Archive for the ‘House of Commons’ Category
Working for an MP
I came across this amazing site, w4mp, which provides you with a huge range of resources related to working for MPs, whether in a constituency office or in Westminster. Some of the information is only relevant or available to current members of staff, but there is plenty of advice and information available for anyone looking for a career which involves working for an MP.
Working for an MP is a useful way to make the connections required to get into politics, so if you’re thinking of a career along those lines—as I have in the past—then w4mp is well worth a look.
MPs vote to ban smoking
Tonight in the House of Commons, MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a total ban of smoking in all enclosed public spaces. By making the decision a free vote (meaning that the party whips will not tell members which way to vote), the government has managed to avoid too much criticism about the outcome. Although the Labour manifesto originally promised a partial ban that would not affect private members’ clubs, senior government figures, including the Prime Minister, voted in favour of a total ban.
Media coverage
Boris Johnson returns to the front bench
Everyone’s favourite bumbling politician, the Right Honourable Boris Johnson, MP for Henley, has been appointed Shadow Education Minister by the new Conservative leader David Cameron. It’s not the first time Boris has been on the front bench; many of us can still remember the day he was appointed Shadow Arts Minister, only to be sacked later on for failing to disclose details of his personal life – including an extra-marital affair. Hopefully this time he’ll manage to stay in the job for longer, perhaps even making it into the Cabinet itself if the Conservatives win the next general election (something which, until recently, seemed impossible but is now within reach).
Unfortunately the demands of the post mean that Boris will be stepping down from his role as editor of the Spectator, which he has been involved with for over six years. It’s a shame to see him leave the magazine, but I’m sure they’ll appoint a new editor who, whilst perhaps not quite as eccentric a figure as Boris, will do an excellent job of continuing the success it has enjoyed over the past few years.
In the meantime, best of luck to Mr Johnson in his new job, hopefully he’ll give the current Minister for Education, Ruth Kelly (who is MP for Bolton West, not that far away from me) a run for her money over the coming months.
Further coverage
MP talks bill out of the Commons
MP’s marathon speech sinks bill via BBC News
The Right Honourable Andrew Dismore, Labour Member of Parliament for Henmon, has managed to “talk out” the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Protection of Property) Bill by delivering a mammoth speech lasting a grand total of 197 minutes. This practice, often known as filibustering, involves debating a motion or proceedings on a bill up until the “moment of interruption” (the time at which the main business of the Commons day ends), when the business is lost or postponed. In other words, Dismore talked the bill out of the Commons by using up all the time available to debate it, and as such the bill now stands no chance of becoming law.
In delivering such a lengthy speech, Dismore also broke his own previous record for the longest Commons oration this century, which previously stood at 181 minutes. He still fell some way short of the six hour speech delivered by Henry Brougham in 1828 though, and even further behind the eleven hour marathon of John Golding on the Telecommunications Bill in 1983 – although the latter speech was delivered at a standing committee as opposed to in the Commons chamber, and therefore the MP was allowed breaks for meals.