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Tom Scotson

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Government Set To Push Through Football Regulator Within Weeks
Culture
By Tom Scotson
Government Set To Push Through Football Regulator Within Weeks
The Government is expected to introduce the Football Governance Bill to parliament within weeks, which will bring forward a regulator despite the Premier League having failed to come to a financial deal.
Jeremy Hunt Says It Would Take 'Many Parliaments' To Abolish National Insurance
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Jeremy Hunt Says It Would Take "Many Parliaments" To Abolish National Insurance
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said abolishing National Insurance will be the work of "many Parliaments" after he used his Spring Budget statement last week to hint he was considering reform to the tax on workers.
Paranoid Conservative MPs Are Wary Of Losing Members To Reform UK
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Paranoid Conservative MPs Are Wary Of Losing Members To Reform UK
Conservative MPs are becoming increasingly paranoid about losing party activists and members to Reform UK after prominent former Tory MP Lee Anderson defected to the right wing party this week.

Government Split Opens Over New Extremism Definition
Home affairs
Government Split Opens Over New Extremism Definition
A split has opened in Government as ministers are concerned a new definition of "extremism" drafted by communities secretary Michael Gove could have unforeseen consequences for campaigning around conservative beliefs and unpopular causes.
What Does The Spring Budget Tell Us About When An Election Could Be Called?
Economy
By Tom Scotson
What Does The Spring Budget Tell Us About When An Election Could Be Called?
Economists and political scientists have suggested the Spring Budget package was so "small scale" it did not indicate the government was about to go to the polls.
Conservative MPs Worry Cost Of Headline Tax Cuts Will Be Hikes Elsewhere
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Conservative MPs Worry Cost Of Headline Tax Cuts Will Be Hikes Elsewhere
A number of Conservative MPs have expressed concern that any cuts to personal taxation in Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget are likely to be raising taxes on business and foreign nationals.
Government Accused Of Dragging Heels On Football Regulator With Deal Up In The Air
Culture
By Tom Scotson
Government Accused Of Dragging Heels On Football Regulator With Deal Up In The Air
Conservative MPs and football campaigners are becoming increasingly frustrated with what they describe as the Government’s “weak” position on the football regulator, as a future Football Governance Bill is yet to enter the Commons.
George Galloway Eyes Key Labour Seats After Being Sworn Into Commons
Home affairs
George Galloway Eyes Key Labour Seats After Being Sworn Into Commons
George Galloway has said he will target key Labour seats at the next general election after he was sworn in to the Commons on Monday having secured a by-election victory for the far-left Workers Party of Britain in Rochdale on Friday.
Public Sector Visa Demand Leaves Tories 'In A Corner' On Migration
Home affairs
Public Sector Visa Demand Leaves Tories "In A Corner" On Migration
Visas issued by Government increased over the last year as demand for public sector workers continued to drive up migration numbers, leaving Tory MPs, who have made significantly reduce levels of migration a core pledge, trapped "in a corner".
Renters Reform Bill Could Water Down Efforts To Abolish Fixed Term Tenancies
Home affairs
Renters Reform Bill Could Water Down Efforts To Abolish Fixed Term Tenancies
Efforts to abolish fixed term tenancies in the Renters' Reform Bill could be weakened by proposed Government amendments after pressure from backbench Tory rebels opposed to the reform.
Conservative MPs Demand VAT Cut For Struggling Pubs And Restaurants
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Conservative MPs Demand VAT Cut For Struggling Pubs And Restaurants
A letter signed by 45 Conservative MPs has called for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to reform VAT and Business Rates for hospitality businesses in the Spring Budget.
Government Is Steadfast On Reforming Leasehold Despite Resistance
Home affairs
Government Is Steadfast On Reforming Leasehold Despite Resistance
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill will receive its third reading on Tuesday and Government remains steadfast on its commitment to reform, vowing to strengthen the Bill despite backlash from some Tory MPs.
