Labour: ‘Reckless’ Priti Patel breached ministerial code over meeting with billionaire Tory donor September 12, 2021 Labour has accused the Home Secretary of being “reckless” and a “serial offender” in breaching the ministerial code after allegations involving a meeting between a billionaire Tory donor and British Airways. The Sunday Mirror reports today that Priti Patel arranged a meeting on 11 August at Heathrow Airport’s Hilton Garden Inn, which is part of [...]
Ex-chancellor Philip Hammond accused of lobbying the Treasury by watchdog September 2, 2021 A parliamentary committee has judged that former chancellor Phillip Hammond, breached lobbying rules. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) claims that by contacting a senior Treasury secretary on behalf of a bank he works for Lord Hammond broke committee guidance. Hammond defended the action in a letter to committee chair Lord Eric Pickles. He [...]
Boris Johnson did not want to settle Sonia Khan unfair dismissal case out of court December 15, 2020 Boris Johnson issued an order to not settle a high-profile unfair dismissal claim out of court, despite the advice of one of the country’s top civil servants. Sonia Khan, who was dismissed by Dominic Cummings last year for alleged leaking, was last month paid out in the region of £100,000 by the government in an [...]
House of Lords allowances surge in ‘rolling expenses scandal’ February 23, 2020 Expenses and allowances claimed by peers in the House of Lords rose by one-third last year in what has been described as a “rolling expenses scandal”. Analysis, by the Sunday Times, found that peers’ daily attendance allowance and expenses rose by 29 per cent to £23m in the year to March 2019. The analysis found [...]
Ten ex-Tory rebels set to have the whip restored by Boris Johnson October 29, 2019 Ten of the 21 expelled ex-Tory rebel MPs have had the whip restored by Boris Johnson, including Winston Churchill’s grandson Nicholas Soames. Read more: Tory rebels vote with Labour to help prevent a no-deal Brexit Soames, Alistair Burt, Caroline Nokes, Greg Clark, Ed Vaizey, Margot James, Stephen Hammond, Steve Brine, Richard Harrington and Richard Benyon [...]
A look back at Mel Stride’s parliamentary career October 23, 2019 The new chair of the Treasury Select Committee is no stranger to the hallowed halls of 1 Horse Guards Road. Mel Stride was formerly a treasury minister for two years under ex-prime minister Theresa May. Read more: Mel Stride unveiled as new Treasury Select Committee chair The former Oxford Union president is best remembered during [...]
Brexit: Government sticks firm to its October 31 deadline October 20, 2019 Senior cabinet ministers are insisting the UK will leave the European Union on 31 October, despite the prime minister’s letter to Brussels requesting an extension. Boris Johnson was forced by parliament to send the letter – which he left unsigned – to Brussels asking for an extension last night. It was accompanied by a second [...]
Jo Johnson quits Boris Johnson’s Tory party to spend less time with his family September 5, 2019 Boris Johnson’s brother has quit as minister and MP, saying he is “torn between family loyalty and the national interest”. Jo Johnson resigned as universities and science minister this morning, citing “unresolvable tension” for the decision. He will stand down as MP of Orpington at the next election. Read more: Boris Johnson’s first PMQs: The [...]
Backed. Sacked. Cracked? Boris Johnson threatens election as 21 Tories rebel September 4, 2019 Boris Johnson expelled more than 20 MPs from the Tory party last night after they rebelled against him in the battle to stop a no-deal Brexit. Parliament last night voted 328-to-301 in favour of a motion giving MPs control of the order paper today, allowing them to propose legislation aimed at forcing Johnson to seek [...]
March of the moderates: PM loses key Brexit vote to rebels September 3, 2019 More than 20 Tory MPs have defied Boris Johnson and his threats of deselection to pave the way to block a no-deal Brexit. Parliamentarians this evening voted 328-to-301 in favour of a motion giving MPs control of the order paper tomorrow. That means they can debate, and potentially pass, a bill that will force Johnson [...]