After years of numbing defeats in the Commons, progressive forces have finally today secured some striking victories in a series of votes which could radically change the effectiveness of the House in future struggles with the Executive, and in particular with No.10.   The votes today for the first time give the House ownership of its Select Committees by requiring chairmen and members to be elected, not appointed by the Whips, and reclaims for the House control over its own business by allowing the House, not the Government, to determine through an elected  Back-Bench House Business Committee the agenda on the floor of the House in respect of all non-Ministerial business.

In today’s debate I spelt out in a short speech the long-term profound implication of this.

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