Florence Eshalomi elected chair of Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Florence Eshalomi has vowed to hold the Government to account on building safety and housebuilding after being elected as Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.

The Labour MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, who has become the first female chair of the committee, replaces Clive Betts, who chaired the committee for 14 years.

MPs cast their votes for the position in a secret ballot on 11 September.

Eshalomi won 437 votes, beating the other candidate, Shaun Davies, by 316 votes.

The London-based MP first joined Parliament in 2019.

Prior to becoming an MP, she was a London Assembly member and a councillor for the London Borough of Lambeth.

Commenting on her appointment, Eshalomi said: "Fixing the housing crisis and ensuring more homes are built are crucial missions for the country and I am sure my Committee will wish to consider our approach to scrutinising the Government's progress in these areas."

She added that building safety, the rights of social housing tenants and private renters, local government finances, adult social care and strengthening communities "are also big issues for this Parliament".

She added: "I hope the Committee will make an impact in holding the Government to account and helping to improve the lives of our constituents and I look forward to working with colleagues, on a cross-party basis, once the Committee is established."

Adam Carey