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Tom Scotson

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MPs Asked For Views On Islamophobia Definition
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
MPs Asked For Views On Islamophobia Definition
The Islamophobia Working Group will meet MPs and peers next week as part of its work to produce a definition. 
Tory Lords Push To Stop Hereditary Peers Being Removed By Labour Reforms
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Tory Lords Push To Stop Hereditary Peers Being Removed By Labour Reforms
Senior Tories in the House of Lords are pushing for hereditary peers to avoid removal from the unelected chamber by being made life peers instead.
Labour MPs Urge Government To Proscribe Iran's Revolutionary Guard As Israel Ceasefire Wobbles
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Labour MPs Urge Government To Proscribe Iran's Revolutionary Guard As Israel Ceasefire Wobbles
A number of Labour MPs have urged the government to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as the conflict between Iran and Israel risks further escalation.
Home Office Proscribes Palestine Action Under Terrorism Law
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Home Office Proscribes Palestine Action Under Terrorism Law
The government has announced it will proscribe Palestine Action under terrorism law after the group broke into and vandalised RAF base Brize Norton.
Government Seeks Input On Including Racism In Islamophobia Definition
Communities
By Tom Scotson
Government Seeks Input On Including Racism In Islamophobia Definition
The government working group tasked with producing a new Islamophobia definition has sent out a call for evidence to ask whether it should include racism.
Nigel Farage Hopes The Iranian Regime Is “Wiped Out'
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Nigel Farage Hopes The Iranian Regime Is “Wiped Out"
Nigel Farage hopes the Iranian regime is “wiped out” in its conflict with Israel. 
Labour MPs Split Over Whether To Recognise Palestinian State
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Labour MPs Split Over Whether To Recognise Palestinian State
Labour MPs are divided over whether now is the time to recognise a Palestinian state as conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.
Tory Donors Urged To Boost Kemi Badenoch’s Social Media Presence
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Tory Donors Urged To Boost Kemi Badenoch’s Social Media Presence
The Conservative Party co-chairman has asked donors to put money into boosting Kemi Badenoch’s social media presence.
The Ayoub Khan Interview: 'A Lot' Of MPs Are In Talks About Joining The Pro-Gaza Independents
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
The Ayoub Khan Interview: "A Lot" Of MPs Are In Talks About Joining The Pro-Gaza Independents
Ayoub Khan, one of five pro-Gaza MPs in the ‘Independent Alliance’ group, talks to Tom Scotson about Israel and Palestine, same-sex marriage, and forming a new party
Labour MP Accuses Priti Patel Of Not 'One Word of Sympathy For Palestinians In Gaza'
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Labour MP Accuses Priti Patel Of Not "One Word of Sympathy For Palestinians In Gaza"
A Labour MP has accused Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel of not having expressed “one word of sympathy for Palestinians in Gaza” in the House of Commons.
Keir Starmer Announces Winter Fuel U-Turn After Public Backlash
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Keir Starmer Announces Winter Fuel U-Turn After Public Backlash
Keir Starmer has confirmed that the government will change the winter fuel payment threshold following backlash over how it would affect pensioners.
Labour MPs Urge Government To Harden Position On China
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Labour MPs Urge Government To Harden Position On China
Labour MPs have urged the government to harden its “naive” stance on China and prevent the Chinese Communist Party from acquiring critical infrastructure and silencing activist communities in the United Kingdom.
UK, France, Canada Vow To Take 'Concrete Actions' If Israel Does Not Stop Gaza War
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
UK, France, Canada Vow To Take "Concrete Actions" If Israel Does Not Stop Gaza War
The UK, France and Canada have jointly promised to take "further concrete actions" if Israel does not stop its renewed military operations in Gaza and fails to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid reaching the strip.
Keir Starmer Says New UK-EU Deal Is 'What British People Voted For'
Brexit
By Tom Scotson
Keir Starmer Says New UK-EU Deal Is "What British People Voted For"
Keir Starmer has said the new UK deal with the European Union will deliver on what "the British people voted for" at the general election, after the two sides on Monday announced an agreement covering food, defence and students.
Racism In Football Is On The Rise, Says Anti-Discrimination Charity
Social affairs
By Tom Scotson
Racism In Football Is On The Rise, Says Anti-Discrimination Charity
Racism is on the rise in football, anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out has told PoliticsHome.
Welsh Labour Looks To 2026 Elections With Fear
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Welsh Labour Looks To 2026 Elections With Fear
Labour has dominated politics in Wales for decades. But party figures there fear major losses at the 1 May local elections in England were a sign of what's to come across the border next year.
Conservative MP Patrick Spencer Charged With Sexual Assault
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Conservative MP Patrick Spencer Charged With Sexual Assault
Conservative MP Patrick Spencer has been charged with two counts of sexual assault.
Man Arrested After Fires At Homes Linked To Keir Starmer
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Man Arrested After Fires At Homes Linked To Keir Starmer
The Metropolitan Police have arrested a man in relation to fires at London homes linked to the Prime Minister.
Andy Burnham Leads Calls For Government To Tackle Dementia In Football
Culture
By Tom Scotson
Andy Burnham Leads Calls For Government To Tackle Dementia In Football
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is leading calls for government and football authorities to do more to address the sport’s “shocking” dementia crisis.
