PARLIAMENT will need to find a new head for its sleaze watchdog after Keir Starmer brought Chris Bryant onto his frontbench.
The Labour leader appointed the senior MP, who was in Gordon Brown’s government, as shadow minister for creative industries and digital on Wednesday.
It is understood Bryant is in the process of resigning from his prominent position as chair of the Commons Standards Committee, which scrutinises the behaviour of MPs.
Bryant said he is “delighted” to take on the role, working under shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire and shadow science secretary Peter Kyle, who were both appointed to the top roles at the start of Starmer's reshuffle.
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“Creativity drives the UK’s potential. It creates jobs. It enlivens our imagination. We need to cherish and celebrate it and make it available to all,” Bryant wrote on social media.
Commons rules mean the chairperson of the Standards Committee must come from the Opposition, so Labour will be in charge of finding his replacement.
The MP for Rhondda’s return to the frontbench is another example of Starmer bringing in those with experience from Labour’s last time in government.
In Brown’s administration, Bryant served in the Foreign Office, including as Europe minister, having been deputy Commons leader.
He also spent nine months as shadow Commons leader under Jeremy Corbyn.
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