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Mon, 25 September 2023

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Zoe Crowther

Zoe Crowther

Zoe Crowther is Social Media Journalist for PoliticsHome and The House magazine. She was previously a freelance journalist.

Liberal Democrats Are Braced For Housing Row At Conference
Communities
By Zoe Crowther
Liberal Democrats Are Braced For Housing Row At Conference
Housing is at the top of the agenda at the Liberal Democrat party conference, as the leadership hopes to pass a controversial motion to ditch national housing targets for private sector homes and instead commit to building thousands of “community-led” social homes.
Lords Accuse Rishi Sunak Of Dodging Scrutiny On Net Zero Delays
Environment
By Zoe Crowther
Lords Accuse Rishi Sunak Of Dodging Scrutiny On Net Zero Delays
Peers in the House of Lords have accused the government of attempting to dodge scrutiny from MPs and peers in parliament, claiming the Prime Minister was originally planning to announce delays to net zero policies when parliament was in recess for party conferences.
Lib Dem Deputy Denies Pension Triple Lock Creates 'Intergenerational Injustice'
Social affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Lib Dem Deputy Denies Pension Triple Lock Creates "Intergenerational Injustice"
Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has defended the state pensions triple lock and said she does not believe that it leads to “intergenerational injustice”.
Government Accused Of A 'Wishy Washy' Stance On China
Foreign affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Government Accused Of A "Wishy Washy" Stance On China
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has described the government’s stance on China as “wishy washy”, after the government responded to a damning report by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC).
Online Safety Bill Set To Pass But 'Huge Gaps' Could Remain
Technology
By Zoe Crowther
Online Safety Bill Set To Pass But "Huge Gaps" Could Remain
The historic Online Safety Bill has reached its final stages of parliament, but a number of figures who have sought to shape the legislation fear that "huge gaps" remain in the law to make the internet a safer place.
Government Warns Against Shutting Out China After Spy Allegations
Foreign affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Government Warns Against Shutting Out China After Spy Allegations
Conservative MPs have stressed the importance of continued dialogue with China, with the deputy prime minister saying it was important to "look the Chinese in the eye" and one backbench MP warning that “fear” could affect the UK’s ability to compete with other nations and defend itself.
Government Urged To Create New Digital Transformation Minister Role
Technology
By Zoe Crowther
Government Urged To Create New Digital Transformation Minister Role
The government should appoint a dedicated minister across the Cabinet Office and Treasury to lead a much-needed digital transformation of government, according to a new report.
Major Union Boss Wants To Inspire Activism In Non-Union Workplaces
Social affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Major Union Boss Wants To Inspire Activism In Non-Union Workplaces
General secretary of the Trade Unions Congress (TUC) Paul Nowak has said he hopes that recent successes by trade union activists will help drive up membership in workplaces with low union representation, ahead of his speech at the organisation’s annual congress on Monday.
Education Committee To Investigate 'Bigger Picture' Surrounding Schools Concrete Crisis
Education
By Zoe Crowther
Education Committee To Investigate "Bigger Picture" Surrounding Schools Concrete Crisis
The education committee will investigate the “bigger picture” surrounding the RAAC concrete crisis that has affected schools across the UK.
Rishi Sunak Makes “No Apology” For Addressing School Concrete Safety Concerns Now
Education
By Zoe Crowther
Rishi Sunak Makes “No Apology” For Addressing School Concrete Safety Concerns Now
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at Prime Minister’s Questions that the government would make “no apology” for acting to close more than 150 schools at risk of collapse due to faulty concrete.
Public Spending Watchdog To Investigate Delays To Multimillion-Pound Pensions Project
Economy
By Zoe Crowther
Public Spending Watchdog To Investigate Delays To Multimillion-Pound Pensions Project
Exclusive: The National Audit Office has agreed to investigate delays into the government’s long-awaited Pensions Dashboard project, which is now expected to be rolled out seven years late after costing the taxpayer millions of pounds.
Keir Starmer Overhauls Labour Shadow Cabinet With An Influx Of Experienced Allies
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Keir Starmer Overhauls Labour Shadow Cabinet With An Influx Of Experienced Allies
Labour leader Keir Starmer has carried out a major reshuffle of his shadow cabinet, appointing a number of veterans of the last Labour government in an apparent attempt to strengthen the experience in his top team ahead of the next general election.
