SNP offered remaining Scottish Affairs Committee seat

Members of the Scottish Affairs Committee have been appointed – with no place given to the SNP.

The scene of fiery exchanges between the Scottish Secretary and MPs in previous sessions of parliament, the cross-party body scrutinises the Scotland Office, and its associated bodies, examines the impact of UK Government policy and legislation on Scotland and looks at issues including devolution.

Labour's Patricia Ferguson was named as the new chair of the Commons select committee in September.

The Glasgow West MP succeeds the SNP's Pete Wishart in the role. He had served as chair for almost a decade – the maximum period allowed.

Further members committee have now been appointed, with the list published this morning including no SNP members. 

This afternoon it has emerged that a place has now been offered to the party. It is understood that the SNP will put its Westminster leader Stephen Flynn forward for approval.

A spokesperson for the party said: "It speaks volumes about the broken Westminster system, that the SNP was not afforded an automatic place on the Scottish Affairs Committee despite being Scotland's party of government, and winning more votes and seats in Scotland than other parties who have been given multiple places.

"The Scottish Affairs Committee exists to hold the UK Government to account on areas of its work that impact Scotland. Following the original allocation of seats, the SNP has now been offered one committee place, which we will use to stand up for Scotland's interests at Westminster."

The SNP lost its status as Westminster's third largest party in the July general election – a result which cost it the allocation of spots on all select committees.

With only nine MPs in the Commons, it no longer commands automatic entry to the cross-party panels.

While it was speculated that one place on the Scottish Affairs Committee would be offered to the SNP, only Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats were represented in the initial list, despite a vacant place remaining.

According to Commons rules, Labour could command seven places on the panel, but has taken only six of these. 

The Conservatives could take three, but have filled only two, with one going to Windsor MP Jack Rankin, who is the only member of the panel not to represent a Scottish seat.

And while as the third largest party the Liberal Democrats were expected to have one member on the committee, two have been appointed.

The appointments follow negotiations between the parties.

Patricia Ferguson MP

In a morning statement, the committee said: "Each party has its own internal processes for naming its nominations to fill its seats on committees. Individual nominees put forward by political parties were agreed in the House of Commons, following a Committee of Selection meeting. Some committees still carry one or two vacancies which are expected to be filled shortly. 

"Party seat allocations across and within committees is proportionate to the number of MPs elected to the House of Commons at the general election, with the precise number negotiated between the party whips through the Committee of Selection."

The list of members, by party, is as follows:

LABOUR:

Patricia Ferguson, Glasgow West (chair)

Maureen Burke, Glasgow North East

Lillian Jones, Kilmarnock and Loudon

Douglas McAllister, West Dunbartonshire

Elaine Stewart, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

Kirsteen Sullivan, Bathgate and Linlithgow

Jack Rankin MP

CONSERVATIVES:

Harriet Cross, Gordon and Buchan

Jack Rankin, Windsor

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS:

Angus MacDonald, Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Susan Murray, Mid-Dunbartonshire