MALDON’S MP John Whittingdale has been appointed to a new committee set to scrutinise the Government’s Brexit strategy.

Mr Whittingdale, who was a prominent Brexit campaigner, will be joined by fellow Vote Leave MPs including Michael Gove and Dominic Rabb.

The new 21-member select committee will be chaired by former Labour cabinet minister and Remain supporter Hilary Benn.

The committee will hold ministers and other figures to account over how Britain leaves the EU.

Mr Whittingdale told the Standard: “Having chaired a select committee in the past for ten years I have seen how much more important and influential they have become in the process of scrutinising the Government.

“Brexit I think is the biggest task and challenge facing parliament for probably the next two years. Almost every area of policy will be affected by it.

“It is important we get Brexit right and negotiate the best deal we can from the European Union.”

Mr Whittingdale said the biggest issues were taking back control of immigration policy, no longer being bound by EU rules and no longer having to contribute money from the budget.

He added: “Having taken a role in the Brexit campaign I was duty bound to follow it through and get involved in the process and make Brexit work.”