The recent session of the Home Affairs Select Committee, chaired by Karen Bradley, revealed a striking departure from the rigorous interrogation that characterised Yvette Cooper's tenure as chair between 2016 and 2021. Notably, Cooper, now the Home Secretary, faced a committee evidently less willing to challenge her authority, leading to an insipid performance that many stakeholders in Westminster might find concerning.

When Cooper previously led the committee, she was a relentless critic of home secretaries, demonstrating a distinctive ability to hold them to account. Her engagements with Amber Rudd, Sajid Javid, and Priti Patel were fraught with tension, as she navigated through their policies with a surgical precision that left no room for complacency. In contrast, the current committee, largely populated by Labour MPs from the 2024 intake, seemed reluctant to assert any similar level of scrutiny over Cooper, transforming what should have been a robust examination into a mere exercise in politeness. Critics might argue that this reluctance stems from an overarching loyalty to party leadership, raising questions about the committee's effectiveness in providing necessary oversight.

The session's atmosphere appeared almost congenial, underlined by moments that suggested more of a love-in than a critical inquiry. New MP Jake Richards, whose sister advises Cooper, and the other Labour MPs participated in what seemed a collection of soft questions, avoiding politically charged issues such as the government’s handling of small boat crossings—one of the most contentious topics currently dominating the national conversation. Cooper appeared at ease, engaging with her fellow committee members in a manner more reminiscent of a friendly conversation than a challenging debate.

This shift in dynamics may reflect a broader strategy within the Labour Party, as MPs are possibly cautious not to alienate the leadership or appear overly antagonistic. Karen Bradley’s leadership style has been described as gentle and unassuming, which could explain her failure to instigate a more rigorous line of questioning. Her background, which includes a stint as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, does not seem to have prepared her for the more combative nature of home affairs discussions.

Despite the committee's apparent shortcomings, there were fleeting moments of seriousness, such as the discussion surrounding an alarming incident involving Paul Doyle's alleged reckless driving into a crowd at a parade in Liverpool. However, even this topic did not lead to robust debate, as much of the session veered back towards local policing matters that lacked relevance to national concerns.

The session culminated in a somewhat farcical end, with discussions surrounding accommodation for migrants bypassed, and Cooper managing to dodge any extensive scrutiny of her department's failures. In what was described as a bravura performance, she effectively 'ran down the clock', avoiding hard questions while keeping the energy of the discussion rolling.

Meanwhile, external political dynamics continue to unfold, with Conservative leader Bob Seeley engaging in what has been termed a protracted and largely personality-driven leadership campaign. His recent remarks around migrant accommodation, which some might view as incendiary, starkly contrast with the genteel atmosphere of Cooper's committee meeting. This inconsistency in political engagement illustrates the diverse and often conflicting approaches being adopted across the benches in Parliament.

As Cooper settles into her role, the question remains whether this committee structure can evolve to fulfil its critical oversight function. Without a pivot back to the scrutiny that defined Cooper’s earlier days leading the committee, the risk is that vital government accountability continues to be sacrificed for the sake of party camaraderie.

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Source: Noah Wire Services