Rishi Sunak Says Intimidation Of MPs Threatens Democracy And Is 'Unacceptable'
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Rishi Sunak Says Intimidation Of MPs Threatens Democracy And Is "Unacceptable"
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said it is "unacceptable" for MPs to feel threatened in their jobs, and that a growing sense of intimidation of politicians is a threat to democracy.

Lindsay Hoyle In Turmoil As Critical MPs Call For Him To Go
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Lindsay Hoyle In Turmoil As Critical MPs Call For Him To Go
Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle is under growing pressure from critics to resign after more than 60 MPs signed a no confidence motion over his handling of an opposition day debate calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
'Car Crash' Football Regulator Talks With Culture Secretary Failed To Sweeten Clubs
Social affairs
By Tom Scotson
"Car Crash" Football Regulator Talks With Culture Secretary Failed To Sweeten Clubs
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has failed to win over several clubs in the English Football League (EFL) after a series of tense meetings which were described as “shambles” and a “car crash”.
Foreign Office Minister Says It Is 'Premature' To Talk About More Russian Sanctions
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Foreign Office Minister Says It Is "Premature" To Talk About More Russian Sanctions
A Foreign Office minister said it was too early to comment on the prospect of further sanctions on Russia as the Government said it believed Russia was “fully responsible” for the death of political activist Alexei Navalny.
Low Tax Conservatives Want Chancellor To Focus Cuts On “Squeezed Middle'
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Low Tax Conservatives Want Chancellor To Focus Cuts On “Squeezed Middle"
Leading figures in the Conservative Growth Group (CGG) are calling on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut inheritance tax and reform income tax bands which they argue would help the “squeezed middle”.
Tory Former Housing Minister Has Joined Pro-Building Pressure Group Taking On NIMBYs
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Tory Former Housing Minister Has Joined Pro-Building Pressure Group Taking On NIMBYs
Conservative MP Brandon Lewis and Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh have joined housing campaign group PricedOut as Parliamentary Champions as they urge the Government to build more homes in order to fix the housing crisis.
Government Hiring As It Aims To Have Football Regulator In Place For 2024/5 Season
Social affairs
By Tom Scotson
Government Hiring As It Aims To Have Football Regulator In Place For 2024/5 Season
The Government is set to build a new unit which will help enforce an independent Football Regulator, as a Bill to reform the sport is widely expected to be brought forward in the coming weeks.
Bullying Complaints In Ministry Of Defence Soar Over Four Years
Defence
By Tom Scotson
Bullying Complaints In Ministry Of Defence Soar Over Four Years
Bullying complaints made by civilian workers in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have surged over four years, according to new data released by ministers.
Cross Party Alliance Claims Whitehall Is Resisting Proscribing IRGC As A Terrorist Group
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Cross Party Alliance Claims Whitehall Is Resisting Proscribing IRGC As A Terrorist Group
A number of MPs from across the House of Commons have claimed there is institutional resistance from Whitehall to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group, a year after reports suggested a move could be considered.
Labour MP Says Leasehold System Is Trapping People In Homes They Can't Sell
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Labour MP Says Leasehold System Is Trapping People In Homes They Can't Sell
Labour MP Barry Gardiner has put forward an amendment to the Leasehold and Freehold Bill to reform service charges and remove another income stream for freeholders, as he continues to campaign for the abolition of the leasehold system.
Pro-Development Tories Are Desperate To Convince NIMBYs New Houses Would Be 'Popular' In Their Patch
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Pro-Development Tories Are Desperate To Convince NIMBYs New Houses Would Be "Popular" In Their Patch
A number of Conservative MPs who believe new housing should be a top priority are looking to persuade NIMBY MPs that housebuilding can be "popular" in their area, as the issue continues to bitterly divide the Tories ahead of the next election.
Contentious Ground Rents Could Cling On In New Leasehold Bill
Home affairs
Contentious Ground Rents Could Cling On In New Leasehold Bill
Leasehold campaigners are concerned the Leasehold and Freehold Bill will not cap ground rents to peppercorn rates, a measure that would significantly ease the financial burden on leaseholders. 
