So. Farewell then. Tobias Ellwood. For more than three years, the Bournemouth East has run the Defence Select Committee with the tact of Alan Partridge and the foresight of Michael Fish. But today his luck finally ran out after committing a gaffe too far. Ellwood’s now-infamous Taliban video proved too much even for some of his fellow long-suffering Tories on the panel.
Mr S first broke the news back in July that Ellwood’s colleagues joined forces with Labour MPs to table an unprecedented motion of no confidence. And this afternoon the former minister finally fell upon his sword, resigning rather than facing the ignominy of being the first elected select committee chair ever to be defeated in such a vote. Ellwood is expected to shortly write to the Speaker, triggering a formal contest to replace him. A perfect opening for a Tory big beast keen to hold the government’s feet to the fire on Ukraine and defence cuts…
‘As one former minister put it to Mr S: ‘Perhaps now we can understand Mr El-wood’s admiration for the Taliban.
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