Blog Archive
Where is Salford?
Business minister Mark Prisk got a bit of a ribbing from Labour MPs this morning over his grasp of geography.
Thursday 31st March 2011Lords to debate Libya
The House of Lords will turn their attention to the situation in Libya tomorrow.
Thursday 31st March 2011Watson slams new red Budget box
Labour MP Tom Watson has condemned the chancellor's purchase of a new £4,300 red box for the Budget.
Thursday 31st March 2011Kaufman sorry for 'Jews' remark
Labour MP Gerald Kaufman has apologised after making a remark about Jews during a Commons debate yesterday.
Thursday 31st March 2011McCarthy the iPad pioneer
Those hawk-eyed people from the Press Association noticed a significant moment in Commons history last night.
Wednesday 30th March 2011Clegg to face extra questions
Nick Clegg is to face a longer grilling by backbench MPs during his monthly question time session in the Commons.
Wednesday 30th March 2011Wedding bells for Miliband in May
Ed Miliband, the Labour Party leader, is due to marry his long-term partner Justine Thornton in May.
Wednesday 30th March 2011A ringside seat at Thatcher's downfall
Author and journalist Philip Hensher has written about his experiences working as a Commons clerk.
Monday 28th March 2011Lib Dems appoint backbench policy chiefs
The Liberal Democrats have revealed the latest parliamentary party committee co-chairs.
Monday 28th March 2011Tory MP 'not a dinosaur' for opposing Commons tweeting
Conservative James Gray insists he is "not being a dinosaur" by opposing moves to allow wider use of hand-held devices in the Commons.
Monday 28th March 2011Jude Law to perform in Parliament
Hollywood star Jude Law will be in Westminster today to show his support for free expression in Belarus.
Monday 28th March 2011Wesminster shocked by death of MP's husband
Members of Parliament have used Twitter to express their condolences to Sheryl Murray, whose husband has died at sea.
Friday 25th March 2011The noble Lord, Lord Lord
Michael Lord on why he decided against becoming a Lord in the Lords.
Friday 25th March 2011Were ballot boxes ever not 'user friendly'?
This is a foldable ballot box which apparently makes "the insertion of voting slips easier than ever". Was it ever hard?
Thursday 24th March 2011Portugal - our oldest friend
Lots of Portugal-related facts spilled out of MPs today when Mark Hoban came to answer an urgent question.
Thursday 24th March 2011Benn calls for shorter Budget statements
Shorter Budget statements could ensure that justice secretary Ken Clarke keeps his eyes open, the Commons has heard.
Thursday 24th March 2011Jarvis impresses with maiden speech
Dan Jarvis just delivered his maiden speech in the House of Commons, surrounded by Labour MPs.
Wednesday 23rd March 2011Speaker mixes up Tory women
Mr Speaker got in a bit of a muddle at Treasury questions today.
Tuesday 22nd March 2011Vodafone signal raised as point of order
John Spellar posed a novel point of order today.
Tuesday 22nd March 2011Dods to host post-Budget reception
Senior MPs and economic specialists will be speaking at this year's Dods Budget day reception.
Tuesday 22nd March 2011Tory MP among no votes on Libya
Here is a list of MPs who voted against the Commons motion authorising military action to protect civilians in Libya.
Monday 21st March 2011Bookie offers odds on Cable yawning
Ladbrokes has unveiled a range of Budget betting options ahead of the big event on Wednesday.
Monday 21st March 2011Mrs Gove's question time appearance
At education questions this afternoon, Michael Gove was ambushed by Labour frontbencher Kevin Brennan.
Monday 21st March 2011The Cunningham curse strikes again
For the second time in six months Jim Cunningham has asked a question in the Commons, only for ministers to reply that they cannot understand him.
Monday 21st March 2011Legal basis for deployment of UK forces to Libya
The government has published the legal basis for deployment of UK forces and military assets to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya.
Monday 21st March 2011Adonis, Clark, Huhne and the SDP
Big hitters from all three main parties will recall their experiences of the SDP this evening.
Monday 21st March 2011The oldest joke in the world?
Therese Coffey has had a good day - her private member's bill has moved on to the Lords with government and opposition backing.
Friday 18th March 2011The European Security Council?
Military action was not enough to take euro-sceptic Christopher Chope's mind off the insidiousness of the Brussels bureaucrats.
Friday 18th March 2011There's trouble down in Midsomer
We were surprised to see Keith Vaz's name next to an EDM about the long-running ITV drama.
Thursday 17th March 2011Would you like to buy HMS Exeter?
You can pick up a Type 42 destroyer with a few clicks of a mouse.
Thursday 17th March 2011The Axeman of Weaver Vale
Those cheeky monkeys at ITN have added some appropriate music to the classic moment when an MP played some air guitar.
Thursday 17th March 2011Jarvis to make maiden speech
Labour's newest MP will make his maiden speech in the Commons next week.
Thursday 17th March 2011New PPS tweets promotion
A Labour MP has taken to Twitter to tell the world he has been appointed as a PPS.
