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Tom Scotson

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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.
Tory MPs and Housing Industry Leaders Clash Over Leasehold Reform
Home affairs
Tory MPs and Housing Industry Leaders Clash Over Leasehold Reform
A number of Conservative MPs and housing industry leaders have clashed over a key part of the upcoming Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, after the Government promised to tackle "unfair" ground rents faced by leaseholders.
Tory MPs Back Sir Elton John's Call For Ban On Conversion Therapy
Home affairs
Tory MPs Back Sir Elton John's Call For Ban On Conversion Therapy
Tory MPs have backed Sir Elton John's call for a ban on conversion therapy after he expressed his disappointment that the Government had failed to outlaw the practice.
Civil Liberties Campaigners Warn Digital Pound Could Be 'Detrimental' To Privacy
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Civil Liberties Campaigners Warn Digital Pound Could Be "Detrimental" To Privacy
Big Brother Watch, a leading civil liberties campaign group, has published a report arguing that a new digital pound could be “detrimental to people’s privacy” and worry Government could use it to track people’s spending habits.
What To Expect In The New Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
Political parties
What To Expect In The New Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill
A Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill will be brought forward in Parliament on Monday afternoon, as campaigners and MPs gear up to widen the Bill’s scope and make it more radical.
David Cameron Appointed Foreign Secretary In Shock Move
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
David Cameron Appointed Foreign Secretary In Shock Move
Rishi Sunak has appointed David Cameron as foreign secretary after the prime minister embarked on a major cabinet reshuffle.
Confidence Grows That Football Regulator Can Be In Place Within A Year
Culture
By Tom Scotson
Confidence Grows That Football Regulator Can Be In Place Within A Year
Football campaigners and MPs are confident a new football regulator could be made law in a year’s time, after a proposed Football Governance Bill to reform the Game was announced in the King’s Speech on Tuesday.
Football, Crime And Energy At The Centre Of Final King's Speech Before Election
Parliament
By Tom Scotson
Football, Crime And Energy At The Centre Of Final King's Speech Before Election
The King’s Speech was read out by Charles III on Tuesday which set out the Government's priorities for the year ahead.
What To Expect On Government Leasehold Reform
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
What To Expect On Government Leasehold Reform
A Leasehold Bill is widely expected to be included in the King’s Speech on Tuesday, and campaigners are pushing the Government to reform the system.
Government Has Already Started Hiring For Senior Football Regulator Role
Culture
By Tom Scotson
Government Has Already Started Hiring For Senior Football Regulator Role
A senior role in the Civil Service to kickstart an independent football regulator has already closed its application process, as a Bill to reform the sport is widely expected to be included in the King's Speech next week.
Senior Civil Servant Warned Government Had No Plan For Covid-19 And Could 'Kill Thousands'
Health
Senior Civil Servant Warned Government Had No Plan For Covid-19 And Could "Kill Thousands"
Helen MacNamara, the former Deputy Cabinet Secretary, has told the Covid inquiry she was extremely concerned the Government did not have an adequate plan to deal with Covid-19 prior to a nationwide lockdown called in March 2020.
Keir Starmer Continues To Rule Out Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Arguing It Would Enable Hamas
Defence
Keir Starmer Continues To Rule Out Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Arguing It Would Enable Hamas
Labour leader Keir Starmer has continued to insist a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is not the "correct position now" arguing that doing so would benefit Hamas and impact efforts to push for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Football Campaigners Want New Independent Regulator To Be Given 'Teeth'
Culture
By Tom Scotson
Football Campaigners Want New Independent Regulator To Be Given "Teeth"
Grassroots campaigners have argued a new football regulator must be given “teeth” to hold clubs to account, following reports that a new independent body could be included in the King's Speech.
Conservative MP Robert Courts Elected As Chair Of Defence Committee
Defence
Conservative MP Robert Courts Elected As Chair Of Defence Committee
Conservative MP Robert Courts has been elected as Chair of the Defence Select Committee after Tobias Ellwood resigned over praising the Taliban.
Defence Secretary Agrees To Let Serving Personnel Give Evidence On Poor Housing
Defence
Defence Secretary Agrees To Let Serving Personnel Give Evidence On Poor Housing
The Conservative chair of the defence sub-committee has welcomed Defence Secretary Grant Shapps’s decision to allow serving personnel to give evidence about living in poor quality accommodation.
Government To Push Ahead With Rental Reforms Despite Backlash From Tory MPs
Political parties
Government To Push Ahead With Rental Reforms Despite Backlash From Tory MPs
The Renters' Reform Bill passed its second reading on Monday, despite mounting opposition from Conservative MPs against the reforms and Levelling-up Secretary Michael Gove.
Liberal Democrats Could Focus On Fewer Seats After Stalled By-Election Winning Streak
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Liberal Democrats Could Focus On Fewer Seats After Stalled By-Election Winning Streak
The Liberal Democrats may have to “concentrate their efforts” and target fewer seats at the next election, after the party failed to win in Mid-Bedfordshire and came a distant third in Tamworth.
MP Says UK Opening Israel-Gaza Refugee Programme Would Show West Had 'Failed'
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
MP Says UK Opening Israel-Gaza Refugee Programme Would Show West Had "Failed"
Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Alicia Kearns has said that a new Israel-Palestine refugee programme would show the West had "failed" in preventing people being displaced by conflict in the region.

