis.

With the Conservatives enjoying a majority, with five out of nine places on the committee, there had been concern at Westminster that the Tory members would be “whipped” to support Mr Grayling despite concerns about his expertise. Former national security adviser Lord Ricketts had warned that Mr Grayling does not “match up” to the authority and reputation of former chairs.

Having had the Tory whip withdrawn, Dr Lewis will now sit as an Independent.