Sir Jeremy Quin elected as Defence Committee Chair

Sir Jeremy Quin MP has been elected Chair of the Defence Committee. The results of the election were announced in the Chamber this afternoon following a ballot of the whole House.

Also on the ballot paper was Rehman Chishti.

Jeremy Quin served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence (Minister for Defence Procurement) 2020-2022.  During which period he launched the “Defence and Security Industry Strategy”, his responsibilities also included Defence Science and Technology, the Nuclear Enterprise and the Defence Estate. 

After briefly serving in the Home Office as Minister for Police, Fire and Crime Prevention he was latterly Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, piloting the Procurement Act through Parliament before leaving the Government in November 2023.  

After his first election to the Commons in 2015 he joined the DWP Select Committee and played a leading role in Committee’s joint investigation into the BHS Pension Schemes which led to significant change in regulation.

Chair of the Defence Committee, Sir Jeremy Quin MP, said:  

“I am delighted to have been elected Chair of the Defence Committee and would like to thank my parliamentary colleagues for their support.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and rising tensions in Indo-Pacific have increased global risk. As the world becomes more dangerous and volatile our way of life is increasingly under threat. These are profound challenges we have to be prepared to confront.  As the challenges we face evolve, so must our response. 

“Defence spending must grow to reflect the scale of the threat and the higher levels of geopolitical instability: investing in a Defence industry which must be at the forefront of the accelerating pace of technological development.  

“As Chair of the Defence Committee, I will push for increased funding and resources for Defence and will make the case for first-mover-advantage in our Defence technology, to maintain our competitive edge.  

“Most importantly, I will advocate for the brave men and women that make up our Armed Forces. The Committee will always focus on Defence’s ‘offer’ to Service men and women, to ensure that we hold on to the immense expertise we already have, and enable us recruit the talented personnel we need for the future.”