By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Louise Mensch, the Tory MP for Corby is recommending that her followers donate £5 to the Liberal Democrats for today only. She thinks it will show solidarity with the Cleggs who have been targeted by UNuncut protestors today. Hundreds gathered outside the Putney home of the Lib Dem leader, some […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter Here is the announcement. "The following candidates have been elected to the 2 positions of Secretary of the 1922 Committee: Karen Bradley Nick De Bois The following candidates have been elected to the 12 positions on the 1922 Committee Executive: Steve Baker Guto Bebb George Eustice Graham Evans Robert […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Conservative Way Forward was launched after Margaret Thatcher was ousted as Tory leader. Its aim was to promote her beliefs and values throughout the Conservative Party. In much of the last decade it has struggled to win profile or supporters but has enjoyed something of a revival in the last […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter. 4pm update: People's Pledge sources tells me that Anne Marie Morris, the MP for Newton Abbot has come out in support of a referendum. Mike Freer, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, has also backed a referendum. This is significant because Freer was not one of the 81 rebels, […]
A variety of reactions are pasted in this blog. The names of those calling for some change of message, priority or operational changes are emboldened. We have also included the contributions of MPs who have not advocated substantial changes. 5.45pm A little round-up of what Tory MPs have said during the day: David Ruffley MP […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter In the Commons yesterday, a debate was held on whether to suspend Sunday trading restrictions for the period of the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. The Bill passed through the House, with only extremely minor rebellion from the Tory benches. This was surprising because there was some consternation felt by […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter On Tuesday evening Graham Brady hosted the fourth parliamentary reception of 'Friends of Grammar Schools'. About one hundred Tory MPs turned out – one-third of the parliamentary party – to mix with representatives of the grammar school system and also the Education Secretary, Michael Gove. One Labour MP, Kate Hoey, […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter A special meeting of the 1922 Committee has just broken up. 70 Tory MPs gathered to discuss Lords reform. Only one MP spoke in favour. Citing polling numbers, the former YouGov CEO and normally uber-loyal Nadhim Zahawi warned the meeting that Lords reform would be a political disaster. Another Tory […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter After much legal and diplomatic wrangling, Theresa May has managed to get Qatada back behind bars and begin the deportation process – if the courts will let her. May told the House this afternoon: "The assurances and information that the Government has secured from Jordan mean that we can undertake […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter Mike Nesbitt, a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Strangford, has been elected Ulster Unionist Party leader at the UUP's annual conference, with 81% of the vote. 54 year-old Nesbitt, a former presenter of evening news programme UTV Live, who was elected to the NI Assembly in last year's elections, beat John […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter Traditionally, after a Budget speech, high-profile MPs speak in the debate that follows, to give their verdict on the Budget. Compiled below are some of the most significant contributions. Firstly, Andrew Tyrie, the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, raised his concerns about the Government's proposed scheme for banks to […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter The Forty. The 301. The 2020. These are some of the groups formed by Conservative MPs after the last general election. Most are largely made up of, or driven by, 2010-intake MPs. Over the next few weeks, I'll be profiling some of these groups. Today, we kick off with the […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter Conservative HQ has just released the news that Jackie Whiteley will be the candidate for the Bradford West by-election – which will be held on the 29th March. This time last year, after Labour MP Denis MacShane was suspended from the party, Whiteley was confirmed as the "Conservative Parliamentary […]