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Thornberry makes comeback on MPs foreign committee
Emily Thornberry speaking during the Labour Party Conference at the Liverpool Arena, September 27, 2022

EMILY THORNBERRY has made a comeback to chair the Commons foreign affairs select committee, having been dropped from Sir Keir Starmer’s front bench following the election.

Ms Thornberry backed Mr Starmer’s endorsement of Israeli human rights abuses early in the Gaza genocide, so her new role will not trouble the Prime Minister.

Despite her subservience as shadow attorney-general, she was passed over by the premier when he formed the new government.

Labour MPs were chosen to head nearly all the select committees, which scrutinise government departments and sometimes challenge ministers, though the new chairs are not the challenging sort for the most part.

Chairs are chosen by a vote of MPs, and must not hold ministerial office.

Karen Bradley was the only Tory chosen and will chair the home affairs committee.

An opposition MP always chairs the public accounts committee, and Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown will fill that role.

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