Nominations open for Culture, Media and Sport Committee Chair

• Culture, Media and Sport Committee
• Nomination form for the select committee chairs (docx, 63KB)
• Election of committee chairs briefing note (docx, 63KB)
• How select committees elect Chairs

The Speaker announced the timetable for the elections on July 30. The period of nominations will run until 4pm on Monday 9 September, with the ballot scheduled for Wednesday 11 September.

The new Chair will be elected from the Conservative party under the allocation of committee chairs to political parties which was agreed by the House on 30 July 2024.  

• Allocation of select committee chairs  

Since 2010, most committee chairs have been elected by the whole House, by a system of alternative vote and by secret ballot. To be valid, nominations must contain a signed statement made by the candidate declaring their willingness to stand.

It must be accompanied by the signatures of 15 MPs elected to the Commons as members of the same political party as the candidate (or 10 per cent of the MPs elected to the House as members of that party, whichever is the lower). More than 15 signatures can be collected but only the first 15 valid signatures are printed. Members may only nominate one candidate per select committee.

Nominations may be accompanied by the signatures of up to five MPs elected to the House as members of any party other than to which the chair is allocated or of no party. Similarly, only five such signatures are printed.

Candidates must declare any relevant interests with their nomination. Valid nominations received each day are published with the next day's Order Paper and will be listed below.

Nominations

Candidate: Caroline Dinenage

Supporters (own party): Harriet Cross, Dr Caroline Johnson, Sir John Whittingdale, Graham Stuart, Dame Harriett Baldwin, Priti Patel, Helen Whately, Mark Garnier, Mr Gagan Mohindra, Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat, Dame Karen Bradley

Supporters (other parties or no party): Lucy Rigby, Chris Curtis, Josh Simons, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Adam Dance

Relevant interests declared: Husband is non-executive director of Hampshire Cricket Club

Supporting statement:

The sectors that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport represents are hugely important to us all, they account for vast economic value and thousands of jobs, drive regeneration and bring communities together.  As a nation, they are our global super-power!

As a former Culture and Digital Minister I have a proven track record of delivering for the CMS Sectors, such as the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, supporting over 5,000 organisations through the COVID pandemic.

Under my Chairmanship over the last year, the Committee effectively held the Government to account and championed these sectors, with notable achievements:

1. We called for targeted support for the British independent film industry, securing tax relief measures at the 2024 Spring Budget that the Chair of the British Film Institute called “a game changer for UK filmmakers”.  
2. We secured a £26.4 million capital boost for the National Theatre, which Director Rufus Norris deemed a “landmark investment”. 
3. Our scrutiny of the Media Bill delivered legislation welcomed by nine top UK broadcasters as reforms that would “help the UK’s content sector thrive for years to come.” 
4. We stood up for the grassroots - from football clubs to music venues.

There is much more that I would like the Committee to achieve over the next Parliament:

🎬 The success of our creative industries can't be taken for granted. With international competitors making inroads, we risk being knocked off top spot. I am committed to spotlighting a myriad of issues, such as the narrow talent pipeline and impact of fast-moving digital change.

🏟️ Visa and mobility are impacting sectors from business events and tourism, to touring musicians and artists. It's costing jobs, opportunity and cultural experience – impacting us all. Under my chairmanship, the Committee will continue to push for urgent solutions.

⚽ As a life-long Portsmouth FC fan, I know how poor governance can bring a sports club to its knees, impacting the local community. I won't take my eye off the ball (sorry) to ensure the new regulator has the powers to protect our ‘beautiful game’ for generations to come. And that goes for other sports too - our sporting legacy is second to none, and we must keep it that way. 

📚 I want to see the Committee shine a light on the often-overlooked departmental responsibilities - from gambling to civil society, libraries to heritage, publishing and video games, so vital to our economy and communities.

📺 The Committee must continue to do our bit to ensure that the BBC delivers its remit - to inform, educate and entertain. We must be mindful of the issues of impartiality, transparency, diversity and the significant role that the BBC plays in our global identity and cultural ecosystem.

I know that select committee work shows Parliament at its very best. As Chair, I have and will continue to enable every member to play a full role as we rigorously scrutinise the work of government, represent the priorities of backbenchers and deliver for your constituencies. 

Further information  

• Election of House of Commons Select Committee Chairs

Image credit: House of Commons