On ConservativeHome’s Parliament page we aim to provide comprehensive reportage and analysis of Conservative Party activity in Westminster, the European Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. (On the local government page, Councillor Harry Phibbs does similar, sterling work in relation to local councils.) In particular, we’re interested in things that other media may […]
Conservatives in the European Parliament have welcome the adoption by national governments of the European Union’s Small Business Act. The Act’s main purpose is to cut the administration burden faced by small businesses in Europe. It includes a variety of measures – to encourage and simplify access to government contracts, promote innovative small and medium […]
Shortly after the House of Commons did the same, the Scottish Parliament has debated fisheries. Conservative MSPs made useful contributions. Member for the Highlands and Islands Sir Jamie McGrigor made an excellent speech. He bemoaned the impact of fuel prices and discards on the industry: "I am grateful for the chance to speak once again […]
On 12 November the House of Commons agreed to establish a new committee, which will be chaired by the Speaker. According to the Parliament website, the Speaker’s Conference – which will be comprised of him and seventeen other members – has been asked to: "Consider, and make recommendations for rectifying, the disparity between the representation […]
Update: GB£.com – I’ve changed the offending headline! Tom Greeves Earl Howe – a gentleman who reminds us of the many merits of a hereditary system – is a Shadow Health Minister. He has recently had an answer to a question about food supplements. The matter of the European Union wanting to set maximum levels […]
Lord Jopling, a Conservative peer and former minister, has asked the Government how much it is spending on bailing out banks: "Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty’s Government: How much public money has been made available to (a) the Royal Bank of Scotland, and (b) HBOS, in the past six months. [HL6522] The Financial Services Secretary […]
Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps spoke in Westminster Hall yesterday, during a debate on temporary housing. He opined that many more homes need to be built, but warned against their imposition on local communities: "The Department for Communities and Local Government says that, on 31 March, there were 78,000 homeless households in England in temporary […]
Following Shadow Chancellor George Osborne’s success in securing it, the House of Commons held an Emergency Debate on the Pre-Budget Report yesterday. Mr Osborne was on bullish form: "The public would have found it extraordinary if the House of Commons had not properly considered the huge tax measures put forward by the Chancellor on Monday, […]
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an amalgamation of three former Commissions – for Racial Equality, Equal Opportunities and Disability Rights. Shipley MP Philip Davies has discovered that they must do better very close to home: "Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what pay gaps there are in respect of […]
Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers raised the issue of Heathrow once again in the Commons yesterday: "Mrs. Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet) (Con): How many children will have their education affected by a deteriorating noise environment if the Government press ahead with their plans for a third runway and mixed mode at Heathrow? Mr. Hoon: The […]
Westminster Hall held a debate on Equitable Life yesterday. The mutual life insurer defaulted on its obligations to policyholders back in 2000, and the effects are still being felt today. Mark Hoban, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, spoke forcefully: "In the four months that have passed since the Minister received the ombudsman’s report, we […]
4.20pm update: The Speaker has just ruled in favour of George Osborne’s call for an emergency debate on the Government’s Pre-Budget Report. A three hour debate will take place tomorrow. Another victory for the Conservatives. *** Newbury MP and Opposition Whip Richard Benyon has blogged today on his experience of watching the Pre-Budget Report from […]
Conservative peers have tabled written questions about Britain’s (uncodified) constitution. The Conservative Party has some tough decisions to make about these kind of issues. They may not be glamorous, but they matter. Can ConservativeHome readers offer some suggestions as to how we can avoid laying siege to our constitution as New Labour have? The Earl […]
A written question from the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Peter Ainsworth MP, reminds us of an extraordinary fact about illegal timber imports: "Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many seizures of illegal timber imports have been made in each […]
The House of Commons was dominated by the Pre-Budget Report yesterday, which has been well reported elsewhere on ConservativeHome. But there was also an oral questions session on Work and Pensions. David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, exposed a worrying fact – that far too many gas fitters are not properly qualified: "Mr. David […]