GREG Clark has been re-elected by fellow MPs to role of the Chairman of the Commons’ Science and Technology Committee – a role he had to earlier in the year when he was asked to serve in Boris Johnson’s cabinet.
The Tunbridge Wells MP had chaired the committee since 2019, when he was offered a government role as Levelling Up Secretary following the sacking of Michael Gove in July.
After PM Liz Truss took over at Number 10, Mr Clark was replaced by Stephen Clarke in the Cabinet.
As revealed in the Times last month, nominations to elect a replacement for Mr Clark as Chairman of the Science Committee had to be delayed due to The Queen’s death and nominations were still open when the Tunbridge Wells MP left his Cabinet post last month, allowing him to reapply for his former Committee job.
Yesterday (Tuesday) it was confirmed by the Speaker of the House that Mr Clark had been re-elected as Chairman.
It is understood no other parliamentarians had put their name forward for the role that saw the Tunbridge Wells MP thrust to the front and centre of British politics during the Covid pandemic.
During his previous tenure as chairman, Mr Clark oversaw the publication of a damning report into the government’s handling of the Covid crisis, which the Science and Technology Committee branded ‘one of UK’s worst ever public health failures’.
The role of Chairman will last until the next General Election, thought likely to be in 2024.
