Why MPs face the parliamentary X-factor
For the first time ever, backbench MPs - rather than the government - can decide who they want to run the powerful parliamentary committees that scrunitise the big departments of state. And some familiar political names from the East Midlands are in the running in this very exclusive election.
Charnwood's Steven Dorrell, a former health secretary in John Major's government, wants to become chairman of the health select committee. Under the new rules of this parliament, this is no shoe-in.
Stephen Dorrell faces a challenge for this influential role from two other Conservatives; Sir Paul Beresford and Wellingborough's Peter Bone. It will be up to all MPs to decide in a secret ballot.
Leicester East's Keith Vaz hopes retain his chairmanship of the home affairs committee. But he too faces an election challenge; this is from the former Labour cabinet minister Alun Michael.
So the candidates have been out and around in the canteens and bars of parliament to win support. They've also been attempting to catch the eye of the Speaker of the Commons to take part in debates; infact, anything to raise their profile.
From the floor of the House of Commons, here's a flavour of how to butter up support from political rivals from Keith Vaz, in an exchange with the new Foreign Secretary William Hague.
"I am most grateful to the Foreign Secretary; I am actually going to be very nice to him. I congratulate him on his appointment and remind him that I gave him his first job in the Commons, as secretary of the all-party footwear and leather industries group!"
There are other East Midland contenders hoping to win over the votes of MPs. Newark's Patrick Mercer faces an election battle to secure the chairmanship of the defence committee. There are three other candidates.
Nottingham North's Graham Allen is being tipped as the front runner to become chairman of the political and constituitional reform committee.
MPs have until five o'clock today to vote. We'll know the outcome when the Speaker John Bercow announces the winners tomorrow.
Hello. My name is John Hess. I'm the BBC's Political Editor for the East Midlands and this blog will offer my musings on the political scene from Westminster to closer to home. 
