Pro-Remain MP Hilary Benn to head Brexit committee
Pro-Remain MP Hilary Benn is to chair the Commons Select Committee for Exiting the European Union. Benn said he wanted the government to provide clarity on its aims and objectives in the EU negotiations and continue to cooperate with Europe on issues such as security and defence, though he says he will not seek to oppose Brexit itself. The committee's chair must be a Labour MP, but MPs from all parties voted for the candidates. It will comprise 21 MPs, including 10 Tories and MPs from six opposition parties.

Pro-EU MP Hilary Benn has been elected chairman of the Commons Select Committee for Exiting the European Union.

The staunch Remainer defeated Leave campaigner and fellow Labour politician Kate Hoey for the job of policing the Government's departure from the EU.

Some 330 MPs backed former shadow foreign secretary Mr Benn, while 209 voted for his rival.

He told Sky News he wanted the Government to "minimise uncertainty", provide clarity on its aims and objectives in the EU negotiations, and to continue co-operation with Europe on issues like defence and security policy.

Mr Benn said: "Parliament will definitely want to have the final say on the agreement that is negotiated by the Government at the end of this process whenever that comes."

Image: Mr Benn defeated fellow Labour MP Kate Hoey

The MP, who was sacked by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for disloyalty, added: "I'm very anxious to get on with our work as quickly as possible because we've got a huge task facing us."

The chair of the committee must be held by a Labour Party MP but MPs from all parties voted for the candidates.

The committee will scrutinise the work of David Davis' Brexit department and will be almost double the size of most committees.

It will be made up of 21 MPs, including 10 Tories and MPs from six opposition parties, compared with the average committee which has 11 members.

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Image: Yvette Cooper has become chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee

Meanwhile, Yvette Cooper has become chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, taking over from Keith Vaz who stood down after being embroiled in a rent boy scandal.

Former shadow home secretary Ms Cooper was up against former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna for that post. Also in the running were Caroline Flint and Paul Flynn.

Tory MP Damian Collins was named as the new chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

And fellow Tory MP Stephen Metcalfe was named chair of the Science and Technology Committee.