House of Commons (MPs) | Politicians | Politicus - UK Politics News, Views and Commentary

Brockholes School

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:30:01 CDT

Source: Jason McCartney MP - Jason visited Brockholes J & I school to meet with Headteacher Claire Thomas, staff and pupils. In December 2012 the school was recognised as outstanding by OfSTED. Jason congratulated the staff on this fantastic achievement and was quizzed by the students on his role as an MP. The school were recently took part in the […]

Smart metering of the pre-paid electricity supply offers a way to potentially revolutionise electricity use

Sat, 25 May 2013 11:15:02 CDT

Source: Graham Jones MP - Smart metering of the pre-paid electricity supply offers a way to potentially revolutionise both the electricity delivery, and the shape of the market itself, however there is a risk that opportunities will be missed if the energy companies fail to work together in order to offer inter-operable technologies that empower consumers and inject choice into the market.

A report by Accenture on behalf

Surgeries

Sat, 25 May 2013 10:30:02 CDT

Source: James Wharton MP - A full day in the office meeting constituents to discuss a wide range of issues from social services to planning and new business start ups.

Letter from the Leader: Coming together

Sat, 25 May 2013 07:00:03 CDT

Source: Andrew Stunell MP - This was a week that put things in perspective. I know I speak for all Liberal Democrats when I say that our thoughts are with the family and friends of Drummer Lee Rigby - the British soldier attacked and killed in Woolwich on Wednesday. And I've made it clear, on the party's behalf, that we are immensely grateful to our police, security services and armed forces, who do an extraordinarily important job.

That last few days have reminded me, and probably many of you, of a simple but important truth: when your values are under attack, you have to hold on to them even more firmly than before.

Yesterday, at the request of some friends in the Muslim community, I convened a meeting, in London, of representatives from different faiths, community organisations and secular groups. Before the speeches I held a private discussion with a smaller group, and I wish I could have broadcast it across the nation. Just days after a brutal act of terror, men and women from across the faiths and political parties, gathered around the table, each calling for the same thing: unity. It would have made you immensely proud.

And there have been other victories for our values this week. Getting the Equal Marriage Bill through the House of Commons was no mean feat and it's something all Liberal Democrats should feel good about. Britain is now one step closer to being a country where all forms of love - gay or straight - are celebrated equally, and that wouldn't have happened without our party.

The Coalition was also able to confirm that hundreds of Afghan interpreters who served bravely alongside British forces will have the chance to settle in the UK. Paddy's been heavily involved with this campaign for a while. At one point, it was suggested that Afghan interpreters might not be granted this right, but clearly that was something I - we - couldn't accept. Don't forget, it was under pressure from the Liberal Democrats that the previous Labour government extended the right to reside here to Iraqi interpreters. When someone has risked their life to help our servicemen and women, it seems so obvious to me that we owe them a debt.

So it's been a difficult week, but it's also been a week which has reminded us who we are. This is an open, diverse and generous nation, where, in our toughest moments, we come together. That's something no act of hate or violence will change.

Yours,

Nick Clegg

Letter from the Leader: Coming together

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:30:02 CDT

Source: John Leech MP - This was a week that put things in perspective. I know I speak for all Liberal Democrats when I say that our thoughts are with the family and friends of Drummer Lee Rigby - the British soldier attacked and killed in Woolwich on Wednesday. And I've made it clear, on the party's behalf, that we are immensely grateful to our police, security services and armed forces, who do an extraordinarily important job.

That last few days have reminded me, and probably many of you, of a simple but important truth: when your values are under attack, you have to hold on to them even more firmly than before.

Yesterday, at the request of some friends in the Muslim community, I convened a meeting, in London, of representatives from different faiths, community organisations and secular groups. Before the speeches I held a private discussion with a smaller group, and I wish I could have broadcast it across the nation. Just days after a brutal act of terror, men and women from across the faiths and political parties, gathered around the table, each calling for the same thing: unity. It would have made you immensely proud.