Tory MPs Continue To Pressure Rishi Sunak For Tax Cuts As He Plans Big Reset
Economy
By Zoe Crowther
Tory MPs Continue To Pressure Rishi Sunak For Tax Cuts As He Plans Big Reset
Conservative MPs have accused the government of getting the “balance wrong” between aiming to slow inflation and holding back on tax cuts ahead of the Autumn Statement.
New Lib Dem MP Predicts Jacob Rees-Mogg Will Be 'Booted Out' By Voters
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
New Lib Dem MP Predicts Jacob Rees-Mogg Will Be "Booted Out" By Voters
The new Liberal Democrat MP for Somerton and Frome has said she believes neighbouring Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg will be “booted out” by her party at the next general election, along with “large swathes” of other Tories.
Government Urged To 'Get On With' Regulating AI Ahead Of Rest Of World
Technology
By Zoe Crowther
Government Urged To "Get On With" Regulating AI Ahead Of Rest Of World
The government must address 12 key challenges presented by artificial intelligence and needs to urgently introduce legislation to tighten regulation around AI and get ahead of international competitors, according to a new select committee report.
Foreign Secretary Defends China Diplomacy Despite Criticism From MPs
Foreign affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Foreign Secretary Defends China Diplomacy Despite Criticism From MPs
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has defended his visit to China against criticism from MPs that the government's stance on China has been "incoherent", as he visits the country for the first time.
New Uxbridge MP Wants To Be The “Voice Of The People” And Stop ULEZ
Environment
By Zoe Crowther
New Uxbridge MP Wants To Be The “Voice Of The People” And Stop ULEZ
Steve Tuckwell, the newly elected MP for Boris Johnson’s former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, has said he wants to be the “voice of the people” and continue to push back against the expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) scheme into outer London.
Party Accounts Show Labour Out-Earning Tories
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Party Accounts Show Labour Out-Earning Tories
The Labour Party has continued to raise more money than the Conservative Party, according to the most recent political party accounts released by independent watchdog the Electoral Commission.
Millions Of GCSE Lessons Taught By Non-Specialist Teachers
Education
By Zoe Crowther
Millions Of GCSE Lessons Taught By Non-Specialist Teachers
GCSE pupils across the UK have had more than 75 million lessons taught by non-specialist teachers in the last two years, according to research carried out by the Liberal Democrats.
Government To 'Look At Law' To Force Murder Convicts To Attend Court
Home affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Government To "Look At Law" To Force Murder Convicts To Attend Court
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that government has been looking at changing the law to ensure those convicted of "horrendous crimes" must attend court and face their victims, after serial killer Lucy Letby refused to attend her sentencing today.
Local Bank Closures Risk Excluding Vulnerable People From Financial Services, Says Labour Frontbencher
Communities
By Zoe Crowther
Local Bank Closures Risk Excluding Vulnerable People From Financial Services, Says Labour Frontbencher
A Labour shadow minister has said Britain cannot “just abandon cash” and must ensure people have access to in-person banking, as major banks are closing down scores of branches across the UK, including in her constituency in Wales.
Military Warned To Urgently Adapt To Climate Change Threats
Environment
By Zoe Crowther
Military Warned To Urgently Adapt To Climate Change Threats
The Ministry of Defence must adapt its strategic resilience to cope with changing demands from climate change, a new defence committee report has warned.
Labour MP Demands Investigation Into Multimillion-Pound Pensions Project Running 7 Years Late
Economy
By Zoe Crowther
Labour MP Demands Investigation Into Multimillion-Pound Pensions Project Running 7 Years Late
A Labour MP has asked the National Audit Office to investigate the delays to the government’s long-awaited Pensions Dashboard project, which has cost the taxpayer millions of pounds.
Wimbledon Expansion Could Have 'National Ramifications' For Building On Protected Land
Communities
By Zoe Crowther
Wimbledon Expansion Could Have "National Ramifications" For Building On Protected Land
As the expansion of Wimbledon’s tennis courts is hit with further delays, local MP Stephen Hammond has urged all sides to improve the application, arguing that the proposed development could have “national ramifications”.
Do Labour's U-Turns Really Matter?
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Do Labour's U-Turns Really Matter?
