The 1832 Blog
News and insight from our team in Parliament
PM to be quizzed on Big Society
Friday 28th October 2011 at 15:08The prime minister is to be quizzed by a group of senior MPs on the topic 'Big Society or Broken Society' on November 8.
Appearing before the House of Commons liaison committee, David Cameron will answer questions for 90 minutes on the theme of the government’s flagship agenda.
It will be the third and final meeting of the committee, made up of the chairmen of the Commons committees which scrutinise government policy, to be held this year.
This year has seen a change in approach for the committee, having shifted from three hour hearings with the PM held bi-annually.
The committee meets at 4pm in the Grimond Room, Portcullis House; it will be open to journalists with parliamentary and other passholders.
Poppies 'can be worn from today'
Thursday 27th October 2011 at 14:23
The defence secretary has written to ministers which advice about when to wear poppies.
There has been some confusion among MPs about when they should start to wear the iconic symbols of remembrance.
One member was spotted wearing a poppy as early as last week - traditionalist Tories such as Bob Stewart insist they should not be worn before November.
Collection boxes and poppies for sale have appeared across the estate since Monday, ahead of today's official launch of the Royal British Legion’s campaign.
The Spectator's Coffee House blog reveals that Philip Hammond sent a note to ministers informing them that "while there was no definitive view on when it was appropriate to start wearing one, that Thursday from noon would be a good time as that would coincide with the launch".
The RBL has announced a £40 million fundraising goal for 2011 in its most ambitious campaign ever.
To mark its 90th anniversary year, the Legion launched its Poppy Appeal under the slogan of standing "shoulder to shoulder with all who serve."
The theme is backed by an online campaign and a chart-destined official single recorded by Robin Gibb and The Soldiers.
Tempers frayed after union debate
Thursday 27th October 2011 at 12:36Tory MP Aidan Burley managed to incense the Labour benches last night during his adjournment debate on public funding for trade union officials.
There was an impressive turnout for an adjournment debate - at times there were more than 40 members in the chamber.
Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop told him the government needs unions on side "to deal with the vast amounts of people and to keep the costs of human resources down".
"Adjournment debates such as this provoke poor industrial relations," he added.
Burley was barracked - leading the deputy Speaker Dawn Primarolo to remind MPs:
"This adjournment debate is being televised. The behaviour of members does not always reflect well on them. The honourable member who has secured this adjournment debate is entitled to be heard."
After the House had adjourned and the Mace had been lifted, there was a "full and frank exchange of views" between Burley and some Labour MPs.
One Tory colleague was worried it would become physical.
"They were squaring up, I thought there might be a fight," he said.
In the end no fists were flying, but the debate and the confrontation afterwards were a reminder of the passions raised on both sides by the trade unions.
Tesco criticised over riot claims
Wednesday 26th October 2011 at 13:11
An early day motion tabled by Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd criticises supermarket giant Tesco for claiming compensation for August’s riots.
Lloyd’s EDM "notes the different responses of different retailers following the recent public disorder in Manchester; applauds the decision of Sainsbury's to refuse to claim under the (Riot Damages) Act because it did not want to place an extra financial and administrative burden on the police; and contrasts this with the position of Tesco which submitted more than 20 claims for compensation including one for £40, which has now been withdrawn".
Blair's links to Gaddafi worry MPs
Wednesday 26th October 2011 at 13:05
Labour, Lib Dem, Plaid and DUP MPs have added their names to an early day motion calling for "a full independent inquiry into Mr Tony Blair’s financial engagement with the late Colonel Gaddafi".
The EDM was tabled by Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski on October 21.
Since then Jeremy Corbyn, Peter Bottomley, Jim Shannon, Elfyd Llwyd, David Tredinnick and Mike Hancock have added their names.
Kawczynski wrote a biography of the late Libyan dictator last year, entitled Seeking Gaddafi.
The Daily Telegraphnoted that Kawczynski "appears to have had no direct access to Muammar Gaddafi or his ministers" when writing the book.
"It is also extraordinary that a book of this type should contain no maps," said book reviewer Simon Scott Plummer.
