One of Labour’s new Jewish MPs has thrown his hat into the ring for the election to the chairmanship of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee.

David Pinto-Duschinsky, the new MP for Hendon who was elected in July with the smallest Parliamentary majority, of just 15 votes, confirmed he would be seeking the key scrutineering role.

The son of a Holocaust survivor and former adviser to the late Labour chancellor Alistair Darling told the JC: "The Department of Work and Pensions does vital work. I'm running as Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee to help ensure DWP delivers for the millions of people who rely on it. I have the right policy knowledge, delivery experience and inclusive approach to ensure the Committee exercises effective and constructive scrutiny at a time of significant change.

“I helped lead the work of the Treasury and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit on poverty, jobs, benefits and disability. I also have over 20 years’ experience of scrutinising, challenging and advising on performance improvement, delivery and change. I’m passionate about the work of the Committee, have support across the House and am determined to work across party lines to exercise effective oversight and help change lives for the better."

In the last Parliament, the Work and Pensions Select Committee was chaired by Labour’s Stephen Timms MP who has since been appointed as Minister for Social Security and Disability.

Select committees are one of Parliament’s main tools for holding government to account. They exist in both the House of Commons and Lords and scrutinise the work of government departments and ministers.

Chairs for the House of Commons committees are elected by a secret ballot of all MPs.

The period of nominations for MPs wishing to stand for committee chairmanships will run until from Monday September 9, with the ballot scheduled for Wednesday September 11.

Chairmanships of select committees are divided between political parties: parties are allocated select committee chairmanships depending on the seats they won at the general elections. Labour has chairmanship of 18 committees, the Conservatives five and the Liberal Democrats three.

This means that MPs of all parties have to vote for a candidate even if they are not from their own party. 

David Pinto-Duschinsky was one of seven new Jewish Labour MPs elected into Parliament in July as part of Labour’s landslide victory.