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Caitlin Doherty

Caitlin is a reporter at PoliticsHome having previously written for The Yorkshire Post and PA.

Peer Demands Timeline For Post-Grenfell Safety Works
Communities
By Caitlin Doherty
Peer Demands Timeline For Post-Grenfell Safety Works
A Conservative former Cabinet minister has said he could try to change the government’s flagship leasehold bill in an effort to improve reporting for buildings that need safety work completing in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Constituency Staff Could Remain At Risk Despite Parliament Ban For MPs Arrested Over Sexual Assault
Parliament
By Caitlin Doherty
Constituency Staff Could Remain At Risk Despite Parliament Ban For MPs Arrested Over Sexual Assault
A union representing staff working for MPs in and out of parliament has said that a new ban on MPs who have been arrested in connection with sexual assault does not go far enough to protect those working in constituency offices.

By-Election Winner Faced 'Complete Step Change' On Becoming An MP
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
By-Election Winner Faced "Complete Step Change" On Becoming An MP
Alistair Strathern, the recently elected MP for Mid-Bedfordshire has said he faced a “complete step change” on entering parliament without the resources he had enjoyed during his election campaign.
Tories Suffer Tough Local Elections As Labour Cleans Up In Mayorals
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Tories Suffer Tough Local Elections As Labour Cleans Up In Mayorals
The Conservatives have faced a second difficult day of local election results, after Labour took the mayoralty in the West Midlands beating Tory incumbent Andy Street, and Sadiq Khan comfortably beat Susan Hall to retain the London position.
Sadiq Khan Re-Elected London Mayor For Historic Third Term
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Sadiq Khan Re-Elected London Mayor For Historic Third Term
Sadiq Khan has been re-elected as Mayor of London for a third term, beating the Tory candidate with a comfortable majority.
Smaller Parties' Locals Success Hints At Challenges To Come For Labour And Tories
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Smaller Parties' Locals Success Hints At Challenges To Come For Labour And Tories
The local election performances of both the Green Party and Reform could give an indication of electoral challenges to come for Labour and the Conservatives into the general election and beyond, electoral experts have suggested.
Failure To Carry Out Post-Grenfell Work Leaves Residents In 'Perpetual Anxiety'
Social affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Failure To Carry Out Post-Grenfell Work Leaves Residents In "Perpetual Anxiety"
Labour’s shadow minister responsible for building safety and homelessness Mike Amesbury has said people in homes built with potentially dangerous materials are caught in a “perpetual state of anxiety and frustration”, and accused developers and insurers of playing “ping pong” with remediation work.
Former Justice Secretary Doubts 'Pyjama Injunction' Will Block Rwanda Deportations
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Former Justice Secretary Doubts "Pyjama Injunction" Will Block Rwanda Deportations
Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland believes it is “very unlikely” that European courts could use an injunction again to stop asylum seekers being deported from the UK to Rwanda now that the revised legislation has passed.
North West Could Become A 'Sea Of Red' At General Election
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
North West Could Become A "Sea Of Red" At General Election
The North West could be transformed into a “sea of red” at the General Election as Labour looks set to dominate in the region of “bellwether” seats, according to electoral experts.
Rwanda Plan Set To Become Law After Parliamentary Battle
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Rwanda Plan Set To Become Law After Parliamentary Battle
Rishi Sunak’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda will become law, after the House of Lords dropped their final opposition.
MPs And Peers Brace To Sit Until Early Hours With Rwanda Bill
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
MPs And Peers Brace To Sit Until Early Hours With Rwanda Bill
MPs and peers are bracing to potentially sit until the early hours, after the Prime Minister vowed that the Rwanda plans would be finalised “no ifs, no buts”.
Persistent Rwanda Deadlock Could Kill Rishi Sunak's Deportation Plans
Parliament
By Caitlin Doherty
Persistent Rwanda Deadlock Could Kill Rishi Sunak's Deportation Plans
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill will be back in front of MPs on Monday, as parliamentary ping-pong has pushed the process into another week, and while the Prime Minister is insistent it will clear its final hurdles, a rarely used convention could put its future at risk.