And there have been other victories for our values this week. Getting the Equal Marriage Bill through the House of Commons was no mean feat and it's something all Liberal Democrats should feel good about. Britain is now one step closer to being a country where all forms of love - gay or straight - are celebrated equally, and that wouldn't have happened without our party.

The Coalition was also able to confirm that hundreds of Afghan interpreters who served bravely alongside British forces will have the chance to settle in the UK. Paddy's been heavily involved with this campaign for a while. At one point, it was suggested that Afghan interpreters might not be granted this right, but clearly that was something I - we - couldn't accept. Don't forget, it was under pressure from the Liberal Democrats that the previous Labour government extended the right to reside here to Iraqi interpreters. When someone has risked their life to help our servicemen and women, it seems so obvious to me that we owe them a debt.

So it's been a difficult week, but it's also been a week which has reminded us who we are. This is an open, diverse and generous nation, where, in our toughest moments, we come together. That's something no act of hate or violence will change.

Yours,

Nick Clegg

Watch Japan carefully

Sat, 25 May 2013 05:00:02 CDT

Source: Douglas Carswell MP - Japanese bond yields spiked this week.

"So what", you say. "Why should the return that investors get for lending the Japanese government money concern us?"

Because our own government has adopted the kind of monetary stimulus approach they've had in Japan for years. Interest rates have been kept low, zombies kept alive - and no growth. Sound familiar?

It's not just that monetary stimulus doesn't work. It has been immensely harmful, clogging up the economy with malinvestment.

Even worse, no matter how many times the government pumps more candy floss credit into the system to keep things afloat, it is unsustainable. When that moment arrives, I fear it might start in Japan and look something like this:

Japanese bond yields spike. Yields rise elsewhere as investors grow reluctant to keep taking on government IOUs.

The bond bubble bursts, and it becomes painfully clear that we've only been issuing bonds at record low rates by, in effect, rigging the market.

We then wake up one morning and find that whoever is in office faces a choice: much less money for the state-sector, or printing money and high inflation. Or both.

One day, I fear this might happen. So when Japanese bond yields rise, pay attention.

No desire for intervention in Syria

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:15:02 CDT

Source: Guy Opperman MP - William Hague came to the Commons earlier this week to update the House on the deteriorating state of the dreadful Syrian civil war. MPs are united in condemning the brutality of the current regime in Syria. Many of us are also doubtful that the UK could actually do anything.Many MPs argue that their favourite spending cut has been the decision to remove our troops from front line duties in Afghanistan and to get most of them home altogether. The withdrawal from Afghanistan is proceeding as the Afghan army and police take over the role of the running of their own country, and full credit to those involved in making that withdrawal happen. I have repeatedly urged caution over Syria. I receive little postbag urging us to action, and just one person - interestingly a devout Christian - has demanded we intervene to stop the bloodshed. The PM has been to see things for himself and diplomatically we are pressurising the Russians who have taken a bizarre approach. All of us are doing what we can for the refugees. But before acting we need to address a number of key questions:- Just who are the opposition forces we wish to help? - How can we distinguish between those opposition forces who believe in liberty and democracy, and those who wish to replace one tyranny with another? - How could we ensure any arms supply went just to the people we can be sure have the right intentions? - How do you stop the regime taking the weapons on or after delivery? - How do you distinguish between the different opponents of the regime? - How do you ensure that an apparently well intentioned opponent does not come less well intentioned should he receive arms from us? - How do you get the arms into the country against the wishes of the Syrian government?The local countries around Syria are trying to resolve this very Middle Eastern of problems but I am clear that I cannot see a reason for British troops to get involved. As always the most important thing is not to make matters worse by getting involved without a plan and the answers to the above questions.

The IMF Report

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:45:02 CDT

Source: John Redwood MP - The IMF sees a lot of worse cases than the UK economy. The summary of their report starts positively, recording “some improvement in economic and financial conditions.” They praise the strong private sector employment growth and forecast some increase in activity this year. The IMF is on an ideological journey. Under its latest Euro [...]

