Election of the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee CANDIDATES 12 JUNE 2019

Contents

Introduction 3

Maria Caulfield (Lewes) 4

Simon Hoare (North Dorset) 5

Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) 6

Introduction

This booklet lists all the candidates for the election of the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Wednesday 12 June 2019. The election is governed by Standing Order No. 122B. The Order of the House of 4 July 2017 allocated the Chair of the Committee to the Conservative Party.

The candidates are listed in alphabetical order. All candidates are required to sign a statement indicating willingness to stand for election and declare any relevant interests. Each candidate’s entry in the booklet prints any further personal statement that has been submitted by that candidate.

Candidates are required to provide 15 signatures from their own party.

ELECTION OF THE CHAIR OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 3 Maria Caulfield

Nominated by (own party)

Dr Caroline Johnson, Tom Pursglove, Philip Davies, Mike Wood, Eddie Hughes, , Damien Moore, Paul Scully, Andrew Lewer, Robert Courts, Mr , Mr , Royston Smith, Michael Fabricant, Ms Nadine Dorries

Statement

I wish to express my willingness to serve as the Chairman of the In addition, I want the committee to highlight and look at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and therefore put myself potential of Northern Ireland going forward and to ensure that forward to stand for this vacant position. investment and potential success in business, sport and tourism are harnessed. I also want to ensure that issues of equality are Having served on the Northern Ireland Affairs committee addressed and that as a committee we play our part in helping since 2017 I have extensive knowledge, experience and the to restore devolution. I believe that being an authoritative and right skills to chair the NIAC during what is a critical time knowledgeable voice on Northern Ireland will be a key skill for Northern Ireland as it continues to be without a devolved that is essential for the next Chairman of the Northern Ireland Government during the Brexit process. I have also served as a Affairs Committee to possess. previous member of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly and I am vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group; Irish I believe that I am the right candidate to chair the Northern in Britain. Ireland Affairs Committee as I have the knowledge, passion, experience and skills required for this role. My interest in Northern Ireland stems from my family connections to the Republic of Ireland, where the sensitivities for all communities and the historical perspective are well known. Regularly visiting both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland I have extensive and personal knowledge of the cross-border issues and how important it is for people living and working on both sides of the border that it remains open as it is today. If elected to the position of Chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee I want to continue the good work the committee is currently doing in scrutinising several devolved areas of responsibility while there is no assembly. The committee is often the only avenue for people in Northern Ireland to raise concerns as we have heard during recent enquiries on education, RHI and health. I want this to continue so we shine a light on the issues that matter to people. I also want to urgently address the outstanding issue of historical institutional abuse and the prosecution of armed forces personnel which many colleagues have raised in the Chamber as urgent and outstanding issues.

Relevant Interests

Chair of the Conservative Ireland Association; Vice-Chair of the Irish in Britain APPG

4 ELECTION OF THE CHAIR OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Simon Hoare

Nominated by (own party) Nominated by (other parties)

Sir Nicholas Soames, Chris Heaton-Harris, Stephen Doughty, Siobhain McDonagh, Damian Green, , David Mr Alistair Carmichael, Carolyn Harris, Duguid, Sir Roger Gale, Alec Shelbrooke, Stewart Malcolm McDonald John Stevenson, Sir Desmond Swayne, , , Sarah Newton, Robert Neill, Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nicky Morgan

Relevant Interests

None

ELECTION OF THE CHAIR OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE 5 Mark Pritchard

Nominated by (own party) Nominated by (other parties)

Mr Nigel Evans, Simon Hart, Sir Mike Mr Khalid Mahmood, Mr Jim Penning, Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, John Cunningham, Kate Osamor, Jack Dromey, Lamont, Mrs Maria Miller, Sir , Dr David Drew David T. C. Davies, Mr David Jones, Sir Michael Fallon, , David Morris, Crispin Blunt, Gillian Keegan, Anne-Marie Trevelyan

Relevant Interests

None

6 ELECTION OF THE CHAIR OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND AFFAIRS COMMITTEE