PM told to keep out of top role decision

BORIS Johnson has been urged not to interfere in the election of the new chairman of Parliament’s intelligence watchdog.

The Prime Minister is widely believed to want former Cabinet minister Chris Grayling to head the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) which oversees the work of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.

The ex-transport secretary – dubbed “failing Grayling” following a series of policy gaffes – is one of nine MPS and peers nominated to serve on the ISC.

With the Conservatives enjoying a majority, with five committee places, there is concern at Westminster the

Tory members will be “whipped” to support Mr Johnson’s choice.

However the ISC chairman in the last parliament, former attorney general Dominic Grieve, said the Prime Minister should stay out of the election.

He said it was essential the chairman could command cross-party respect and was seen to be independent of government.

“The whole point about this committee is it is non-partisan,” he told the Radio 4 Today programme.

“The Prime Minister nor anybody should be seeking to tell the committee who should be the chair, it is for the committee to decide under the statute which sets it up.

“I don’t have a view for who the right chair should be apart from the fact I’m absolutely clear in my mind it should be a matter for the committee and that the committee should not be put under party political pressure as to who the chair should be.”

The House of Commons and the House of Lords will vote on Monday and Tuesday next week on whether to endorse the nominees for the post.

Once the membership of the committee has been confirmed by both

Houses it will be up to the members to elect a chairman.