The BBC's Mark D'Arcy has noted a number of so-called Presentation Bills tabled by Peter Bone, Chris Chope and Philip Hollobone. Mark presents these bills as an Alternative Queen's Speech. They include: The EU Membership (Referendum) Bill The BBC Licence Fee (Abolition) Bill The National Service Bill The Asylum Seekers (Repatriation to Safe Countries) Bill […]
I wondered earlier this week here whether Labour MPs would use the Select Committee elections to make life difficult for David Cameron. They didn't. Instead, they lined up behind the Conservative establishment candidates. Andrew Tyrie took the Treasury Select Committee; Richard Ottaway, Foreign Affairs (a big, big consolation prize, after his defeat in the 1922 […]
As most readers know, the Select Committee Chairmanships have been carved out among the parties, and tomorrow's elections for the posts will be cross-party. So Conservative MPs, for example, can vote for Labour candidates, and vice-versa. Jonathan has a list of those standing here. A question follows: on what basis will Labour MPs vote for […]
At questions to the MP representing the House of Commons Commission (Nick Harvey) yesterday, a succession of Conservative MPs raised issues about the cost of the recently refurbished Bellamy's Bar being turned into a nursery for the children of MPs and House of Commons staff… Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): This important issue has not suddenly arisen […]
The motion put forward by Nick Brown MP was as follows: "That the Resolutions of the House of 30 January 1989 relating to House of Commons Services and 6 December 1991 relating to Access (Former members and United Kingdom members of the European Parliament) shall cease to have effect insofar as they relate to United […]
In the Commons yesterday Christopher Chope MP introduced a Bill that would ensure revenue from the licence fee would only go to public service broadcasting. Here are some key sections of his contribution: The definition of public service broadcasting currently used by the BBC is useless: "The argument is that if we are to have […]
Christopher Chope MP was unsuccessful yesterday in his bid to block the UK Youth Parliament from ending centuries of exclusive use of the Commons by elected MPs. Here are some of the MP for Christchurch’s arguments: "I could understand a case being made for the use of this Chamber by any number of different organisations, […]
Update: Daniel Hannan is also outraged at the democratic deficit. Alan Duncan, Shadow Leader of the House at Business Questions, and Anne Main, Julie Kirkbride and Christopher Chope later, all pressed yesterday for full parliamentary scrutiny of the Bank of England’s momentous decision to start printing £75bn of extra banknotes: Alan Duncan: "Why are we […]
Christchurch MP Christopher Chope introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill yesterday on employment opportunities. He made a very persuasive speech, and it should be noted that no-one rose to speak against it (although Labour MP for Thurrock Andrew Mackinlay expressed concern about unfair competition). Herewith the speech in full: "Mr. Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con): I […]
Yesterday the House of Commons continued to debate the Climate Change Bill. In particular, the Government is eager that emissions from shipping and international aviation be reduced. They have not been included in the Bill’s target of an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, however. Instead amendments have been introduced that […]
On Friday, backbencher Christopher Chope had the Second Reading of his Broadcasting (Television Licence Fee Abolition) Bill. He explained: "This debate is about abolishing the television licence fee, which is more accurately described as the television tax. It is not about abolishing the BBC. One can be a friend of the BBC—as I am—without being […]
Christopher Chope yesterday presented the European Union (Audit of Benefits and Costs of UK Membership) Bill. It stands next to no chance of coming into force. Christopher Chope on how Gordon Brown exaggerates our economic relationship with the EU: "Only as recently as Wednesday, the Prime Minister was using that familiar refrain of justification for […]
Tory MPs speak against Julie Morgan MP’s Private Members’ Bill in favour of lowering the voting age to sixteen. Brooks Newmark: "One of the big challenges is that it is hard enough to get 18 to 21-year-olds to vote, yet they too, at an earlier stage, called for more representation and wanted a say in […]