Meacher’s bid for top scrutiny job

Michael Meacher is bidding to head up a powerful parliamentary committee that scrutinises government spending.

The Oldham West and Royton MP has put himself up for election to become chairman of the Commons public accounts committee.

Mr Meacher had to secure support from 15 Labour colleagues but also has backing across parties with new top Tory Zac Goldsmith and Lib-Dem Ming Campbell supporting him.

The Labour MP wrote to all MPs saying his 40 years experiences, including 25 years on the front bench both in government and opposition, provided him with a good understanding of how Whitehall worked having served in four departments as a minister and shadowed seven departments in opposition.

He said: “I believe this makes me uniquely qualified for the role in searchingly and painstakingly assessing the costs and benefits of public expenditure across the Whitehall spectrum.

“The public accounts committee has always been at the heart of Parliamentary democracy, but in the current financial climate it has an even more important role.

Seeking to do more with less but without sacrificing the quality of outcomes, making efficiency gains where they are realistic and sustainable, and significantly improving project management and procurement across the board are going to be the order of the day.”

Mr Meacher must beat off competition from four other MPs also vying for the role.

He vowed if elected to secure accountability within the Whitehall machine and ensure that Government learns from its failures and successes and implement changes.