The All-Party
Parliamentary Group for Events (APPG) has confirmed Martin
Rhodes, Labour MP for Glasgow North as its new chair.
As
well as representing Glasgow North, Martin Rhodes MP serves on several
committees within the House of Commons including the Environmental Audit
Committee, Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill and Space
Industry (Indemnities) Bill. His appointment aims to strengthen the group’s work
to ensure the continued recognition and support of the UK’s events sector
across Parliament and Westminster.
In addition, both James Asser, Labour MP for West Ham and
Beckton and Douglas McAllister, Labour MP for West Dunbartonshire were both
nominated and elected as officers of the group. They will join Jack Rankin,
Conservative MP for Windsor, in driving the direction and decisions of the APPG
for Events alongside the group's chair.
The appointment came at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Wednesday 3 December at Portcullis House, Westminster. The EGM was chaired by Independent Chair Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath. The election was triggered by the resignation of the previous chair, Shaun Davies MP, following his appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Secretary of State for Defence. Under parliamentary rules, Government members cannot chair an APPG.
A
spokesperson for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events said: “We
are delighted to welcome Martin Rhodes MP as chair and both James Asser MP and
Douglas McAllister MP as officers of the Group. All three bring a deep
understanding of the importance of the events sector to the UK’s economy and
communities, and their commitment will be invaluable as we continue to
strengthen the industry’s voice in Parliament.
“We look forward to working with them to ensure that the events
sector receives the recognition and support it deserves for its role in driving
growth, encouraging innovation, and connecting people across the UK and
beyond.”
Discussing his appointment, Martin Rhodes MP said: “I am honoured
to have been elected chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, and
look forward to working with my fellow officers, and my colleagues in
Parliament, to continue to give a voice to our world leading events industry.
“Over the coming weeks, I will be working with the team from The Business of
Events, to update our programme to ensure that going forward, we provide the
level of engagement and support that this sector both needs and deserves.”
PR & Communications agency Davies Tanner, through its The
Business of Events think tank and advocacy network, manages the APPG for Events
and acts as a special advisor to the group.
