Blog Archive

Big week for the civil service

Senior civil servants from across government gather for the Civil Service Live event this week.

Red Bull pitstop at Carriage Gate

Mark Webber was outside Carriage Gate this morning with the Red Bull pit crew performing a practice pit stop.

Halfon - let the fans run our football

Robert Halfon is a one-man whirlwind, pushing for reform of the way we run football.

Article Detail

Coalition has no appetite for babies

Select committees cost nearly £15m last year

Private members' Bills - full list announced

Lords complain about reform

The Lords are seriously split over plans to reform the upper House.

Debate no-show prompts apologies from MPs

A minister and a Tory backbencher have apologised to MPs after turning up late for a Westminster Hall debate on apprenticeships.

New Speaker's Chaplain appointed

The Speaker has appointed Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin as his new Chaplain.

Halfon's FA rant

New Tory MP Robert Halfon has had no trouble working out the multiple uses of the early day motion.

Backbench committee appointed

The four Conservative and one Lib Dem members of the backbench business committee have been appointed without an election.

World Cup tickets for ministers

Ministers have been given tickets to the World Cup Final in South Africa, despite England's poor performance, it has been revealed.

Lib Dems lose support after Budget

Support for the Liberal Democrats has fallen following last week’s Budget, according to a poll.

On the agenda: Tuesday

£300 upper limit for Lords expenses

Peers will be able to claim a maximum of £300 per day in expenses.

Cameron 'depressed' by England game

The PM has said England's World Cup defeat is "very depressing" as all of us wanted the team to do well.

Speaker tells off ministers

Mr Speaker has told off ministers for grouping together questions at departmental question time.

Twin who wants to be president

It was interesting to see controversial Polish presidential candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski in the Commons today.

On the agenda: Monday

Home secretary Theresa May hosts a briefing at 10am on the government's plans for capping immigration, which will include imposing a temporary limit now before a permanent ban is put in place next April.

This week's top events

Here are some interesting events around Westminster this week.

Parish notices – boat race and rifle match

The Commons vs Lords boat race will be held on July 8th.

Call to invite Wimbledon duo to Commons

Two tennis players who battled out the longest ever tennis match could be invited to the House of Commons to celebrate their achievement, the Speaker has indicated.

On the Agenda: Friday

David Cameron has arrived in Canada for his first international summit as prime minister, at the G8 and G20 group meetings in Deerhurst and Toronto.

Press gallery attracts vermin

The Commons mouse curse has struck again, this time in the press gallery.

Conor Burns to make his maiden speech

Tory MP Conor Burns will make his Commons debut today - he has managed to secure an adjournment debate on the future of language schools.

Ermine watch - Floella in, but alas no Kirsty

Their Lordships will be welcoming some new members to their ranks next week.

Cameron warns on public sector pay

Watching the watchdog

Commons savings will hit the poorest

There was a mixed response in Westminster to the efficiency savings for the Commons.

Budget June 2010: Reaction

George Osborne's Budget dominates the front pages of all the papers, following the toughest package of spending cuts and tax increases in a generation.

Kinnock takes the all-male FCO to task

Interesting question tabled by the former minister for Europe, Glenys Kinnock.

Budget and baby PMQs

Today will not just be George Osborne's first budget as chancellor of the exchequer. It will also mark the debut of an unusual piece of Commons business - questions to the deputy prime minister.

The Foreign Office wine list

The government hospitality wine cellar at the Foreign Office has held between 38,000 and 39,000 bottles of wine for the last five years.

EDMs £1m price tag

Early day motions (EDMs) cost £1m to administer and process in 2009-10 according to Commons authorities.

Bills? What Bills?

Mildly surprising comments from the Commons leader, Sir George Young, during business questions today.

Nigel Farage fit and well after THAT election stunt..

Nigel Farage makes his return to the European Parliament after his flying stunt went horribly wrong.

Backbench committee election dates announced

Vince the Disciplinarian

Vince Cable has a unique dispatch box style. It is best described as irritated lecturer

Mr Meanie - don't remember him from the Mr Men books?

Roger Hargreaves must be turning in his grave.

MPs declare 'open war' against expenses regime

The first shots were fired today as a new front in the battle over Parliamentary expenses was opened. MPs are fighting for the rights for fairer pay.

MoD in condom cost drive

The MoD has revealed that they have spent £80,000 on condoms since 2008, tacking sexual health issues in the forces.

The Road to Derry

There have been few sights more moving in recent parliamentary history than that of Mark Durkan, nationalist MP for Foyle, choking back tears as he read out the names of the 13 people shot dead by the British Army on the streets of the city he represents in 1972.

Gordon Brown appoints PPS

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has, somewhat unusually, appointed a parliamentary private secretary.