The Oxford Times: MP urges a bid for memorial cash to honour Bicester war heroes

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:45:01 CDT

Source: Tony Baldry MP - Bicester’s MP is calling for a lasting memorial to all of the town’s war heroes.

Banbury Guardian: Charity pulls out all the stops

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:45:01 CDT

Source: Tony Baldry MP - Residents flocked to Banbury Town Hall last Friday as Age UK Oxfordshire officially launched its new campaign.

Government overturned in the courts over work capability assessment for disabled

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:30:02 CDT

Source: Michael Meacher MP - Three cheers for the courts and mental health activists, O for the politicians and the DWP. Two days ago 3 judges ruled – as we all knew, but it required the courts to make it the law of the land – that the Government’s prescriptors, regulations and guidelines used to assess whether disabled people were eligible for [...]

Steve Jobs #agonyecstacy

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:45:02 CDT

Source: Robert Halfon MP - I went to an amazing one man play this evening at the Harlow Playhouse Theatre: the story of Steve Jobs and Apple. The Play had a twist – in that each part about Jobs, was deeply intertwined with the story of Apple products manufctured in huge factories in China.

Behind the iron rule of Steve Jobs, lay huge factories of over 400, 000 workers, many of them as young as twelve and thirteen, many of them living in tiny dormitories supplied by the factory owners ( http://rt.com/news/foxconn-china-use-children-646/). According to the play, the bad conditions and long hours led to the manufacturers – Foxconn, allegedly having an epidemic of suicides amongst the workers and puttinh up nets around the windows. Later, workers with ‘suicidal tendencies’ were fired.

Watching the Play, based on a monologue written by Mike Daisy, when he visited China, the following questions came to mind:

Who is ultimately responsible for this; the Western consumers who have adopted Apple as a secular techist religion, or the big Corporates like Apple and Foxconn who allegedly allow these things to happen? Or is it both?

I left thinking how glad I was that don’t own any Apple products. But before I got too seld-satisfied, I looked at my Blackberry and Samsung computer and asked myself, is there any difference?

P.S. You can read more here, including the whole Play: http://mikedaisey.blogspot.co.uk/p/monologues.html?m=1

P.P.S. A report on Foxconn’s working conditions is here: http://m.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/29/apple-foxconn-audit-labour-violations…

Carlisle Labour’s Lee Sherriff: our visit to the food bank

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:45:01 CDT

Source: Tom Watson MP - In a tiny side room of the Sally Army hall I was shown the shelves of tinned food available for collection the following Thursday. There were ample tins of soup, less so the more expensive tuna and tinned meat – necessary protein for a staple diet. Rachael Rodway of Carlisle foodbank took me through the [...]

Mark attends launch of report on farming communities

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:15:02 CDT

Source: Mark Williams MP - I was pleased to attend the launch of report “Putting the Spotlight on our Farming Communities – The role of Farmer Networks in Challenging areas” in the House of Commons this week. The report, which highlights the essential role farmer networks can play in supporting our agricultural industry, particularly in upland areas. The report identifies [...]

Kevan to attend official opening of Quaking Houses Community Cafe

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:00:02 CDT

Source: Kevan Jones MP - Kevan Jones, Member of Parliament for North Durham, will be attending the official opening of the new T-Junction Community Cafe at Quaking Houses Village Hall, Stanley on Monday 27 May.

Mr. Jones said, “I am very pleased to be able to join the official opening of the latest addition to the already excellent community facilities in Quaking Houses.

“The last year or so has seen the opening of the new shop and community garden, and the community cafe will be a fantastic addition.

“I would like to congratulate all those involved in this latest venture, and I am sure it will be a great success.”

The official opening will take place at 11am.

read more

Local WGC resident scoops Shop Competition voucher!

