Blog Archive

Magna Carta countdown begins

It was nearly 800 years ago that bad King John signed a 'great letter' guaranteeing rights that English people still hold dear today.

Hollins to take Lords seat

A leading expert on learning disability will be introduced into the House of Lords today.

Slow start for Corrie EDM

ITV's Coronation St does not appear to be very popular in the Palace of Westminster.

Lord Gilbert's Euro-obscenity

Lord Gilbert was driven to using blue language during today's debate on defence.

God speed the plough says JRM

Jacob Rees-Mogg brightened up a dessicated debate earlier today.

Clegg to deliver Hansard Soc lecture

The DPM will outline his vision for constitutional change at next week's Political Studies Association/Hansard Society Annual Lecture.

Dowd takes a pop at Farrelly

Poor Paul. You punch ONE person and they just won't let you forget it.

Civil servants win prizes

It has not been a good couple of months for those toiling away in the public sector.

Mr Benn the comedian

Hilary Benn is often seen as a bit grey, a competent minister in the mould of Alastair Darling.

Sir George turns to Austin Mitchell

The leader of the House dealt with jibes about the PM's personal photographer at business questions today.

Clegg predicts a riot

Nick Clegg predicted civil disorder in April, but in a slightly different scenario.

Michael Howard to make Lords debut

Former Conservative party leader Michael Howard will make his maiden speech in the Lords today.

The BBC and the risque placard

A somewhat risque placard is captured on camera by the BBC at today's student protest in Westminster.

Images from our researcher's reception

Last week we welcomed parliamentary researchers to the Commonwealth Club.

Commons £1m EDM bill

The House of Commons spent £1 million administering and processing early-day motions (EDMs) in financial year 2009-10.

NUS - the way we were

This picture from 1976 shows how times have changed.

Students to march past Parliament

Tens of thousands of them are expected in central London for a march against the government's policy on tuition fees.

Docherty speaks up for armed forces

Labour MP Thomas Docherty is carving out a bit of a reputation as a champion of the armed forces.

Samuel is newest Miliband

Ed Miliband's new baby has been named Samuel Stewart Thornton Miliband, taking family names from both his father and mother.

New backbench business committee members announced

Labour MPs Ian Mearns (Gateshead) and George Mudie (Leeds East) have been elected to the backbench business committee.

Jack comes to Harriet's defence

Jack Dromey has rejected criticism of his wife Harriet Harman's treatment of former MP Phil Woolas.

Brown's sober evidence

Former prime mininster Gordon Brown was suitably serious today when he gave evidence to the international development committee.

Staff morale hit by price rises

House of Commons catering staff are proud of their role but are suffering as a result of a pay freeze and a hike in food prices.

Clerk of the Parliaments set to retire

The top official in the upper House is set to retire in April, the leader of the Lords has announced.

When is a pavement not a pavement?

The removal of protestors from the pavement ringing Parliament Square is complicated by the fact that it is not actually a pavement, peers have heard.

Team GB should be Team UK

A DUP MP has tabled an early day motion calling on sporting authorities to stop using the phrase Team GB.

Lib Dem defector joins Labour

One of the youngest Lib Dem PPCs in the May general election has today defected to the Labour Party.

Clegg is 'DPM for road works'

Nick Clegg has responsibility for political and constitutional reform, and road works.

MP calls for Frankenstein ban

A recent search of the archives turned up this classic exchange from 1932.

Bercow to rule on by-election

Mr Speaker will decide whether there will be an immediate by-election Phil Woolas' former seat.

Speaker wins gay rights award

Mr Speaker was named 'politician of the year' at last week's Stonewall Awards.

Ed Miliband becomes father again

Ed Miliband and his partner have announced the birth of their second child.

Lord Carrington receives lifetime achievement award

Lord Carrington, who has sat in the upper House since the second world war, was presented with The House Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award at a reception in the House of Lords on Tuesday.

The curious case of Foundation X

Lord James of Blackheath spoke at length on Monday about the existence of a group he would only refer to as Foundation X.

Fox late for defence debate

There was confusion in the chamber earlier when the defence secretary was not in his place.

Lord Sugar: Give heckling peers vuvuzelas

Lord Sugar on Wednesday responded to heckling from Conservative peers by suggesting they should be given vuvuzelas.

Commons nursery less than half full

So far 17 out of a possible 40 places have been filled in the controversial parliamentary nursery.

Cameron to face 150 minute grilling

The prime minister will make his first appearance before the liaison committee on November 18.

Vaz speaks up for woman facing execution

Labour MP Valerie Vaz has raised the case of an Iranian woman who faces death by stoning.

Mulholland angers Speaker

Greg Mulholland has been ticked off by Mr Speaker for trying to ask "twin-hatted questions".

New members of Commons committees

The following changes have been made to the membership of Commons committees.

Maidstone MP's pooch wins prize

Conservative MP Helen Grant's pawlitical pooch Charlie has scooped the Westminster Dog of the Year title.

Tune in to VeggieVision

Climate change activists the World Preservation Foundation are holding a series of events around Westminster today.

MPs back Dundee FC

Scottish football team Dundee FC has been the subject of an early day motion.

Speaker tells off Labour frontbench

The Speaker has scolded Jim Murphy for taking up too much Commons time.

2011 conferences - same as 2010

The three main party autumn conferences will take place in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, just like this year.

Did David Miliband learn from Brown's mistake?

David Miliband made his first contribution to the Commons chamber this afternoon.

Bullied MPs aide receives £35,000 in compensation

The successful compensation claim against a former MP has highlighted the "unprofessional" atmosphere in Parliament, according the parliamentary staff union.

Pooches aim to be Westminster's top dog

The Westminster Dog of the Year Competition 2010 takes place in Victoria Tower Gardens this morning.

Brown's second Commons debut

It must have been one of the best-attended adjournment debates ever.

Cameron welcomes Thatcher's return

The prime minister has welcomed the news that Lady Thatcher has been released from hospital.

The minister with no voice

The minister for equalities was on the front bench at home office questions today.

Cash for gold leaves MPs cold

A Labour MP has tabled an early day motion expressing concern about the impact of 'cash for gold' businesses.

Tory MPs looking forward to Gordon

Former prime minister Gordon Brown is expected to speak in the Commons later today - it is more than six months since he last spoke.

Kaufman EDM refers to 'prizewinner' Rabin

An early day motion that caused a point of order and a rebuke from the Speaker has been published on the order paper.

'Po-faced Harriet is anti-Scottish'

Harriet Harman has apologised for calling Danny Alexander a 'ginger rodent', but the Scots Nats will not let it lie.

Who lives in a house like this?

Sauce-seller and voice-over specialist Loyd Grossman will be in the House later this week.

Speaker praises teenage politicians

The Speaker has told members of the UK Youth Parliament that their meeting today was "a dramatic success".

Youth MPs so proud of our troops

The UK Youth Parliament is sitting in the Commons today.

Victory for MPs in clay pigeon shoot

The House of Commons has snatched victory in this year's Lords vs Commons clay pigeon shoot.

Johnson 'cleansing' comment inappropriate, says Sir George

Boris Johnson's choice of language over housing benefit cuts has been deemed "inappropriate" by a cabinet minister.

David Cameron pinpointed by Google

Anyone looking for David Cameron, James Gray or Glenda Jackson should consult Google Maps, which has pinpointed their location within the parliamentary estate exactly.

Cabal of climate sceptics to descend on UK Parliament

Did Horwood see the transport statement?

There was a mini-spat just after the transport statement today.

Vince pulls out of press lunch

The lobby lunch is an important Westminster tradition stretching back decades.