Rishi Sunak Vows To End 'Sick Note Culture' On 'Moral Mission' To Reform Welfare
Health
By Caitlin Doherty
Rishi Sunak Vows To End "Sick Note Culture" On "Moral Mission" To Reform Welfare
Rishi Sunak has vowed to end the “sick note culture” and as he has declared a “moral mission” to reform the welfare system.
Growth Of Smaller Parties Could Encourage Rethink Of Parliament Rules
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Growth Of Smaller Parties Could Encourage Rethink Of Parliament Rules
The growth in the number and influence of smaller parties across the UK could encourage officials to look again at the rules which govern parties’ influence in the Commons, a parliamentary expert has said.
Lords Holding Firm On Rwanda Bill Dampens No.10 Hopes Of Spring Deportations
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Lords Holding Firm On Rwanda Bill Dampens No.10 Hopes Of Spring Deportations
Rishi Sunak’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda will not become law until next week at the earliest, after the House of Lords held out and continued to change the bill on Wednesday night.
Veteran Tory Fears A 'Desert Period' Awaits The Conservatives Post-Election
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Veteran Tory Fears A "Desert Period" Awaits The Conservatives Post-Election
Conservative MP Tim Loughton, who plans to stand down at the next election after 27 years in the Commons, predicts his party is about to enter a “desert period" if Labour enters government with as big a majority as expected.
Lords Could Continue To Hold Out For More Concessions On Rwanda Bill
Parliament
By Caitlin Doherty
Lords Could Continue To Hold Out For More Concessions On Rwanda Bill
The House of Lords could continue holding out on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, after MPs voted to strip out a series of changes peers made to Rishi Sunak’s bill.
Who Is Doing The Heavy Lifting To Get Change Through Parliament?
Parliament
By Caitlin Doherty
Who Is Doing The Heavy Lifting To Get Change Through Parliament?
It takes two houses to turn government policy into solid laws, and the political chaos of the last decade – not least with the upheaval of Covid and Brexit – means how the Commons and the Lords interact has found itself in the spotlight.
Rwanda Bill Set For Final Wrangling After Latest Government Defeats
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Rwanda Bill Set For Final Wrangling After Latest Government Defeats
The government's Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill will return to parliament next week, where MPs and peers will undertake what looks likely to be the final round of wrangling over Rishi Sunak's contentious plans to deport asylum seekers to the east African country.
MP Hopefuls Have The 'Luxury' Of Not Knowing Everything
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
MP Hopefuls Have The "Luxury" Of Not Knowing Everything
Parliamentary candidates hoping to become MPs at the next general election still have the “luxury” of being able to “admit that you don’t know everything about everything,” according to a Conservative MP who will be standing down.
Major Parties Braced For 'Three Way' Battle For The South West At The General Election
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Major Parties Braced For "Three Way" Battle For The South West At The General Election
The South West is gearing up for a tight “three-way contest” between Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives at the next general election, as both opposition parties seek to oust incumbent Tories.
Elections Expert Warns Of 'Marked Downturn' In Turnout Due To Voter Apathy
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Elections Expert Warns Of "Marked Downturn" In Turnout Due To Voter Apathy
Lord Robert Hayward has warned that there could be a “marked downturn” in turnout at the next general election, as parties choose more local candidates in an attempt to fend off voter apathy towards Westminster.
Crime Bill Could Give Police Chiefs Power To Automatically Dismiss Officers
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Crime Bill Could Give Police Chiefs Power To Automatically Dismiss Officers
Police officers could have to hand over their phones if suspected of gross misconduct, and be automatically dismissed if convicted of a serious offence if changes to the government’s Criminal Justice Bill proposed by Labour MP Harriet Harman are accepted.
