Streatham’s MP elected to Treasury Select Committee
Chuka Umunna, Member of Parliament for Streatham, has been elected by his colleagues to serve on the Treasury Select Committee.
For the first time, Select Committee members have been chosen by election rather than appointment following reforms to the system. Mr Umunna, who is the youngest Member of Parliament in London, was selected by colleagues in the Parliamentary Labour Party to fill one of its allocation of five places on the committee.
Before his election to Parliament last month, Mr Umunna practiced as an employment lawyer and has worked extensively in the City acting both for and against investment banks. Later in his career Mr Umunna switched to acting for employees fighting unfair dismissal and discrimination.
Last week, Mr Umunna criticised the Lib Dem Tory coalition in the House for abolishing the Future Jobs Fund before it has been properly evaluated, and asked Chancellor George Osborne what arrangements he is making to reform credit rating agencies.
Commenting, Mr Umunna said: “I am delighted to have been chosen by my colleagues to serve on the Treasury Select Committee.
“Much of the blame for the global economic downturn can be placed at the door of the financial services sector. The financial catastrophe led to the bail out and a situation where hard-working people were left to pick up the tab for a crisis that was not of their making.
“My primary aim on the Treasury Select Committee will be to ensure that this never happens again and that the government’s economic policies are subject to intense and forensic cross-examination.”
