Blog Archive
Has Tom Baldwin infiltrated CCHQ?
It looks like Tom Baldwin’s infamous instructive letter has done the trick. Yesterday’s crime maps were launched by the Conservative Party as the work of the "Conservative-led coalition".
Wednesday 2nd February 2011Gibraltar role for Laing
Tory MP Eleanor Laing has been appointed "special representative to Gibraltar for defence".
Tuesday 1st February 2011Latham's cheeky dig
Tory MP Pauline Latham is a maternal figure in the Commons.
Tuesday 1st February 2011Former defence chief takes seat in Lords
Sir Jock Stirrup, the former chief of the defence staff has today taken his seat in the Lords.
Tuesday 1st February 2011Corbyn asks for Al Jazeera
Jeremy Corbyn has called for Al Jazeera to be available in the House of Commons.
Monday 31st January 2011Waheed and Glenys support Oona
Former Labour MP Oona King took her seat in the House of Lords this afternoon.
Monday 31st January 2011Plaid leader to become privy counsellor
Elfyn Llwyd MP has been approved as a member of the privy council.
Monday 31st January 2011MPs get new email addresses
A new format for MPs' parliamentary email addresses came into force last Friday.
Monday 31st January 2011MPs get new email addresses
A new format for MPs' parliamentary email addresses came into force last Friday.
Monday 31st January 2011Shadow cabinet 'league table' published
Douglas Alexander, John Healey and Ed Balls are the "leading campaigners" in the shadow cabinet, according to new research.
Friday 28th January 2011Former soldier chosen for Barnsley
The Barnsley constituency Labour party has chosen Dan Jarvis as their candidate for the upcoming by-election.
Friday 28th January 2011Nurses to stage Westminster protest
Nurses, midwives and health workers from the UNISON union have promised a "noisy protest" outside Parliament on Monday morning.
Friday 28th January 2011Vince's subdued performance at press lunch
Business secretary Vince Cable was the guest at the parliamentary press gallery lunch today.
Thursday 27th January 2011Parliament Square 'mess' raised again
Tory MP David Tredinnick is worried about Parliament Square.
Thursday 27th January 2011MPs pursue minister over Adams 'resignation'
The government claims Gerry Adams' departure from the Commons was done "in an entirely orderly way", but Labour and DUP MPs are not convinced.
Thursday 27th January 2011Sir George backs Firth for Oscar
The King's Speech's leading star Colin Firth today received backing from a cabinet minister following his nomination for this year's best actor Oscar.
Thursday 27th January 2011MPs pay tribute to 'feisty' Gallie
The secretary of state for Scotland has paid tribute to former Tory MP Phil Gallie, who died earlier this week aged 71.
Wednesday 26th January 2011Confusion reigns over Adams situation
There is some confustion at Westminster today over the Gerry Adams situation.
Wednesday 26th January 2011Jacqui Smith condemns 'sexist' comments about May's jacket
Jacqui Smith has said comments on Twitter about what Theresa May wore in the Commons are sexist.
Wednesday 26th January 2011Northern Ireland holds both Stewardships
As of today both of the paid offices of the crown retained to allow MPs to resign are occupied by people from Northern Ireland.
Wednesday 26th January 2011Youth to nominate peers
The Lord Speaker has launched a new competition to encourage 11 to 16 year olds to take an interest in the House of Lords.
Wednesday 26th January 2011Obama 'would have been Labour'
Trevor Phillips is a man who knows how to set a cat among some pigeons.
Tuesday 25th January 2011Jailed ex-MPs could automatically lose their Commons pass
Former MPs who have been convicted of a criminal offence and have been sentenced to time in prison could be automatically stripped of their parliamentary pass.
Tuesday 25th January 2011Herbert for PM?
Labour's Susan Elan Jones made a small mistake at home office questions today.
Monday 24th January 2011Were Cameron and Osborne hacked?
Labour MP Tom Watson introduced a novel take on the phone hacking scandal during a point of order.
Monday 24th January 2011Ex-army head takes seat in Lords
The former head of the Army General Sir Richard Dannatt has taken his seat in the House of Lords.
Monday 24th January 2011Another SF win in Belfast West?
While Belfast West has returned moderate nationalists such as the SDLP as recently as 1992, in reality the seat is an SF stronghold.
Monday 24th January 2011Busy day for committee fans
Tuesday is a bumper day for fans of Commons select committees.
Monday 24th January 2011I bet Sharon looks good on the dancefloor
Sunderland's finest was in the Commons today trying to get a bill passed to crack down on ticket touts.
Friday 21st January 2011Coulson 'not a matter for Commons'
Denis MacShane tried to raise the Coulson story in the Commons, but was slapped down by Lindsay Hoyle.
Friday 21st January 2011Cooper will face May on Monday
The new shadow home secretary will be thrown in at the deep end on Monday.
Friday 21st January 2011Police tense over tents
A senior Met police officer has highlighted the force's concerns about proposed legislation on protest in Parliament Square.