Cross Party Alliance Calls For IRGC To Be Proscribed As Terrorist Group
Defence
Cross Party Alliance Calls For IRGC To Be Proscribed As Terrorist Group
A cross-party group of MPs has reiterated calls for the government to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, a year after suggestions such a move could be considered.
Transition Talks Between Opposition And Civil Service Should Start Immediately, Says New Report
Home affairs
Transition Talks Between Opposition And Civil Service Should Start Immediately, Says New Report
Transition talks between the Civil Service and opposition party should begin in January if Keir Starmer’s Labour is ready to govern the country effectively, a new Institute for Government (IfG) report has warned.
Hopes Rise For Spring Reform Of “Feudal” Leasehold System, But Legal Concerns Remain
Home affairs
Hopes Rise For Spring Reform Of “Feudal” Leasehold System, But Legal Concerns Remain
Parliamentarians and campaigners are hopeful the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, which seeks to tackle “inequality” in the housing market, could be put into law early next year, after it faced little opposition in the House of Commons.
WhatsApp Could Be The “Secret Battleground” In The Next General Election
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
WhatsApp Could Be The “Secret Battleground” In The Next General Election
WhatsApp is set to play a major part in 2024’s UK general election, with political strategists and parties already preparing to use the ubiquitous messaging app to organise their supporters and target campaigning.
Conservative Growth Group Is Working To 'Unite The Right'
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Conservative Growth Group Is Working To "Unite The Right"
Leading figures in the Conservative Growth Group (CGG), a free market-favouring faction within the Tory Party, will place a renewed focus on uniting MPs on the right to increase pressure on the Government and bolster support for its ideas ahead of the election.
Pagers, BlackBerrys And The PM's Email: Westminster Has Long Grappled With New Technology
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Pagers, BlackBerrys And The PM's Email: Westminster Has Long Grappled With New Technology
Senior Government’s use of WhatsApp to discuss high level decisions, and all the associated accountability issues, has been a major talking point of 2023.
Government Reduces Salary Thresholds For Foreign Spouses
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Government Reduces Salary Thresholds For Foreign Spouses
The Government has watered down on its plans to increase salary thresholds for foreign spouse visas, cutting the newly proposed fee by almost £10,000.
European Super League Ruling Puts Pressure On UK To Move On New Football Regulator
Culture
European Super League Ruling Puts Pressure On UK To Move On New Football Regulator
Football campaigners and MPs have called for the Football Governance Bill, which would introduce an independent football regulator, to be introduced early next year after the decision to block the European Super League was found to be unlawful.
David Cameron Says 'Heat And Anger' Between UK And EU Has Gone Since Brexit
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
David Cameron Says "Heat And Anger" Between UK And EU Has Gone Since Brexit
Foreign Secretary David Cameron has said the "heat and anger" in the UK's relationship with the EU has disappeared since Brexit.
Rwanda Bill Scrapes Through Commons After Rishi Sunak Swerves Major Defeat
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Rwanda Bill Scrapes Through Commons After Rishi Sunak Swerves Major Defeat
The government's contentious Rwanda Bill has scraped through the House of Commons despite threats of a major rebellion from the right of the Tory party.
ERG Alliance Claims New Rwanda Bill Should Be 'Pulled'
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
ERG Alliance Claims New Rwanda Bill Should Be "Pulled"
The ERG Alliance has claimed the Government will be "best advised to pull" the Rwanda Bill, after the group claimed it offered a "partial" and "incomplete" solution to tackle illegal migration.
Tories Are Divided Over Whether Rishi Sunak Is “Finished” Ahead Of Rwanda Vote
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Tories Are Divided Over Whether Rishi Sunak Is “Finished” Ahead Of Rwanda Vote
Conservative MPs are split between believing Rwanda is the Government's only option to "stop the boats", and thinking the Prime Minister is “finished” ahead of Rishi Sunak's crunch vote on his emergency legislation to cut illegal migration.