Obsession With Where MPs Grew Up Could Be 'Hugely Damaging' To Politics
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Obsession With Where MPs Grew Up Could Be "Hugely Damaging" To Politics
A recent emphasis on the importance of MP candidates being from the area they seek to represent has been “hugely, hugely, hugely damaging to politics,” according to the journalist whose work scrutinises parliamentary candidate selections.
Government Has Scaled Back The Renters' Reform Bill
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Government Has Scaled Back The Renters' Reform Bill
Ministers have delayed their own plans to ban no-fault evictions, as the landmark Renters' Reform Bill has been watered down.
Why Is Angela Rayner Facing Questions Over Her Tax Arrangements?
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Why Is Angela Rayner Facing Questions Over Her Tax Arrangements?
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner is facing questions over her tax arrangements relating to the sale of her former council house.
Londoners Are More Concerned About Cost Of Living And Housing Than Crime
Communities
By Caitlin Doherty
Londoners Are More Concerned About Cost Of Living And Housing Than Crime
Crime is of "secondary" concern to Londoners behind housing and the cost of living, according to Antonia Jennings, chief executive of the Centre for London think tank.


Rishi Sunak Faces Blackpool By-Election After Scott Benton Resigns As MP
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Rishi Sunak Faces Blackpool By-Election After Scott Benton Resigns As MP
Former Conservative MP Scott Benton has resigned his Blackpool South seat, triggering what could be another damaging by-election for Rishi Sunak.
Voters Are Split On Backing Candidate Over Party At Mayoral Elections
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Voters Are Split On Backing Candidate Over Party At Mayoral Elections
New data has shown that voters are split as to whether to prioritise candidate or party in May's mayoral elections meaning the results may not prove to be the best bellwether for anticipating the outcome of this year's general election.
Rishi Sunak Kicks Off Conservative Local Elections Campaign
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Rishi Sunak Kicks Off Conservative Local Elections Campaign
Rishi Sunak has launched the Conservatives’ local election campaign in Derbyshire, ahead of what is expected to be a difficult test for the party before the General Election.
Government Confirms MPs Won't Tackle Rwanda Bill Until Mid-April
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Government Confirms MPs Won't Tackle Rwanda Bill Until Mid-April
The Rwanda Bill will not be passed until mid-April at the earliest, with confirmation this morning that MPs will get the chance to vote on Lords’ amendments on their first day back in Parliament after Easter recess.
Electoral System Could Be 'Stretched To Breaking Point' Ahead Of Vote
Communities
By Caitlin Doherty
Electoral System Could Be "Stretched To Breaking Point" Ahead Of Vote
Electoral registration systems could be “stretched to breaking point” ahead of the general election , according to the head of a cross-party committee of MPs.
Rwanda Bill Stuck In Parliament Until After Easter
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Rwanda Bill Stuck In Parliament Until After Easter
Rishi Sunak's flagship Rwanda Bill will remain caught in parliamentary "ping-pong" until after Easter recess as peers in the House of Lords increasingly believe a new set of amendments to the legislation could scrape through.
Weary Peers Want Rwanda Bill 'Out The Way' So Government Can Handle Challenges
Home affairs
By Caitlin Doherty
Weary Peers Want Rwanda Bill "Out The Way" So Government Can Handle Challenges
Peers in the House of Lords are keen to get the Rwanda Bill "out the way", as despite the fact there are still some concerns around the controversial legislation, many believe the real challenges in enacting it will “start, not finish” when it clears its parliamentary hurdles.
Elections Expert Wants MP Hopefuls To Stop Obsessing About Social Media
Political parties
By Caitlin Doherty
Elections Expert Wants MP Hopefuls To Stop Obsessing About Social Media
Social media may not be the most effective way for prospective MP candidates to endear themselves to voters, as according to one elections expert, the political reach of online platforms “can be overstated”.
New MPs Encouraged To Join Select Committees To 'Make A Difference' In Politics
Parliament
By Caitlin Doherty
New MPs Encouraged To Join Select Committees To "Make A Difference" In Politics
Joining a select committee would be the “really obvious route” for MPs new to Parliament or opposition to “make a difference”, according to an Oxford political scientist.