Wednesday 16th March 2011Have your say on sitting hours
You have the chance to submit your views on the Commons sitting hours to the procedure committee.
Wednesday 16th March 2011PM and DPM celebrate St Pat's Day
David Cameron and Nick Clegg had a very pressing engagement straight after PMQs today.
Wednesday 16th March 2011Party leaders compared to US Presidents
An MP today compared David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband to former US presidents.
Wednesday 16th March 2011Lords blog is three years old
Happy birthday to the fabulous Lords of the Blog, the forum where peers engage with the interweb.
Wednesday 16th March 2011How to charm a select committee
Constitutional expert Michael Pinto-Duschinsky displayed some excellent committee evidence techniques today.
Tuesday 15th March 2011Rosindell, Clinton and the Falklands
Is the United States, the other half of the special relationship, backing Britain over the Falklands?
Tuesday 15th March 2011Hague to visit Brazil
The foreign secretary will be paying a visit to Brazil soon, MPs were told today.
Tuesday 15th March 2011Chuka complains about Clapham Common
Rising Labour star Chuka Ummuna has raised concerns about well-known London green space Clapham Common.
Monday 14th March 2011Brown resigned at a 'constitutionally appropriate time'
Gordon Brown has been praised by the coalition for "putting the public interest above his own personal interest".
Monday 14th March 2011Where are they now?
The House Magazine has an insightful piece this week on the post-Westminster lives of former MPs.
Monday 14th March 2011Zac Goldsmith and Bob Crow back same campaign
A new campaign that advocates for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU has launched.
Monday 14th March 2011Fancy tea with Coffey?
Suffolk Coastal MP and all-round good egg Therese Coffey has put herself up for auction - in aid of Comic Relief.
Friday 11th March 2011Angus' pleasant surprise for Curran
Angus Brendan MacNeil made an eye-catching contribution to yesterday's debate on women and the UN.
Friday 11th March 2011Guido compares lobby to gay hairdressers
Scurrilous blog order-order.com, better known as Guido Fawkes, is very much an outsider voice on the Westminster scene.
Friday 11th March 2011Who are The Forty?
Laura Kuenssberg has written a fascinating article about a new Tory group called The Forty.
Friday 11th March 2011Colonel Bob and the women
Bob Stewart was keen to tell me about his speech on the occasion of international women's day.
Friday 11th March 2011Cabinet committees 'all male'
The Hansard Society has produced some interesting research about how far women have penetrated the top of government.
Thursday 10th March 2011Lib Dems 'living within their means'
Yesterday the Lib Dems admitted the party was running a deficit for the first time in its history.
Thursday 10th March 2011What does Lord Patten watch on TV?
Does Lord Patten, the incoming chairman of the BBC Trust watch much TV? "Yes" he told MPs today,"I do sometimes".
Thursday 10th March 2011Lib Dem turns down Teather
Lib Dem Stephen Gilbert has turned down an offer to be parliamentary private secretary to children’s minister Sarah Teather.
Wednesday 9th March 2011Commons fight over coastguard debate
SNP MP Angus MacNeil was told off by the Speaker today for attacking the backbench business committee.
Wednesday 9th March 2011Save our sausages!
One of the highlights of Dr Daniel Poulter's career so far?
Wednesday 9th March 2011Voice of a generation?
Two of Britain's most prominent political twentysomethings will be on the panel with an old stager at the next Hansard Society event.
Wednesday 9th March 2011Simon Burns praises 'wise owl' Bercow
Despite rumours that moves are afoot to unseat Speaker Bercow, one of his harshest critics surprised many in the Commons today by offering some seemingly warm words.
Tuesday 8th March 2011House of Lords crowned quickest flippers
The House of Lords won the annual the parliamentary pancake race today, as the press team was accused of cheating by MPs.
Tuesday 8th March 2011Communication breakdown
Media coverage of Gordon Brown descended from "criticism, to ridicule, to pity" reflects a former Downing Street spokesman.
Tuesday 8th March 2011Why is Mike Hancock scared of Bob Russell?
Mike Hancock appears to be a pretty fearless individual but one thing, or one man, leaves the colorful Liberal Democrat MP quaking in his boots.
Monday 7th March 2011Tory questions deployment of HMS 'pork sausage'
Perhaps a more culturally sensitive Royal Navy would have dispatched the minesweeper HMS Quorn.
Monday 7th March 2011Giggs attracts support
Man Utd footballer Ryan Giggs is gaining support among MPs.
Monday 7th March 2011Natalie Portman backed by Paisley Jr
We were expecting some sort of EDM on anti-Semitism after last week's John Galliano incident.
Monday 7th March 2011Hogg denied peerage
It was the moat that done it - former Tory MP Douglas Hogg has been rejected for a peerage.
Sunday 6th March 2011Liam Fox and liberation theology
The ConHome/European Azerbaijan Society drinks reception was the hit of the Tory spring forum.
Sunday 6th March 2011