Thursday 20th January 2011MP asks for 'unequivocal' right to tweet
Labour MP Tom Watson has asked for an "unequivocal commitment" from Commons authorities that MPs will be allowed to tweet while in the chamber.
Thursday 20th January 2011Mrs Gove dragged into EMA fight
The shadow education secretary Andy Burnham quoted from an article written by Michael Gove's wife in the EMA debate.
Wednesday 19th January 2011The incontinent minister
Francis Maude has said he won't put out the bonfire of the quangos by "incontinently" creating new unaccountable independent bodies.
Wednesday 19th January 2011Speaker announces new Ipsa 'liaison group'
MPs will be able to complain directly to the faces of Ipsa officials following the creation of a new forum.
Wednesday 19th January 2011Student lobby over EMA
Groups of students from all over the country are in parliament lobbying their MPs about the government's plans to abolish educational maintenance allowance.
Wednesday 19th January 2011New MP takes her seat
The victor of the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election took her seat in the Commons today.
Tuesday 18th January 2011Straw and Davies unite against prisoner votes
Jack Straw and David Davies have joined forces in an attempt to secure a Commons debate on the plan to grant prisoners the vote.
Tuesday 18th January 2011Mastermind winner to run Lords
A former winner of the BBC quiz Mastermind has been announced as the new head of the House of Lords permanent administration.
Tuesday 18th January 2011Former Speaker accuses MPs of creating extra work for themselves
Former Commons Speaker Lord Martin of Springburn has accused publicity hungry MPs of inventing unnecessary work for themselves.
Tuesday 18th January 2011Commons 'needs more pies'
The admin committee's investigation into Commons catering was told we should have more pies.
Monday 17th January 2011Nick Raynsford is 'new John Wayne'
It seems the communities secretary has a new hero.
Monday 17th January 2011Mrs Pickles pleased by choc ban
The communities secretary took questions in the Commons today, and as ever his estimable spouse was there in spirit.
Monday 17th January 2011Former Speaker to give evidence
The first woman to be Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives will be in Westminster this week.
Monday 17th January 2011Parliament workshop heads to Leeds
The people of Leeds will be able to ask about all they ever wanted to know about Parliament but were afraid to ask.
Monday 17th January 2011Coulson being 'punished twice'
David Cameron defended his director of communications this morning, but dodged the question of whether Andy Coulson had offered his resignation.
Monday 17th January 2011Ken to appear before his peers
Ken Clarke will be among old friends when he gives evidence to the Lords constitution committee last week.
Friday 14th January 2011Wintour is new lobby chairman
Guardian journalist Patrick Wintour has been elected unopposed as chairman of the parliamentary lobby for 2011.
Friday 14th January 2011BBC to broadcast Lloyd George lecture
A lecture on David Lloyd George by Lord Morgan will be broadcast on the BBC Parliament channel this weekend.
Thursday 13th January 2011Screenwriter takes seat in Lords
Oscar-winning writer and actor Julian Fellowes has today taken his seat in the Lords.
Thursday 13th January 2011MPs warned over Illsley case
The Speaker has told MPs they must not discuss the case of Eric Illsley "until judicial proceedings are concluded".
Wednesday 12th January 2011Soames demands Blunt response
Former defence minister and Tory grandee Nicholas Soames has put down an eye-catching question for the MoD.
Wednesday 12th January 2011A Blairite New Year resolution
"New Year's resolutions with the Tony Blair Sports Foundation. Join one of our courses."
Wednesday 12th January 2011Barnsley seat is Labour gold
Eric Illsley's decision to stand down as MP for Barnsley Central means a safe Labour seat is now available.
Wednesday 12th January 2011Who answers questions on BSkyB?
Labour frontbencher Ian Lucas has asked the Speaker to clear up some confusion after the business secretary was stripped of some of his powers.
Tuesday 11th January 2011Baroness Jolly takes Lords seat
Baroness Jolly was introduced in the House of Lords this afternoon.
Tuesday 11th January 2011MPs back Clarkson
Two Tory MPs have signed an EDM backing Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson.
Tuesday 11th January 2011Balls disagrees with Straw's race comments
Shadow home secretary Ed Balls has said that his Labour colleague Jack Straw was wrong to claim that groups of Asian men are systematically targeting white girls for abuse.
Tuesday 11th January 2011
Whistleblowing MP shops SIX colleagues to expenses probe police
Tuesday 11th January 2011
Alastair Campbell diaries: Diana's funeral prompted Charles safety fears
Tuesday 11th January 2011WSJ Europe editor takes Lords seat
Journalist Patience Wheatcroft has taken her seat in the upper chamber this afternoon as a Conservative peer.
Monday 10th January 2011Churchill wanted Lords abolished
Alistair Cooke, the Conservative party historian, has written a fascinating piece on the upper House's history.
Monday 10th January 2011IDS answers first questions
Elizabeth Truss, Tory MP for SW Norfolk, will ask the first parliamentary question of 2011 later today.
Monday 10th January 2011Prescott cashes in with boxing advert
John Prescott stars in a new television advert gently poking fun at his reputation as a bruiser.
Friday 7th January 2011