Westminster: Election of select committee Chairs

The Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, has set out the timetable for the election of chairs of select committees following the General Election on 4 July 2024.

Since 2010, most committee chairs have been elected by the whole House by secret ballot using the alternative vote system, under which MPs rank candidates in order of preference. 

The period of nominations will run until 4pm on Monday 9 September, with the ballot scheduled for Wednesday 11 September.

How do Chair elections work?

The Speaker’s announcement follows the allocation of particular committee chairs to political parties, agreed by the House on 30 July. The number of chairs allotted to each party relates to their strength in the House of Commons. The chairs of the Committee of Public Accounts and the Committee on Standards are required to be from the Official Opposition.

The rules for the election of chairs of select committees are set out in Standing Order No. 122B. The Chair of the Backbench Business Committee will also be elected at this time although this takes place under a different Standing Order, No. 122D.  The chair of the Backbench Business Committee must be elected from a party which is not represented in the Government.

Which committees are electing a Chair?

Select committees appointed under Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to government departments) and their allocation: 

• Business and Trade (Labour)
• Culture, Media and Sport (Conservative)
• Defence (Labour)
• Education (Labour)
• Energy Security and Net Zero (Labour)
• Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Liberal Democrat)
• Foreign Affairs (Labour)
• Health and Social Care (Liberal Democrat)
• Home Affairs (Conservative)
• Housing, Communities and Local Government (Labour)
• International Development (Labour)
• Justice (Labour)
• Northern Ireland Affairs (Labour)
• Science, Innovation and Technology (Labour)
• Scottish Affairs (Labour)
• Transport (Labour)
• Treasury (Labour)
• Welsh Affairs (Labour)
• Women and Equalities (Labour)
• Work and Pensions (Labour)

Other specified select committees:

• Environmental Audit (Labour)
• Petitions (Liberal Democrat)
• Procedure (Labour)
• Public Accounts (Conservative)
• Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs (Conservative)
• Standards (Conservative)

Further information  

• Select Committees – UK Parliament
• Election of House of Commons Select Committee Chairs – UK Parliament