Senior Conservatives Urge Government To Proscribe Iran's IRGC As Terrorists
Defence
Senior Conservatives Urge Government To Proscribe Iran's IRGC As Terrorists
The Government is under growing pressure from its own MPs to proscribe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation following the recent terror attack in Israel.
Defence Secretary Refuses To Say Whether Gaza Evacuation Order Breaks International Law
Foreign affairs
By Tom Scotson
Defence Secretary Refuses To Say Whether Gaza Evacuation Order Breaks International Law
Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, has refused to say whether Israel is breaking international law by giving Palestinian civilians 24 hours to leave Northern Gaza.
Housing Leaders Praise Labour’s Bold But “Pragmatic” Plans For Green Belt Homes
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Housing Leaders Praise Labour’s Bold But “Pragmatic” Plans For Green Belt Homes
Leading figures in the housing sector and MPs have welcomed Keir Starmer’s announcement that a Labour government would overhaul the planning system to build new towns and houses across the country – including on the green belt.
Labour Has An 'Ambitious' But 'Pragmatic' Vision On Housing
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Labour Has An "Ambitious" But "Pragmatic" Vision On Housing
Labour leadership is pitching an "ambitious" but "pragmatic" housebuilding policy at its conference in Liverpool this year, where the issue has been woven through a number of shadow ministers' offerings.
Rising stars: Meet the Conservative Party’s ambitious young MPs
Political parties
By Tom Scotson
Rising stars: Meet the Conservative Party’s ambitious young MPs
Could the Conservative Party’s ambitious young MPs be the answer to its woes? Tom Scotson speaks to a few of them
Liz Truss Accused Of 'Corbynite Toryism' And Disrupting Conservative Conference
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Liz Truss Accused Of "Corbynite Toryism" And Disrupting Conservative Conference
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss has been accused of "Corbynite Toryism" after a disruptive fringe event at Conservative Party Conference where she set out her stall on growth to hundreds of Tory Party activists.

Relationship Between Bishops And Government Could Be 'Unfixable' After Migration Clashes
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
Relationship Between Bishops And Government Could Be "Unfixable" After Migration Clashes
A former senior advisor to Bishops in the House of Lords has said their relationship with Government could be "unfixable" after the two groups have repeatedly clashed over illegal migration.
Hospitality Leaders Worry Smoking Curbs For Younger People Would “Damage Pubs”
Health
By Tom Scotson
Hospitality Leaders Worry Smoking Curbs For Younger People Would “Damage Pubs”
Hospitality groups are concerned that that tougher anti-smoking laws that government is reportedly considering would “damage pubs” and “undermine” pub culture in the UK.
Government Under Pressure To Move Rental Reforms Through Parliament
Communities
Government Under Pressure To Move Rental Reforms Through Parliament
The Government is under increasing pressure to bring forward the Renters’ (Reform) Bill, which is set to ban no-fault evictions, after campaigners raised concerns that the legislation could be at risk of being dropped.
Defence Secretary Criticised For Stopping Army Personnel Giving Evidence On Poor Housing
Defence
Defence Secretary Criticised For Stopping Army Personnel Giving Evidence On Poor Housing
A Conservative MP has criticised Defence Secretary Grant Shapps for preventing army personnel from giving evidence in Parliament about living in poor quality accommodation.
Tory MP Warns Downing Street A Centralised Digital Currency Could Risk Privacy
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Tory MP Warns Downing Street A Centralised Digital Currency Could Risk Privacy
A Conservative MP has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to raise concerns about what a centralised digital currency could mean for privacy after the Bank of England and Treasury have discussed how one could be implemented in the future.
Tories Welcome Bank of England's Interest Rate Pause But Warn They're 'Not Out Of The Woods'
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Tories Welcome Bank of England's Interest Rate Pause But Warn They're "Not Out Of The Woods"
A number of Conservative MPs have welcomed the Bank of England’s decision to keep interest rates at 5.25 per cent, but claimed the central bank’s rapid increases in the Bank Rate prior to today may have damaged economic growth.
All The Changes Rishi Sunak Is Making To Net Zero Pledges
Economy
By Tom Scotson
All The Changes Rishi Sunak Is Making To Net Zero Pledges
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a significant overhaul of the government's net zero policy, including pushing back the ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.
Conservative MPs Fear For Their Seats If High Interest Rates Linger
Economy
By Tom Scotson
Conservative MPs Fear For Their Seats If High Interest Rates Linger
Conservative MPs are growing increasingly nervous that interest rates remaining high could be doing serious damage to their prospects at the next general election, which is due to be called before the end of 2024.
Housing Advocates Want Government To Reform 'Medieval' Leasehold System
Home affairs
Housing Advocates Want Government To Reform "Medieval" Leasehold System
Housing campaigners are eager for Government to reform the “medieval” leasehold system this year by tackling high annual costs and making it easier for leaseholders to buy the freehold of a home.
New Report Wants To Make Planning 'Sexy' To Boost Housebuilding
Home affairs
By Tom Scotson
New Report Wants To Make Planning "Sexy" To Boost Housebuilding
A cross-party group of MPs is working up a report that aims to make planning “sexy” in the latest bid to boost housebuilding in towns and cities across the UK.
What You Need To Know About A Bank Of England Digital Currency
Economy
What You Need To Know About A Bank Of England Digital Currency
Like many major economies including the EU, US and China, the UK government and the Bank of England have been formally exploring what a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) would look like and how it would work.