Local MP Jesse Norman has thrown his hat into the ring for Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

The Committee's purpose is to examine Government spending, policy and performance in the areas of culture, media and sport, including fast broadband roll-out and the regulation of football and other sports. The election for Chair will be on June 10th, and all MPs, across the House of Commons, can vote in them.

Jesse’s move follows five years on the Treasury Committee, in which he led high-profile campaigns on issues including the Private Finance Initiative, the Co-op Bank and the accountability of the Bank of England.

At the same time, the MP has long had a deep interest in culture, the arts and sport. Among other things, he is a director of the Hay Festival and Patron of the Music Pool, plays from time to time in several local bands, and is a season ticket holder at Hereford FC.

Commenting on the announcement, Jesse said “I led debates in the last Parliament on the need for better rural broadband and mobile communications, and these issues directly or indirectly affect every single one of my constituents, as well as our local economy.

“But the lamentable performance of the FA and the Southern League over Hereford United last year also rammed home to me how important it is to have better policy and regulation in relation to sports.

“If elected I will try to make a difference on these key issues. But I would also hope to bring an added degree of calm, rigorous and independent scrutiny to all the Committee’s work.”