By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter Yesterday in the House, an emergency debate was held on the following resolution, which was moved by Bill Cash: "That this House has considered the matter of the legal and other action now to be taken by the Government in upholding the rule of law and protecting UK interests […]
By Joseph Willits Follow Joseph on Twitter In a backbench debate on the European Council yesterday, veteran Eurosceptic MP Bill Cash warned that a proposed fiscal union would be both undemocratic as a whole, and damage the national interests of the UK. The Liberal Democrats, he said were currently an "obstruction to our vital national interests", and […]
Friday 8.45am John Redwood MP blogs: "Orderly but rapid break up would be the least cost option. It would liberate the countries allowed out, and permit them to adjust their competitiveness by a devaluation which would be swift and easier to sell than large wage cuts. There is no foundation to the proposition that the […]
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 […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. In the late 1990s the Tories became the anti-€uro party but in the Commons yesterday a Tory Treasury minister would not echo Boris Johnson's comments and say that it was time for Greece to leave the single currency and pursue an export-led recovery. The frontbench's reluctance contrasted with the […]
by Paul Goodman Caroline Spelman was questioned in the Commons yesterday about the waste review. One of the main matters raised was weekly bin collections, and perhaps the best place to start is with two quotes. The first is from my colleague Harry Phibbs yesterday, citing the Government's review of waste policy as follows: "The […]
by Paul Goodman This morning's reports of Andrew Lansley's Commons statement yesterday haven't missed that he was unsupported in the Chamber by the presence of senior Cabinet colleagues. (The Prime Minister was en route to Pakistan.) What some may have missed is the strong support given to the Health Secretary by Conservative backbenchers. Some it, […]
by Paul Goodman No great surpise there, of course. But three speeches from the Conservative backbenches yesterday evening give the flavour of the first day's debate. First, Andrew Tyrie (Chichester), the Chairman of the Treasury Select Committtee, choosing at the end of his speech to back the budget to throw his weight behind the Chancellor's […]
By Tim Montgomerie Who has the real power in UK-EU relations? Douglas Carswell, noting that policy towards the EU seems to more or less stay the same whichever party is in power, argues that the UK's Permanent Representative at the EU holds significant power. It reminds me of that Yes, Minister sketch when Sir Humphrey […]