Stand up and be countedEven in a democracy. Even with a change of Government. Even when your Coalition partner has to be listened to – there is still room for people to be told to toe the line. This is where the Select Committee of the House of Commons comes into its own.
It was the Treasury Select Committee that put Sir Fred Goodwin on the spot and cross-questioned the Governor of the B of E about quantitative easing and the like. Now this wonderfully maverick body has a new head in Andrew Tyrie. He was once chief economist at the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and an economic adviser to John Major.
First in the griller will be the new Chancellor. He will be questioned on the doubted independence of the Office for Budget Responsibility (whose chairman Sir Alan Budd no sooner got his feet under the table than he resigned), on the content of the budget itself and on the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.
I like the idea of this cross-party examination panel that seemingly has no-one but itself to answer to. We will monitor progress and feel the squirms.
JGS - 15th July 010
