Blog Archive

Experts address policy highlights of 2010

Over the past week ePolitix.com has hosted a number of exclusive articles highlighting the campaign, event and legislative successes of our Members in 2010, and promoting their ambitions for the New Year.

Goldsmith cleared over election spending

Zac Goldsmith learned today that he will face no further legal action over allegations about his election spending.

Select committees publish early Xmas gifts

Despite the Commons rising for the Christmas break, there are three select committee reports released today.

Panto 'homophobia' raised with PM

The prime minister has been asked about his chancellor's handling of a question from a gay MP.

Three Lords a seating

Long-serving Conservative MP Sir Patrick Cormack has been introduced as a new member of the House of Lords.

Panto jibes at Treasury questions

Chris Bryant called on George Osborne to act like Prince Charming over cuts.

Speaker clashes with Gove

Michael Gove has fallen foul of the Speaker at education questions.

Packed Xmas schedule for MPs

The House rises tomorrow for the Christmas break, but today it is all hands to the pump.

Nigel comes out as gay

Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans has come out as a gay man.

Ainsworth denounces 'McBride's anonymous briefings'

If you think the former defence secretary has lost his willingness for a fight, then think again.

Video documents MYPs big day

Check out this video charting the UK Youth Parliament's session in the Commons chamber.

Romford's dog champ wants more chips

Another week, another dog-related EDM from Andrew Rosindell.

MP in denim scandalises Docherty

Thomas Docherty has raised an unusual point of order with Dawn Primarolo.

MP speaks up for Caborn

A Labour MP has complained that his former colleague Richard Caborn has been subject to rough justice.

'I was a teenage communist'

Sam Macrory's insightful interview with Lord Young in this week's edition of The House Magazine has been picked up by the Daily Telegraph.

Peter Bone confused over Ireland

Tory MP Peter Bone has just asked why the bill being debated is not called Loans to the Republic of Ireland.

MP says no to 'Stratford Hotspur'

A Labour MP has called on David Cameron to support a campaign to stop Tottenham Hotspur's plans to relocate to the Olympic stadium in east London.

MP tells voter to get a life

Bob Russell has told a voter to "get a life and stop whinging".

Osborne explains urgency of loan bill

The chancellor of the exchequer has explained why the government plans to push through legislation authorising a loan to Ireland.

Bone condemns guillotine motion

Peter Bone has bitterly complained about the way in which legislation is scrutinised.

MPs pay tribute to Richard Holbrooke

The foreign secretary has led tributes in the Commons to distinguished US diplomat Richard Holbrooke, who died yesterday.

Carry On North Korea

Commons wag Stephen Pound revealed yet another thing we did not know about his constituency at Foreign Office questions today.

Colin Firth dumps Lib Dems

Colin Firth has admitted he no longer supports the Liberal Democrats in the wake of the tuition fees vote.

No protest camp for Wills 'n Kate

The Royal wedding will not be spoiled by the so-called "protest camp" inhabiting the margins of Parliament Square.

Have you seen a silver dolphin?

You may have noticed various Conservatives about the place wearing a small, silver dolphin pin on their lapel.

MPs lay into Cenotaph Charlie

Charlie Gilmour, the gilded youth photographed hanging off the Cenotaph during last week's student protests, has been assailed by MPs.

Tapsell and the art of being right

Commons grandee Sir Peter Tapsell was on his usual pithy form at defence questions this afternoon.

Commons to hear three statements

After an hour of defence questions, MPs will hear a statement from Theresa May on public order policing.

Liverpool MPs remember Lennon

Labour, Tory and Lib Dem MPs have signed an early day motion marking the 30th anniversary of the death of John Lennon.

How to sell the coalition

This week's farcical political manoeuvrings over the tuition fees vote have exposed the underlying contradiction at the heart of how Nick Clegg sells the coalition.

Youths take over House of Lords

More than 200 young people from schools and colleges across England and Wales are taking part in a debate in the Lords chamber.

Press gallery election results

The Evening Standard's Joe Murphy has topped the poll in the election for the 2011 press gallery committee.