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:15:02 CDT

Source: Grant Shapps MP - Stacey Kent from Welwyn Garden City has been named as the winner of the £100 voucher as part of the recent Welwyn Hatfield Independent Shop of the Year competition. The competition run by Grant Shapps MP invited residents of Welwyn Hatfield to vote for their favourite independent shop in the area. At a presentation event [...]

End big business tax avoidance

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:01 CDT

Source: Ian Swales MP - Join my campaign to end big business tax avoidance. I am calling on the Government to step up the pressure on companies like Amazon, Google, Starbucks, M and S and Boots to pay their fair share.

Loads of big businesses now avoid taxes which means the general public have less money to improve schools, hospitals and other essential public services. It also means there ismore of a burden on us to pay higher taxes for these things.

Mr Harper updates us on migration

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:45:01 CDT

Source: John Redwood MP - In view of the continuing interest in the topic of immigration I am reproducing in full below the latest report from the Minister on progress in controlling migration : “The latest migration statistics were published today(23.5.13) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). They demonstrate that we continue to make good progress on bringing immigration [...]

London communities celebrate strength and unity at event hosted by Nick Clegg

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:01 CDT

Source: John Leech MP - The speakers at the Hugh Cubitt Peabody Centre in Islington were the Deputy Prime Minister, Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan, Conservative whip Lord Tariq Ahmad, former Army captain Afzal Amin, imam Shaykh Shams ad-Duha Muhammad of Ebrahim College and the co-chairs of Faith Forum for London, Canon Guy Wilkinson and Leonie Lewis.

Also in attendance were Colonel Hugh Bodington, Chief of Staff of the Army Headquarters at London District, and Commander Mak Chishty of the Metropolitan Police, who has been the force's community liaison for the events in Woolwich.

Representatives of London's political leaders included Damian Johnson, Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff, leader of the Assembly's Conservative group, Jenny Jones, leader of the Green Party Group and Stephen Knight, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat Group. The local MP Emily Thornberry also took part, along with Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, Tom Brake.

Transcript of the Deputy Prime Minister's speech

Campaigning for a fair deal for local pubs

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:30:01 CDT

Source: Fiona O'Donnell MP - County MP Fiona O’Donnell is supporting a new national campaign to ensure that the Government gives local pubs a fair deal. The Fair Deal for Your Local campaign supported by the Federation of Small Businesses, Forum of Private Business, the Campaign for Real Ale, Guild of Master Victuallers, Fair Pint, Licensees Supporting Licensees, Pubs Advisory Service, Justice [...]

“Support Your Local Pub or Lose it” warns MP

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:05 CDT

Source: Greg Knight MP - East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight is championing the “enormous value to local communities” of village pubs “which have been part of our culture for centuries”. “But”, he adds, “many are at risk of becoming a dying breed”. On a recent … Continue reading →

BBC admits wasting £100 million on data fiasco

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:05 CDT

Source: Stephen Barclay MP - Another day, another internal review for recently installed BBC Director General Tony Hall. This time round, it has emerged that £100m of licence fee payers’ money has been blown on the BBC’s ‘Digital Media Initiative’ since 2009 to deliver ‘little or no assets’, which in value for money terms equates to precisely nothing. After much …

King Alfred Public Meeting a Huge Success

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:30:02 CDT

Source: Mike Weatherley MP - Following a huge public meeting at Hove Town Hall, Mike Weatherley, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, is delighted by the response and huge turnout for the public meeting on the future of the King Alfred Leisure … Continue reading →

Margot James welcomes resolution of hospice grant block

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:30:02 CDT

Source: Margot James MP - Margot James has helped to resolve an impasse between the Department of Health and Mary Stevens Hospice. [read more] about Margot James welcomes resolution of hospice grant block

MP secures Climate Change Levy exemptions

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:30:02 CDT

Source: Margot James MP - Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, has secured exemptions, announced in the 2013 Budget, from the Climate Change Levy for energy-intensive businesses, to ensure that Britain’s metallurgical and mineralogical sectors remain internationally competitive. [read more] about MP secures Climate Change Levy exemptions