Blog Archive

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.

MPs take time out to discuss Heffalumps

Mark Durkan was trying to make some serious points about the fixed-term parliaments bill when he was interrupted.

Will Cameron u-turn on school sport?

A government that listens and is unashamed to u-turn, or one desperate to show its sporting credentials?

Stars turn out for PSA awards

The Political Studies Association celebrated its 60th anniversary last night with a glamourous awards ceremony in Westminster.

Nick Clegg may yet vote against his party

Nick Clegg has a rather big choice: to vote for the national interest or the party interest.

Cameron will be back for PMQs

The prime minister is in Switzerland today, supporting England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Clegg defines big society

The deputy prime minister has said the government's flagship big society policy is defined in contrast to Labour's "big state".

Ruffley replaces Rutley on Treasury committee

A series of changes to select committee memberships has been announced.

The complexity of Commons catering

The admin committee is continuing its investigation of Commons catering services.

Vaz and the unauthorised broadcast

Keith Vaz has raised a point of order about the broadcast of committees online.

September sittings added £1.3m to repair bill

Parliamentary authorities have budgeted £69m to spend on repair work to the Palace of Westminster between now and 2015.

Heath and Hands search for Gordon Brown

The Lib Dem deputy leader of the Commons David Heath joined Tory MP Greg Hands in taking a pop at Gordon Brown's attendance record this afternoon.

NYPD chief to give evidence

The home affairs select committee has a busy day on Tuesday.

Christmas comes to Westminster

For all you Xmas lovers there are a few treats in store around the Palace of Westminster next month.

Pickles has curry pun overdose

The secretary of state for communities clearly likes a good curry.

Former lobby journalist joins Lords

A journalist and academic who is an expert on British politics was introduced in the House of Lords today.

Lord Young leads health and safety debate

David Cameron's former enterprise adviser may be down, but he is not out.

Flight is PM's latest peer problem

There were a few raised eyebrows when it was announced last week that Howard Flight was to become a Tory peer.

Don't call me Tommy

Establishing your identity as a new MP can be tough.

Jack's back after 23 years on the frontline

Jack Straw is regarded as one of the great parliamentary survivors.

Not Sherlock, but a detective all the same

The Speaker may not be Sherlock Holmes, but he is not afraid of a little sleuthing.

Vaizey on getting older

Culture minister Ed Vaizey is getting on a bit.

Party donations down to £7.2m

Nine political parties received just over £7.2million in donations between 1 July and 30 September 2010.

PM ribs Speaker at lobby lunch

David Cameron had a few digs at the expense of Speaker Bercow at a lobby lunch this afternoon.

Ipsa, pubs and fishing on backbench agenda

The backbench business committee has announced its choices for Commons and Westminster Hall debates.

Bercow 'not Sherlock Holmes'

The Speaker reminded MPs that there are limits to his deductive powers during points of order yesterday.

'Big Society' is word of the year

The prime minister's 'Big Society' buzz phrase has beaten both 'double-dip' and 'vuvuzela' to be named the Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year for 2010.

Speaker pleased as 44 ask questions

Mr Speaker has commended the House for fitting 44 backbench questions into 40 minutes.

The tale of Parliament's 'darkest days'

It was a time when many MPs feared that England's representative institution was teetering on the brink of extinction.

Georgian VPM to discuss Nato

The vice prime minister of Georgia will be in Westminster next month to discuss his country's relationship with Nato.

Party funding figures out tomorrow

The electoral commission is due to publish details of donations political parties tomorrow.

Pound handed frontbench role

Ealing North MP Stephen Pound, best-known around Westminster for his inexhaustable supply of dodgy jokes, has been promoted.

Angela Smith vs EyeSpyMP

Who contributes to the Twitter feed EyeSpyMP?

Unite trio slam Ipsa

Unite laid out for a committee of MPs today the many ways Ipsa is hurting some of the lowest-paid people in Parliament.

Outrage at proposal to close press bar

It has emerged that plans are afoot to close another Commons bar.

Speaker opens Commons nursery

Mr Speaker has presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new House of Commons creche.

MP spent the night in police cells

Labour MP Eric Joyce has been banned from driving for a year for failing to provide a breath test.

Labour demands statement on Lord Young

A Labour frontbencher has demanded that a government minister come to the Commons and make a statement about Lord Young.

Paisley joins his wife in Lords

Lord Bannside, aka Ian Paisley Snr, has told peers he sent his wife to the upper House first, as a "John the Baptist".

Tories top 200 peers

The Conservatives will have 219 peers in the House of Lords after today's announcement of new appointments.

New peers - Downton Abbey and thinking man's crumpet

Today's announcement of new peers contained a few surprises.

PM hints at bank holiday for royal wedding

David Cameron has lent his support to the idea making the day of the royal wedding a bank holiday.

Cameron and Liam's leaked letter

The PM is undertaking that ultimate act of parliamentary masochism, the liaison committee session.

Lucas congratulated on Speccie win

Skills minister John Hayes took time out at BIS questions today to congratulate Caroline Lucas.

Gove, Burnham and the beautiful eyelashes

The education secretary put in a typically high-concept performance today.

Government defeated in Lords

The House of Lords has rejected the government's plan to not pay compensation to people who purchased an ID card.

Campaign medal gains support

Nearly 100 MPs have signed an early day motion calling for a new campaign medal.

The Conservative Party is dying on its feet. But whose Party is it anyway?

Three, four or five years?

MPs are discussing the detail of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Bill.

MPs congratulate the happy couple

Frontbenchers from both sides of the House have sent their congratulations to Prince William and Kate Middleton.

All aboard for the Custard factory

A Commons select committee was due to meet in a custard factory today.

Will Parker go to the Royal Wedding?

In times gone by, the role of chairman of the parliamentary press gallery was an esteemed position.

Brake questions Portcullis security

A Lib Dem MP has questioned security measures in Parliament.