Rosindell's dog warning

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell is well-known for his love of all things canine.

Police officers injured at tuition protest

12 police and 43 protesters have been injured in violent scenes in Parliament Square and around central London.12 officers and 43 protesters have been injured, while 22 arrests were made.

When Osborne voted against lifting the cap on tuition fees

For any Liberal Democrats still agonising over which way to vote, George Osborne has a warning from history.

Chancellor lays on the jokes

The chancellor has spoken at a lobby lunch today, where he poked fun at reports of Russian spies in Parliament.

MP congratulates Corrie on 50th anniversary

An MP has called on Parliament to congratulate the cast of Coronation Street, television's longest running soap opera, on reaching its half a century on the small screen.

Speaker admits he is wrong

Mr Speaker admitted to MPs a few minutes ago that he was wrong.

Plaid pride at award for Elfyn

Welsh nationalist MP Elfyn Llwyd has been honoured for his campaigning on behalf of veterans.

Have you been a good MP this year?

Keith Vaz has revealed who will play Santa Claus at the annual children's Christmas party at the Commons.

Baroness Goudie off the hook

A senior Labour peer has been partially cleared by the Lords standards and privileges committee over her expenses claims.

Did Cameron misrepresent Labour?

Shadow education secretary Andy Burnham has called on the prime minister to apologise.

Cooper squares up to Hague

Yvette Cooper has been settling in as shadow foreign secretary.

Who will guard the herbalists?

Tory MP David Tredinnick is known for his strong views on alternative medicine.

Has the chief whip said sorry?

Spare a thought for poor Clive Efford, the self-styled "shy and retiring" Labour MP for Eltham.

Speaker clashes with Simon Burns

Relations between health minister Simon Burns and Mr Speaker have never been good.

Don't blame us, blame the civil servants

A pair of transport ministers have spent an hour justifying their day jobs to the public adminstration committee.

Speaker lifts Woolas resolution

Mr Speaker has told MPs that that his sub judice resolution no longer applies to the Woolas case.

Nick turns the Commons blue

An unfortunate moment today for the well-liked police minister Nick Herbert.

Will the real Mike Crockart please stand up?

Nick Clegg's tuition fee troubles appeared to deepen this morning when a junior member of the government indicated he would resign in order to vote against the rise...or did he?

Chaos in Lib Dem ranks as vote on tuition fees creates party split

Succeeding the PM: Patrick Jenkin

Sam Macrory asks Patrick Jenkin what it was like to follow in the footsteps of Winston Churchill.

Double jobs for the boys

Four Sinn Fein MPs are to stand in next year's Northern Ireland Assembly elections.

Does the Speaker sound like Stewie?

Brooks Newmark confided to his Twitter followers recently that the Speaker resembles fictional baby Stewie Griffin.

Meet the director of sensation

It is a title to rival anything Lord Mandelson acquired.

Shut that door!

The late, much-loved Larry Grayson would have approved.

New gay group 'will provide support network'

ParliOut, a workplace equality network for lesbian, gay, bisexal and trans staff, has been created.

Backbench committee to try new debate format

The backbench business committee has decided to trial a "different format" in the last debate before the Xmas holidays.

Pound is first to raise World Cup defeat

Shadow Northern Ireland minister and fanatical Fulham FC fan Stephen Pound became the first to break the news.

Gerry Adams up for beard award

Belfast West MP Gerry Adams is among the nominees for Parliamentary Beard Award 2010.

MP presses penguin welfare in Parliament

Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson has raised concerns about animal welfare, following Hamley's plans to bring real penguins and reindeer into its store as part of a Christmas promotion.

Blunkett's dog is paying attention

The backbench debate on Ipsa got off to an amusing start today.

David Cameron a football fan? Not according to David Cameron.

England discover this afternoon whether they have secured the 2018 World Cup, following a slick presentation from the bid team that included the prime minister.

MPs cannot hear the bells

Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt has complained that she cannot hear the division bells in certain parts of the parliamentary estate.

City status for Ballymena?

The government announced a competition to create a new city to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee today.