Friends Like These: How Trump Is Hurting Conservatives Across The Anglosphere
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Friends Like These: How Trump Is Hurting Conservatives Across The Anglosphere
Mark Carney’s Canada win and Anthony Albanese's victory in Australia led many to claim that Donald Trump has become an electoral liability for other right-wing leaders. Tom Scotson assesses his impact on Anglosphere democracies
Labour MP Calls For Capped Ticket Prices And Alcohol On Terraces As Part Of Football Reform
Culture
By Tom Scotson
Labour MP Calls For Capped Ticket Prices And Alcohol On Terraces As Part Of Football Reform
A Labour MP has called for the government to allow fans to drink on terraces and cap away ticket prices at £30 as part of its plans to reform football.
Labour MPs Call For Iranian Revolutionary Guards To Be Proscribed As Terrorists
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Labour MPs Call For Iranian Revolutionary Guards To Be Proscribed As Terrorists
Exclusive: Labour MPs are leading renewed calls for the government to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
Labour Figures Fear More Gaza Independent Gains At The Local Elections
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Labour Figures Fear More Gaza Independent Gains At The Local Elections
Muslim voters have been part of Labour's voter coalition for decades. However, with war in Gaza raging and high levels of disillusionment in Muslim communities, many turned to independent candidates at last year's general election. Some Labour figures fear this phenomenon isn't going away anytime soon.
Tories Criticise 'Outrageous' Choice Of Football Regulator Chair Who Donated £75,000 To Labour MPs In Two Years
Culture
By Tom Scotson
Tories Criticise "Outrageous" Choice Of Football Regulator Chair Who Donated £75,000 To Labour MPs In Two Years
Senior Conservative MPs have criticised the “outrageous” government decision to appoint a Labour donor as the head of the new independent football regulator.
Five Days In Israel: 'Victory For Us Is Civilians Coming Back'
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Five Days In Israel: "Victory For Us Is Civilians Coming Back"
For two decades, Bicom has worked to put Israel’s case in the British media, including by taking small groups of journalists to the country. Tom Scotson went on one of their first trips since the October 7 attacks and subsequent war in Gaza. He found a people in trauma, united in a belief they face an existential threat and yet deeply divided over Benjamin Netanyahu. These are his impressions over five days last month
Labour MP Mood Hardens On Israel
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Labour MP Mood Hardens On Israel
Labour MPs are stepping up calls for a firmer government response to Israel after two MPs were denied entry for a professional visit to the West Bank.
Labour MPs Step Up Campaign For Digital ID
Technology
By Tom Scotson
Labour MPs Step Up Campaign For Digital ID
A group of Labour MPs is urging the government to adopt digital ID cards to help drive economic growth and improve public sector efficiency.
New Right Wing Think Tank With Links To Reform Plans Spring Launch
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
New Right Wing Think Tank With Links To Reform Plans Spring Launch
A new think tank that has recently met with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is planning to launch in the next few weeks, PoliticsHome understands.
Welfare Cuts Will Push 250,000 People Into Poverty, Says Government Impact Assessment
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Welfare Cuts Will Push 250,000 People Into Poverty, Says Government Impact Assessment
Labour’s welfare reforms will see an additional 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – pushed into relative poverty, government analysis has found.
Brother Of Hostage In Hamas Captivity Says It's A 'Miracle' He Isn't More Seriously Ill
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Brother Of Hostage In Hamas Captivity Says It's A "Miracle" He Isn't More Seriously Ill
The brother of a hostage who was abducted by Hamas on 7 October 2023 has told PoliticsHome it is a "miracle" that he has not suffered from a more serious illness as his time in captivity approaches 18 months.
Trump Must Force Putin's Hand For Any Hope Of Peace Deal, Says Ex-UK Ambassador To Russia
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Trump Must Force Putin's Hand For Any Hope Of Peace Deal, Says Ex-UK Ambassador To Russia
A Ukraine peace deal will only happen if US president Donald Trump threatens to throw his “full weight" behind the war-torn country, a former UK ambassador to Russia has said.
Nigel Farage Says JD Vance Is 'Wrong, Wrong, Wrong' After Claims He Insulted British Troops
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Nigel Farage Says JD Vance Is "Wrong, Wrong, Wrong" After Claims He Insulted British Troops
Nigel Farage has said JD Vance was “wrong, wrong, wrong” after the US vice president appeared to describe the prospect of an Anglo-French force in Ukraine as “20,000 troops from some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.
Keir Starmer Calls Choosing Between US and EU 'Totally Unserious'
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Keir Starmer Calls Choosing Between US and EU "Totally Unserious"
It is “totally unserious” to suggest that the UK must choose between siding with Europe or the United States in its approach to the war in Ukraine, Keir Starmer has said.
Foreign Aid Should Not Be Spent On Migrant Hotels, Says Labour MP
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Foreign Aid Should Not Be Spent On Migrant Hotels, Says Labour MP
A Labour MP has urged the government to protect foreign aid money from being spent on migrant hotels as Keir Starmer faces a party divide over his decision to cut the overseas development budget.
International Development Minister Resigns Over Foreign Aid Cut
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
International Development Minister Resigns Over Foreign Aid Cut
International development minister Anneliese Dodds has resigned over the government's decision to cut the foreign aid budget.
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury Jailed For Ten Weeks
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury Jailed For Ten Weeks
Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury has been jailed for ten weeks after punching a man in the street.