AN SNP MP has jibed in the House of Commons that Tory peer Michelle Mone is more able to scrutinise Foreign Secretary David Cameron than MPs.
Cameron, who is now Foreign Secretary after being made a Lord by Rishi Sunak, is held accountable by the House of Lords rather than the House of Commons.
This means MPs cannot question Cameron on matters related to the Foreign Office, with Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell deputising for him in the Commons.
In a session of topical questions, SNP MP David Linden challenged deputy PM Oliver Dowden over the arrangements.
"Does the deputy prime minister think it's acceptable that Baroness Michelle Mone has more ability to scrutinise the Foreign Secretary than the members of this house?" he asked.
David Linden(SNP MP): Does he(Dowden) think it's acceptable that Michelle Mone has more ability to scrutinise the Foreign Secretary(David Cameron) than members of this House? pic.twitter.com/b55CKinsV3
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) November 23, 2023
Michelle Mone is a Conservative life peer in the House of Lords and was awarded her peerage by the then-prime minister David Cameron in 2015.
The Conservative peer and her children reportedly received £29 million originating from the profits of a PPE business which was awarded large government contracts after she recommended it to ministers.
In his new role, Cameron will answer questions from peers monthly in the House of Lords.
Responding to Linden's topical question, Dowden replied: "I would refer the honourable gentleman to my previous answers.
"It's a very well-established principle, indeed it happened I believe when the Lord Mandelson sat in the last Labour cabinet.
"Ministers can serve from the other place. However, the Government recognises, and indeed my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary recognises, the desire of this House to scrutinise him and he is committed to further measures to ensure that happens."
Cameron has not been an MP since 2016.
