This essay from Edward Leigh MP appears in the new book published this week by ConservativeHome, entitled The Future of Conservatism. Find out more about the book. The UK has a labyrinthine tax system. Much of the responsibility for this lies with the last Labour government, which burdened British citizens and businesses with over 5,000 pages of […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. Last night at least 32 Tory MPs (listed below) voted with Labour against an 88% hike in Britain's contribution to the IMF. The hike is to partly fund the IMF's ability to fund bailouts. I write "at least" because I've only quickly scanned the voting list. Please email tim@conservativehome.com […]
MPs began debating the report stage of the Finance Bill yesterday, and voting did not finish until nearly 2am this morning. The most notable point is that there was a rebellion in favour of a new clause to provide for the transfer of personal income tax allowances between spouses. The new clause was tabled by […]
By Jonathan IsabyFollow Jonathan on Twitter I have already covered Conor Burns' sideswipe at Lord Heseltine from the debate on Lords reform, but what else happened during the debate? Overall, one got the impression that (with a few exceptions) the Conservative benches were highly sceptical about an elected second chamber – including many who are […]
By Jonathan IsabyFollow Jonathan on Twitter Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister in the Commons yesterday saw a long line of Conservative MPs seeking to ask Nick Clegg about his plans to reform the House of Lords. I think it's fair to conclude that the scepticism about meddling with the composition of the second chamber […]
by Paul Goodman As some MPs prepared for the Easter recess, one in particular was still in the Commons yesterday – that inveterate attender, Peter Bone (Wellingborough). He moved the second reading of his Broadcasting (Public Service Content) on behalf of Christopher Chope (Christchurch), which succeeded the Broadcasting (Television Licence Fee Abolition) Bill, also originally […]
By Jonathan Isaby It was remiss of me not to realise that yesterday was the 80th birthday of Lord Tebbit as I would have been delighted to note it in ConHome's Gazette. However, this landmark in the life of the former Cabinet Minister did not escape the notice of several Conservative MPs, resulting in the […]
In the Commons yesterday evening, Edward Leigh MP secured an Adjournment debate on the future of the BBC World Service's Hindi Service. The Service's audience: This is an important Adjournment debate about the future of the BBC’s Hindi radio service. At the moment, it is broadcast for three hours a day, divided between the morning […]
By Jonathan Isaby Yesterday saw the Second Reading of the Protections of Freedom Bill, which – in the words of the Homes Secretary, Theresa May, "gives us a chance to roll back the creeping intrusion of the state into our everyday lives, and to return individual freedoms to the heart of our legislation." Among other […]
by Paul Goodman I've glanced back at the Prime Minister's Commons statement on Monday about Libya, and found the following: Richard Ottoway asked whether defence co-operation with Gaddafi was misjudged. Edward Leigh demanded no further cuts in the Royal Navy. James Arbuthnot asked about Hamas's refusal to hold elections in Gaza. John Baron inquired what […]
By Jonathan Isaby Answering an Urgent Question from Ed Balls – in his last outing as shadow home secretary – Home Office Minister Damian Green yesterday confirmed that the Government is next week reducing the maximum period for pre-charge detention of terrorist suspects from 28 days to 14 days. Here's how he made the announcement […]
By Jonathan Isaby Yesterday Justice Secretary Ken Clarke presented his Green Paper on Criminal Justice, “Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders”. ConHome has already covered some of the announcements contained therein here and here, but here are some of the highlights of what Mr Clarke said in presenting the Green Paper […]
By Jonathan Isaby Yesterday MPs passed the following motion without the need for a division: "That this House regrets the unnecessarily high costs and inadequacies of the systems introduced by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA); calls on the IPSA to introduce a simpler scheme of office expenses and Members’ allowances that cuts significantly the […]
By Jonathan Isaby Yesterday saw a debate in the Commons on the recent Strategic Defence and Security Review. Several Conservative MPs took the opportunity to raise questions about the deal signed this week between David Cameron and President Sarkozy for Britain and France to share aircraft carriers. James Arbuthnot, who chairs the Defence Select Committee, […]
Edward Leigh is the Member of Parliament for Gainsborough. For centuries, men and women in Britain have fought for the right to express in words what is in their hearts. Freedom of speech is, perhaps, our most precious civil liberty after the right to life itself. But there is a widely held concern that civil […]