Blog Archive
No Speaker's coach at Royal Wedding
The 300-year-old Speaker's State Coach has been handed to the National Trust by Speaker Bercow.
Saturday 5th March 2011The pig breakfast
Richard Bacon is known as a supporter of the farming industry.
Friday 4th March 2011Harriet and the 'duped' Lib Dems
Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman was on bullish form at yesterday's lobby lunch.
Friday 4th March 2011Hunt learns not to trust the media
Labour MPs were left fuming today by Jeremy Hunt's announcement that he will allow Rupert Murdoch to expand his empire to take control of BskyB.
Thursday 3rd March 2011Female peers to make maiden speeches
Five new members of the House of Lords will make their maiden speeches today.
Thursday 3rd March 2011Research on the agenda
Academic research in the UK was on the agenda at a Dods event earlier today.
Wednesday 2nd March 2011Birtwistle takes on Labour's old-school double act
With David Cameron and Ed Miliband providing a less than vintage exchange at PMQs, the spat of the day took place further down the green benches.
Wednesday 2nd March 2011Principal doorkeeper retires
Graham Dear retires as principal doorkeeper tomorrow, after 22 years service to the House.
Wednesday 2nd March 2011Bring out your daffs
The Taffia have been out in force at Westminster today, what with it being St David's Day.
Tuesday 1st March 2011You know when you've been Clegged
Harriet Harman may have been spending some time on the Urban Dictionary website.
Tuesday 1st March 2011You can't sit there
We have all done the tour and therefore know the strict rule about the Commons - only MPs may place their bottoms on the green benches.
Tuesday 1st March 2011Down memory lane
We came across this clip on YouTube the other day - it is notable not only for an embarrassing moment for Tory MP Tony Marlow.
Tuesday 1st March 2011SNP calls for transparent military base review
Angus Robertson MP will today call on ministers to explain the military rationale as to why Scotland is suffering disproportionate defence cuts.
Tuesday 1st March 2011Speaker takes time over point of order
Jeremy Corbyn has raised a matter with the Speaker that will need further consideration.
Monday 28th February 2011Gadaffi book's Commons appearance
Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski's biography of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi won praise for its insight as well as its timing.
Monday 28th February 2011Dydd Gwyl Dewi Dedwydd!
The Welsh at Westminster will be celebrating St David's Day tomorrow.
Monday 28th February 2011Lobbying register published tomorrow
The UK Public Affairs Council (UKPAC) register of lobbyists is due for publication tomorrow.
Monday 28th February 2011Lord Lexden recalls workshy Herbert and 'overlord' Lansley
Police minister Nick Herbert "didn’t do a great deal of work" when he was at the Conservative Research Department, says its former deputy director.
Monday 28th February 2011Osborne's budget is March highlight
Chancellor George Osborne will present his second Budget to the Commons on March 23.
Friday 25th February 2011Bottomley tops APPG membership list
A veteran Tory is a member of 151 all-party parliamentary groups, the highest number among members of Parliament.
Friday 25th February 2011Nick Clegg the hip-hop musical
The "rise and fall" of the deputy prime minister is to be charted in a musical this summer.
Thursday 24th February 2011Should MPs be teetotal for a week?
Denis MacShane won't have won any friends Westminster with his suggestion that Parliament stop serving beer for a week in March.
Thursday 24th February 2011Ex-MP declared bankrupt
Disgraced former MP Jim Devine has been declared bankrupt after a court heard he was unable to afford to pay compensation due a former employee.
Wednesday 23rd February 2011Peer's expenses suspension expires today
A Labour donor has been readmitted to the House of Lords following a four month suspension for abuse of his expenses.
Monday 21st February 2011Larry makes House Mag debut
Downing St's newest resident has already made it into The House Magazine.
Monday 21st February 2011Pub EDM still most popular
A motion calling on the government to secure the future of community pubs is the most-signed EDM.
Monday 21st February 2011Aaron Porter will not seek second term
The president of the National Union of Students has announced he will not stand for re-election in April.
Monday 21st February 2011Expenses peer readmitted to Lords
A Labour donor has been readmitted to the House of Lords following a four month suspension for abuse of his expenses.
Monday 21st February 2011What is the forestry minister shaking his head at?
There was an intriguing moment during Caroline Spelman’s statement on the u-turn on the forestry sell-off earlier today.
Thursday 17th February 2011
Rip it up and start again?
If Cameron can claim that his government is prepared to listen and admit where it has gone wrong, then he can genuinely claim that there is something new in the way he does his politics, says Sam Macrory.
Thursday 17th February 2011Questions over Moore's absence
An MP asks for clarification on the whereabouts of a cabinet minister who missed a key vote on VAT.
Wednesday 16th February 2011Whiskas welcomes Larry to Westminster
Cat food giant Whiskas has taken note of the cat-mania sweeping SW1.
