Rebelling White dropped from social value role - The Leamington Observer

Rebelling White dropped from social value role

Leamington Editorial 22nd Apr, 2014 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

CHRIS White MP has been dropped as the government ambassador of his own bill for rebelling in Parliament.

It emerged this week the Warwick and Leamington MP was asked to resign as Social Value Ambassador last October having been appointed to the post just four months earlier.

The decision followed three separate rebellions by Mr White over military intervention in Syria, the controversial ‘gagging’ bill and legislation which paves the way for HS2.

Asked if he regretted voting against the Government on these issues, the Tory MP said “not for a fraction of a second.”




Speaking to the Observer, he said: “The way things work in government is if you vote against the government – which I did on Syria, the ‘gagging’ law and HS2 – then at some point they will say you can’t keep your position.

“I was given the opportunity to resign and resign I did, which was very sad.


“But this doesn’t stop me going round the country and continuing to talk about issues surrounding social value.

“Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions but my country comes first and so too do my constituents.”

While in the role Mr White had been promoting the Public Services (Social Value) Act around the country to ensure its principles were implemented across the public sector

The Act – which he introduced to Parliament as a Private Members Bill in 2010 – asks public bodies to consider how they can create environmental, social and economic well-being through the way they commission public services.

For example, with Meals on Wheel, just commissioning the service produces social value but if a voluntary organisation is picked, which provides companionship as well as meals to those who receive the service, then additional social value is created.

Earlier this month Mr White made a conference speech about social value and the MP says he will continue to promote the principles of his Act.

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