A Kent MP has been handed the job of leading one of the most high-profile scrutiny all-party committees in the Commons.

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, Tom topped the ballot and is the first member of the 2015 or 2017 intake of MPs to have been elected to chair a committee.

He 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.”

Before entering Parliament he was as an army officer, serving on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

However there was less good news for the Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke.

He had put his name forward to share the Commons treasury select committee but the job went to the former education secretary state Nicky Morgan.