Wednesday 16th February 2011Committee launches Big Society inquiry
A Commons select committee is to launch an inquiry into the Big Society, in an attempt to define the coalition's flagship concept.
Wednesday 16th February 2011Ministers spend millions on press cuttings
Tory MP Robert Halfon has condemned the government for spending millions on press cuttings.
Wednesday 16th February 2011Dods to honour role of researchers
Researchers are preparing themselves for their very own glittering awards ceremony this evening.
Wednesday 16th February 2011AV to cost £250m?
The No to AV campaign kicked off today with a flurry of figures on the cost of a new voting system.
Tuesday 15th February 2011No.10 welcomes Larry the cat
Downing Street welcomed its latest resident this afternoon, Larry the rat-catching cat.
Tuesday 15th February 2011Lord Pilkington and Lord Monson die
Lord Pilkington of Oxenford, a Conservative peer died Sunday evening, aged 77, peers were told on Monday.
Tuesday 15th February 2011Is Facebook a human right?
The foreign secretary was asked for his view on social networking sites today.
Monday 14th February 2011When William went to the Gulf
Labour MP Tom Clarke asked a leading question of the foreign secretary today.
Monday 14th February 2011MP sleeps rough
Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert has confirmed that sleeping outside is "bloody cold".
Monday 14th February 2011Ping pong? It's more like chicken
No-one is quite sure how this week is going to go down the Lords end.
Monday 14th February 2011New MPs top most fanciable poll
MPs new to Westminster have topped the "most fanciable MP" list of the 2011 Parliament.
Monday 14th February 2011Snow excuses
Network Rail executives will be giving evidence to the transport select committee next Tuesday.
Friday 11th February 2011MPs who voted for prisoner voting
Here is a list of the 22 MPs who voted in favour of prisoner voting today - all ministers abstained.
Thursday 10th February 2011Commons wins catering gold medal
Stephen Hepburn is an MP who knows his way round Parliament's many catering outlets.
Thursday 10th February 2011Hollobone takes on the alphabet
Maverick Tory MP Philip Hollobone has complained about the way in which MPs vote.
Thursday 10th February 2011MP raises Maynard incident
Tory MP Paul Maynard claimed he was mocked about his disability by Labour members.
Thursday 10th February 2011Gove does not impress Glenda
Michael Gove has a very specific debating technique in the Commons.
Wednesday 9th February 2011How much is a litre of fuel?
Shadow NI secretary Shaun Woodward tried to catch out Owen Paterson at departmental questions today.
Wednesday 9th February 2011Andrew Percy's school days
Tory MP and former history teacher Andrew Percy made an interesting speech in yesterday's education debate.
Wednesday 9th February 2011The Ed and George show
If today's performance was anything to go by, Treasury questions is set to be one of the highlights of the Commons calendar.
Tuesday 8th February 2011Was McNally's bouquet bugged?
Even in the middle of what Mrs Merton would have called a heated debate, their Lordships found time for a bit of humour.
Tuesday 8th February 2011NUS president 'not a Tory'
Aaron Porter, president of the NUS, was giving evidence to the home affairs select committee today.
Tuesday 8th February 2011Deputy prime minister Nick Griffin?
If prisoners had their way the Liberal Democrats’ coalition partner would be the British National Party.
Monday 7th February 2011Prime minister, beekeeper and tennis pro
Downing Street has published the list of ministers’ interests, which shows the prime minister is president of the Oxfordshire Beekeeping Association.
Friday 4th February 2011This is the house that Dave built
First it was rats and now it is head lice, it almost makes us want to break into rhyme…
Friday 4th February 2011Call for earlier Commons sittings
A Tory MP has urged the government to bring forward Thursday's sitting hours in the Commons to 9am.
Thursday 3rd February 2011Speaker receives 'complaints' about tweeting MPs
The Speaker of the House of Commons has received complaints from the public about MPs using their phones while sat in the Commons chamber.
Thursday 3rd February 2011Coalition 'drinking less wine'
The coalition government are drinking 30 per cent less wine than the previous Labour administration, the Commons has heard.
Thursday 3rd February 2011Dawn 'does a Betty' with rowdy MPs
Deputy Speaker Dawn Primarolo had to engage in some serious MP-wrangling this afternoon.
Wednesday 2nd February 2011Iris fined for driving offences
A former DUP MP has been fined £200 for driving offences.
Wednesday 2nd February 2011Baby's arrival 'drove MP to smoking'
Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski seems like a healthy sort of fellow, but yesterday he admitted to a short-lived nicotine habit.
Wednesday 2nd February 2011Hollobone not a fan of 'abroad'
Tory MP Philip Hollobone is well-known for his anti-Europe views.
Wednesday 2nd February 2011Madame Tussauds - in Mumbai?
The possibility of opening a waxwork museum on the other side of the world is the subject of a recent early day motion.
Wednesday 2nd February 2011