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Committee publication · Special Report · 20 April 2026 · HC 1829

6th Special Report - Elections within the House of Commons: Government Response

From: Procedure Committee

Inquiry: Elections within the House of Commons

Summary

The Government Response, dated 1 April 2026, addresses the Procedure Committee's Fifth Report on elections within the House of Commons. The Government commits to bringing forward a motion to allow the House to consider draft Rules regulating campaigning during select committee chair elections, and to introduce a Standing Order change on Backbench Business Committee elections before the end of the session.

Key findings

  • Government will bring forward a motion to allow the House to consider draft Rules for regulating campaigning during select committee chair elections as set out in the Committee's report
  • Government will introduce a Standing Order change regarding election of the Backbench Business Committee before the end of the session
  • Government notes that the majority of the Committee's recommendations are matters for House Authorities rather than Government

Government position

The Government partially accepts the Committee's recommendations by committing to procedural actions on two key areas: regulating select committee chair election campaigning and reforming Backbench Business Committee elections. However, it defers most recommendations to House Authorities, indicating a limited scope of direct government engagement with the Committee's broader findings.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

parliamentary-procedurehouse-electionsselect-committeesstanding-orders

Key actors

Procedure Committee, Sir Alan Campbell MP, Cat Smith, House of Commons, Backbench Business Committee

Notable line

“… the Government will bring forward a motion to allow the House to consider the draft Rules as set out in your report.”

Key Quotes

“Whilst the majority of the recommendations made by your Committee are matters for the House Authorities, I am writing to address those directed at the Government.”
— Sir Alan Campbell MP · Clarifying scope of Government response
“… the Government will bring forward a motion to allow the House to consider the draft Rules as set out in your report.”
— Sir Alan Campbell MP · On regulation of select committee chair election campaigning
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