A number of high-profile pledges made by Keir Starmer when he ran to become Labour’s leader in 2020 have been retracted by the party since he won the top job.
Lib Dem MP Says 'Blue Wall Attack' Will Ramp Up After By-Election Victory
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Lib Dem MP Says "Blue Wall Attack" Will Ramp Up After By-Election Victory
The strong Liberal Democrat victory in the Somerton and Frome by-election means the party should aim to “retake full possession” of their old strongholds in the south west of England and in Scotland, according to Lib Dem MP Jamie Stone.
Liberal Democrats Win Somerton And Frome By-Election, Overturning Huge Tory Majority
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Liberal Democrats Win Somerton And Frome By-Election, Overturning Huge Tory Majority
The Liberal Democrats have overturned a Conservative majority of more than 19,000 in the Somerton and Frome by-election, delivering a blow to the government as it looks ahead to its prospects at the next general election.
Date Of King's Speech Announced As Parliament Enters Summer Recess
Parliament
By Zoe Crowther
Date Of King's Speech Announced As Parliament Enters Summer Recess
As parliament rises for summer recess, Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt has announced the King’s Speech will take place on 7 November.
Conservatives Brace For Triple By-Election With Odds Stacked Against Them
Political parties
By Zoe Crowther
Conservatives Brace For Triple By-Election With Odds Stacked Against Them
As by-election polling day approaches in three English constituencies, the odds appear stacked against the Conservatives for hopes that they'll hold onto seats vacated by their MPs.
Government Warned Against Allowing Big Tech Firms To 'Dictate' AI Policy
Technology
By Zoe Crowther
Government Warned Against Allowing Big Tech Firms To "Dictate" AI Policy
Alex Davies-Jones, Shadow Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has said “big players” in the tech industry should not be “dictating” to government how artificial intelligence policy should look and that urgent regulation is needed, in response to a damning new report by the Ada Lovelace Institute.
MP Calls For End To 'Toxic Debates' On LGBT Rights Ten Years After Same-Sex Marriage Legalised
Social affairs
By Zoe Crowther
MP Calls For End To "Toxic Debates" On LGBT Rights Ten Years After Same-Sex Marriage Legalised
Conservative MP Mike Freer has said "heated, toxic debates" over LGBT rights must end, ten years after he fought for his own right to marry his husband with the legalisation of same-sex marriage in England and Wales.
Civil Service Pay System “Not Fit For Purpose” As Senior Staff Offered Larger Raise
Economy
By Zoe Crowther
Civil Service Pay System “Not Fit For Purpose” As Senior Staff Offered Larger Raise
The FDA union considers the civil service pay system to be “not fit for purpose” and in need of reform, despite the union accepting the pay recommendations set out by the Prime Minister on Thursday.
The tectonic plates of technology are shifting, but can digital skills in the UK keep up?
Technology
By Zoe Crowther
The tectonic plates of technology are shifting, but can digital skills in the UK keep up?
Hailed as our first ‘tech bro’ prime minister, Rishi Sunak loves to talk about the UK’s potential as a world leader in digital technology. But with government departments and public services facing a huge digital skills gap, he has a challenge on his hands. Zoe Crowther reports
Brexit Prep Left UK “Match Fit” for Covid-19 Crisis, Gove Says
Coronavirus
By Zoe Crowther
Brexit Prep Left UK “Match Fit” for Covid-19 Crisis, Gove Says
Michael Gove has said that government preparations for Brexit meant the UK was better placed to respond to crises posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
'True Blue' Somerton And Frome Residents Are Losing Faith In Conservatives
Communities
By Zoe Crowther
"True Blue" Somerton And Frome Residents Are Losing Faith In Conservatives
Among the Union Jacks flying proudly alongside stone cottages in the rural villages of Somerton and Frome, a scattering of tangerine Liberal Democrat signs has emerged in the once “true blue” constituency.
Large Events Could Be At Risk Of Being Overlooked In Anti-Terror Laws
Home affairs
By Zoe Crowther
Large Events Could Be At Risk Of Being Overlooked In Anti-Terror Laws
Conservative MP Tim Loughton has accused the government of "under-legislating" to mitigate terror risks at large, commercial venues with its draft anti-terrorism bill, while punishing small venues which are at much lower risk from attacks.