Housing crisis ‘hampers growth’ but minister vows 1.5m target on track November 20, 2024 The UK’s housing crisis “hampers economic growth and productivity”, the housing minister has said, as he insisted the target of 1.5m new homes can be achieved. Labour pledged in its manifesto ahead of the election to deliver the 1.5m net additional dwellings over the course of the Parliament, ending in 2029. It came in response [...]
Former MP describes ‘enormous guilt’ over Westminster honeypot scandal November 16, 2024 Former MP William Wragg has described the feeling of “enormous guilt” that washed over him as he realised he had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam designed to target politicians in Westminster. A police probe began in April earlier this year after it was suggested at least 12 men with links to Westminster had received [...]
Tories concerned about overreach in new Labour Football Governance Bill November 13, 2024 The Conservatives issued a caution against potential overreach of the Independent Football Regulator on Wednesday as the Football Governance Bill returned to Westminster. Initially introduced into the House of Commons by the Tories, the second reading of an altered bill was introduced in the Lords on Wednesday by the Labour government. But in the opposition’s [...]
Column: The challenges facing Kemi Badenoch… November 6, 2024 Politicians, the public often decry, lack real-world experience. Whether it be running a business, working in healthcare, serving in the armed forces, anything that demonstrates their ‘feet on the ground’ credentials is a plus. It covers parents too. Just look at Keir Starmer’s oft-touted “toolmaker father”; Rishi Sunak, the “son of a pharmacist; and even [...]
Budget 2024: Why the post-match politics are risky for Labour October 31, 2024 After months of speculation, Rachel Reeves has finally unveiled Labour’s first Budget in power. Coming in the wake of 14 years in opposition, this big tax and spend – and borrow – document is very much an ideological project, with the NHS, schools and low-paid workers among the big winners. The Chancellor may have ditched [...]
Post Office: MPs to hold inquiry into compensation ‘unfinished business’ October 31, 2024 MPs are set to launch an inquiry into the “unfinished business” of financial redress for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal. The business and trade committee will hold a short probe focused on “fast and fair redress” for those affected by what has been dubbed the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK history. It [...]
Tory leadership: End race early so victor can respond to Budget, says Jenrick October 10, 2024 Robert Jenrick has called for the Tory leadership race to end early so that the winner can be in place to respond to Rachel Reeves’ first Budget. The Chancellor will deliver Labour’s first fiscal statement on 30 October, and the leadership hopeful has argued for a speedier end to the race ahead of the major [...]
Lib Dems push for changes to Commons rules to boost their influence September 14, 2024 The Liberal Democrats will push for changes to Parliament’s procedures to give them more influence as the third biggest party. Lib Dem chief whip Wendy Chamberlain questioned the fairness of the current rules, which give a “special platform” to the Tories as the largest opposition party. The Conservatives have 121 MPs while the Liberal Democrats [...]
Winter fuel payments: Just one Labour MP rebels in Commons vote on policy September 10, 2024 Just one Labour MP – Jon Trickett – rebelled against the government in a House of Commons vote on plans to means test the winter fuel payment to pensioners. The government won the vote with 348 votes in favour to 228 against, while some MPs – including 53 Labour members – abstained on the ballot, [...]
GB Energy: Bill criticised as ‘blank cheque’ as MPs debated flagship policy September 6, 2024 The government’s Great British Energy bill has been criticised as a “blank cheque” and for having “barely anything in it” as MPs debated the flagship policy in the Commons. Energy security secretary Ed Miliband introduced the legislation to the chamber on Thursday for its second reading – when the main Commons debate was held – [...]