Following an election amongst Liberal Democrat MPs, Paul Holmes, the MP for Chesterfield, has replaced Matthew Taylor as chair of the parliamentary party. Paul received 36 votes; Matthew got 23 votes.
This is an interesting outcome although it’s hard to know the reasons without being there. It could be that the MPs feel ideologically closer to Paul; or it could be backbencher’s flexing their muscles. Matthew Taylor suggests that it’s the latter:
“The Parliamentary party had a clear choice to make. They have decided to follow the route of the Conservative and Labour parties in choosing a backbench representative to chair their meetings.”
poor matthew. I think it was a mistake to turn what was really a back bench position into a front bench one. its a useful title for the TV studio but a distinct role.
I recall this change happend when he was shunted from being shadow chancellor. I hope he gets some thing else soon
It was a front bench role when Mark Oaten had it before Math the question is will it know become a backbench on as Matthew suggests? Of course given he now has no job other than as a constituency MP Matthew is surely much more a back bencher than Paul.