Govt accused of "sinister power grab" after committees vote

The Liberal Democrats have accused Theresa May of a "sinister power grab," after the Conservatives won a vote to give themselves a majority on powerful parliamentary committees. The controversial change will give the government the means to force through legislation, including on Brexit. A Liberal Democrat amendment was defeated, with the government winning with a majority of 20. Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael commented: "This is a sinister power grab by an increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister. "The Tories didn't win a majority at the election, but are now hijacking parliament to try and impose their extreme Brexit on the country. "It is a bitter irony that Brexiteers who spent their careers championing parliamentary sovereignty have now chosen to sell it down the river. "This wilful eroding of parliament's ability to scrutinise legislation sets a deeply worrying precedent. "It is now incumbent on all MPs to work together to hold this government to account."