Unelected Foreign Secretary David Cameron 'must face MPs' questions on Gaza'

04 December 2023 , 21:00

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As Lord Cameron is not an elected MP, he answers questions from peers in the House of Lords

An MP with Palestinian heritage has said it is “deeply unsatisfactory” that David Cameron can’t be scrutinised on the Israel-Gaza conflict by MPs.

Lib Dem Layla Moran said the means for holding the new Foreign Secretary to account are “woefully lacking”. As Lord Cameron is not an elected MP, he answers questions from peers in the unelected House of Lords, not in the Commons.

Ms Moran tonight wrote to Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt urging her “to ensure that Cameron is answerable to the Commons” ahead of questions in the Lords tomorrow.

She wrote: “At the current moment, with the Israel-Gaza conflict, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and many more global crises, the idea that MPs should not be able to question the Foreign Secretary is clearly deeply unsatisfactory. As Leader of the House, it is vital that you ensure arrangements are made so that the Foreign Secretary can be scrutinised by MPs.”

Layla Moran said Lord Cameron needs to be held to account by elected MPs (BBC)

The Foreign Secretary was today asked to make a statement in the Commons on the humanitarian situation in Gaza but Minister Leo Docherty had to stand in his place.

Israel admits ‘serious failures’ over deadly strike but insists aid workers were mistaken for Hamas

Ms Moran said there were other “clear and urgent questions” for Lord Cameron to address, including serious concerns around a “lack of transparency over his financial interests and lobbying work in the past”. She said questions include whether he’ll be publishing a full list of ministerial interests and about his relationship with the Chinese Investment Corporation. Ms Moran said Lord Cameron also needs to clarify what he will do if he is asked to be a witness in a fraud investigation connected to Greensill Capital.

“MPs should without doubt have the opportunity to question the new Foreign Secretary, and as a Cabinet Minister, Cameron needs to be accountable to the Commons, even if he is unelected,” she said. “It’s clear to see that Sunak’s appointment of Cameron is a desperate attempt to sort out his party that is falling apart in front of our very eyes. This is not a Government that is fit for purpose.”

Sophie Huskisson