Chris Grayling ‘coup’ exposes lack of intelligence – The Yorkshire Post says
A respected former chair of the Defence Select committe, Dr Lewis – and his colleagues – now intend to publish the long-awaited report over Russian interference in UK politics in 2017 next week.
Further evidence that the select committees, and their independence, invariably represent the best of Parliament and politics, there’s no guarantee that this would have happened if it was not for Dr Lewis breaking ranks and opposing Mr Grayling’s nomination with the help of Labour and the SNP.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThat he has now been denied the Tory whip is not his fault; it merely reflects how badly this whole episode has been misjudged by Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings, his chief aide, after they left this committee in limbo when its work is crucial to overseeing the intelligence agencies.
To even propose Mr Grayling, the most inept Minister of modern times, and for Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg to attribute delays to the process to the need to recruit the best candidates, was, frankly, an insult when the ex-Transport Secretary had little, or no, experience, of intelligence or security matters.
To then try to impose Mr Grayling as chair compounded matters. And to punish Dr Lewis looks petty.
That said, Parliament has, asserted itself and the Intelligence and Security Committee, and therefore the UK’s national security, now appears to be in much safer hands.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdEditor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.
Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.
And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.
Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIf you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.
Sincerely. Thank you.
James Mitchinson
Editor
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.