Tory MP Jesse Norman, a former member of the Treasury committee in the last parliament, has been named as the new chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee.
Norman, a last-minute entrant in the five-man ballot to succeed John Whittingdale, is a director of the Hay Festival and a trustee of London performing arts space the Roundhouse, which was founded by his father.
Norman is known for having a combative relationship with the Conservative leadership, and was sacked from a job on the No 10 policy board after rebelling over the government’s plans for military action in Syria.
As well as the key issues common to other nominees, such as the BBC charter and licence fee, press freedom, broadband and football governance, Norman also said the committee should look at mobile services and that it is “important to look at the case for fairer local arts and broadcast media funding”.
Norman describes his vision for the culture committee as energetic, focused, but collegial, unified, authoritative and cross-party.
Norman said that he “took a lead” on key DCMS issues in the last parliament, including opening backbench debates on non-league and grassroots football, rural broadband and poor mobile phone coverage.
He said that he “made the case” for the arts and culture, for better football regulation and better broadband in “numerous articles and broadcasts in the national media”.
Norman has also written a well-received biography called Edmund Burke: Philosopher, Politician, Prophet.
He also describes himself as a keen musician, having taught himself to read music and play the trumpet in his 40s; he plays in the cross-party parliamentary jazz band as well as local bands in his constituency of Hereford and South Herefordshire.
He holds a season ticket at Hereford FC, and is vice president of Westfields Football Club.
There were five Tory MPs in the running for the role: Damian Green, Damian Collins, Jason McCartney and Graham Stuart.
