Committees

MPs to give evidence for inquiry into the status of independent MPs

25 February 2025

The Procedure Committee will on Wednesday 26 February hear evidence for their inquiry into the status of independent Members of Parliament.

Panel 1 [3:00pm]

  • Shockat Adam MP (Independent)
  • Iqbal Mohamed MP (Independent)

Panel 2 [3:45pm]

  • Rt Hon John McDonnell MP (Independent)
  • Ian Byrne MP (Labour)

The evidence session will be broadcast on Parliament Live from 3pm on 26th February.

Cat Smith MP, Chair of the Procedure Committee, said:

“Independent MPs are becoming more common in the House of Commons, with a record number of independent MPs elected at the last general election.

We look forward to hearing from these Members about their experience in navigating House procedure and structures as independent Members of Parliament.”

Witnesses can expect to be asked about their experiences as independent MPs and how the procedures and practices of the House of Commons apply to them, relative to MPs operating as part of a political party.

About the inquiry

In the July 2024 General Election, a record six independent candidates were elected to the House of Commons. In September 2024, five of those MPs informed the Speaker that they were forming an independent grouping in Parliament as a ‘technical group’, rather than a political party. This letter has given rise to questions about the status of parliamentary groupings under House of Commons procedures, and the status of independent MPs as a whole.

As well as those who were elected as independents, the last few parliaments have seen many more ‘independent’ MPs, with ‘losing the whip’ being a common event which can now occur in different ways, and does happen more frequently, than in the past. There is therefore the potential for a significant number of ‘independent’ MPs at any given point in the course of a Parliament.

This inquiry is looking into the procedural status of independent MPs – both individually and collectively – in the House of Commons.

Further information

Image: House of Commons