Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat has been elected chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select committee.

The role of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee is to scrutinise the work of the government and ensure that views of MPs are reflected in government policy.

In a vote of MPs from all political parties, Mr Tugendhat came out on top in a ballot and is the first member of the 2015 or 2017 intake of MPs to have been elected to chair a committee.

Mr Tugendhat said: “I am honoured to have been elected to this important post, scrutinising the Government to ensure our foreign policy works.

“This will enable me to champion the views expressed in Parliament, especially those of our community.

“I will continue to fight for the important issues which need resolving locally.”

Mr Tugendhat MBE MP was elected to the represent Tonbridge and Malling in May 2015 and is a former army officer serving on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He then became military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

Since 2017, Mr Tugendhat has been the Chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee.