Mark Harper: Why I’ll keep fighting for Parliamentary scrutiny of Covid rules

If Ministers aren’t questioned about wide-ranging laws, we undermine the foundations of our Parliamentary democracy.

Mark Harper: Enjoy summer if you can. Winter is coming – and I fear that Covid restrictions will return.

Anyone who thinks I’m being too pessimistic should take a look at the small print in Government documents.

Mark Harper: Lockdown 1) Why I will vote against it today

The published data does not substantiate the Prime Minister’s claim that hospital capacity in the South West would be exceeded in a matter of weeks.

Mark Harper: The office paradigm has shifted – here’s the future

One of the ways that the impact on the domestic labour market can be limited is by using immigration policy more effectively.

Mark Harper: We can’t continue the current lockdown while waiting for a vaccine – and need a recovery plan to get out of it.

We will need to significantly and rapidly increase our testing capability and our ability to link this to a contact tracing system.

Mark Harper: Yeah but no but yeah but. When it comes to making up its mind about an election, Labour is Vicky Pollard.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Surrender Bill won’t just delay Brexit. It threatens to stop it altogether.

Mark Harper: Most people think it is right to reduce migration. We need a Sustainable Immigration Plan.

This new plan from Onward would force the Government to set out its own plans and forecasts – and make the trade-offs that are inherent in migration policy. 

Mark Harper: If the Conservative Party is not the party of sound money, then what on earth are we for?

Between them, the two remaining candidates have already clocked up tax and spending promises of around £51 billion per year.

Mark Harper: Social care. It’s not all about the elderly. Let’s meet the needs of disabled people of working age too.

The former Minister for Disabled People contributes the first article in a three-part mini-series on reform to the adult social care system.

Mark Harper: We need a date for Britain to leave the EU. But here’s why it can’t be October 31st – much as I’d like it to be.

So how are we going to get a new deal? The key is to build strong relationships, both across the Party, with our DUP allies, and with our European partners.

Mark Harper: Social care. Let’s halve the disability employment gap.

The Government should get on with publishing the promised Green paper and return to the pledge in our winning 2015 election manifesto.

Mark Harper: For Brexit to happen at all, we must now back the deal

In order to ensure that the Conservative Party remains able to govern effectively, I have concluded that, despite its faults, I will vote for the Withdrawal Agreement.

Mark Harper: Here are the reforms we need to make to the Apprenticeship Levy, Further Education and student funding

Shifting the focus to FE is not only the right thing to do, but would send a powerful message.

Mark Harper: We still have work to do to get more Conservative women elected to Parliament

Addressing this persistent under-representation is not political correctness, it is political common sense. Our Party would be the better for it. 

Mark Harper: Short – but perfectly formed. Why the Article 50 Bill needs no amendment.

The real motivation of those backing them is to bind the hands of the Government; to try to find a way to keep us in the EU; or else to delay our departure.