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Mon, 27 March 2023

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Editor's choice
A hot mess – the difficulties of decarbonising home heating
Energy
By Adam Bell
A hot mess – the difficulties of decarbonising home heating
Adam Bell, head of policy at Stonehaven, walks us through the perils and pitfalls in trying to decarbonise the heating of our homes
Everything You Need To Know About Boris Johnson's Privileges Committee Showdown
Parliament
Everything You Need To Know About Boris Johnson's Privileges Committee Showdown
Boris Johnson faced the privileges committee on Wednesday in a long-awaited session to interrogate what he knew about lockdown parties in Downing Street and to determine whether he knowingly or recklessly misled parliament when he was prime minister.
Octopus boss Greg Jackson: The UK is going backwards on renewables
Communities
By Tali Fraser
Octopus boss Greg Jackson: The UK is going backwards on renewables
Greg Jackson has been working 14 days straight but he is not complaining. “This is what no one tells you about trying to launch an international company,” he jokes, “but I don’t mind by the way, I love my job.”
The Jonathan Reynolds interview: 'Vulnerability could and should be a universal standard'
Economy
By Tali Fraser
The Jonathan Reynolds interview: "Vulnerability could and should be a universal standard"
Jonathan Reynolds talks to Tali Fraser about a universal standard of vulnerability when it comes to energy policy – and his faith as a Christian where, he says, ‘questions of poverty and vulnerability are central’. Photography by Baldo Sciacca
Sharing the windfall – how to make green energy work for the UK
Energy
By Sam Dumitriu
Sharing the windfall – how to make green energy work for the UK
Sam Dumitriu, head of policy at Britain Remade, argues that if we want onshore wind, we need to both empower and properly compensate our local communities
What Economists Say About Key Spring Budget Announcements
Economy
What Economists Say About Key Spring Budget Announcements
One of the UK's leading independent economic research units, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has issued its verdict on key elements of Jeremy Hunt's Spring Budget: tax, childcare, and health related benefits.
What Is Really Happening With Inflation?
Economy
What Is Really Happening With Inflation?
Inflation has been one of the central challenges facing the government as it attempts to improve the UK's gloomy economic outlook, and in Wednesday's Spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was keen to stress that his "plan is working" to bring it down.
What Does The Independent Budget Watchdog Say About Jeremy Hunt's Plans?
Economy
What Does The Independent Budget Watchdog Say About Jeremy Hunt's Plans?
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt referred to the assessment of the Office for Budget Responsibility at the start of his Spring Budget statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday, including their forecast that "the UK will not now enter a technical recession this year". 
All The Major Announcements In The Spring Budget: Childcare, Energy and Pensions Boost
Economy
All The Major Announcements In The Spring Budget: Childcare, Energy and Pensions Boost
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered a confident Spring Budget to MPs in the House of Commons on Wednesday with measures intended to boost the UK's workforce as he confirmed the UK was no longer in "technical recession".

Virtual Reality 'Metaverse' Could Pose New Dangers To Children Online
Technology
Virtual Reality "Metaverse" Could Pose New Dangers To Children Online
Parliamentarians will be warned that the landmark Online Safety Bill may not currently go far enough to protect from emerging child safety threats posed by online virtual reality communities known as the "metaverse".
Rishi Sunak May Have Exorcised The UK's Diplomatic Demons In Renewed Friendship With France
Brexit
Rishi Sunak May Have Exorcised The UK's Diplomatic Demons In Renewed Friendship With France
After a winter of economic turmoil Rishi Sunak is still struggling to turn around the government's tattered reputation back home, but on the global stage he is enjoying greater success.
How Britain's Built Environment Became Degraded
Communities
By JS Curl
How Britain's Built Environment Became Degraded
In a stinging polemic, architectural historian and author of Making Dystopia Professor James Stevens Curl gives The House his view on exactly how Britain’s built environment lost its way
What's going to be in the Budget?
Economy
By John Johnston
What's going to be in the Budget?
Don’t expect any major surprises in next week’s Budget, writes PoliticsHome reporter John Johnston – but expect a scrap over tax.
Violence in politics is perverting our democracy – but it need not be a given
Social affairs
By Vicky Ford MP
Violence in politics is perverting our democracy – but it need not be a given
In the past seven years two Members of our Parliament have been murdered including my much-loved Essex neighbour, Sir David Amess.
The Kwajo Tweneboa interview: 'We’re meant to be in 2023. This is like Victorian slum housing”
Communities
By Tali Fraser
The Kwajo Tweneboa interview: "We’re meant to be in 2023. This is like Victorian slum housing”
Kwajo Tweneboa was forced to become an activist after watching his father die in a flat that was not fit to live in. He tells Tali Fraser about the pressure he’s under as he fights for a good home for all – and why he feels let down by Labour.
Should MPs Be Worried About Using TikTok?
Technology
Should MPs Be Worried About Using TikTok?
MPs’ use of TikTok to bolster their personal brands is on the rise, and it’s not just younger parliamentarians on it – Energy Security and Net Zero secretary Grant Shapps is as enthusiastic about posting on the short video app as millennial MPs he shares the green benches with.
How The Northern Ireland Protocol Deal Will Work And The Big Questions That Remain
Brexit
How The Northern Ireland Protocol Deal Will Work And The Big Questions That Remain
The UK and European Union have finally agreed a deal on resolving the Northern Ireland Protocol, dubbed the 'Windsor Framework'.
Why Are Supermarkets Running Out Of Some Fruits And Vegetables?
Environment
Why Are Supermarkets Running Out Of Some Fruits And Vegetables?
Some supermarkets have placed sales limits on certain fruits and vegetables as a result of shortages of certain products including tomatoes and salad leaves.
Who's In And Who's Out In The Race To Replace Nicola Sturgeon As SNP Leader?
Political parties
Who's In And Who's Out In The Race To Replace Nicola Sturgeon As SNP Leader?
Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf are among the top names who have formally declared their intention to run to become Scottish National Party leader and First Minister of Scotland after Nicola Sturgeon resigned from the job last week.
Common People? When Britpop and politics met
Culture
By Rob Merrick
Common People? When Britpop and politics met
Thirty years ago, in 1993, a new musical movement emerged that led to a flirtation between New Labour and Britpop. Rob Merrick takes a look at what this unlikely interaction between politics and popular music tell us about their relationship
The Tristram Hunt interview: 'If people want to rewrite a museum label, great!'
Culture
By Tali Fraser
The Tristram Hunt interview: "If people want to rewrite a museum label, great!"
Director of the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum and former Labour MP Tristram Hunt talks to Tali Fraser about rewriting gallery labels, turning off Netflix and the lack of tech billionaire donors.
Photography by Louise Haywood Schiefer
Who Will Be The Next First Minister of Scotland?
Political parties
Who Will Be The Next First Minister of Scotland?
Nicola Sturgeon is to stand down as Scotland's First Minister, having served for a record-breaking eight years – and now everyone is asking who will be chosen to replace her.
The infected blood scandal – how a key warning was ignored
Health
By Tom Sasse
The infected blood scandal – how a key warning was ignored
With the Infected Blood Inquiry nearing its conclusion, The House has heard that the then-department of health ignored and downplayed calls in the early 1980s to mitigate risks and warn patients. Tom Sasse reports.
The Great British Workforce Mystery
Economy
By James Kirkup
The Great British Workforce Mystery
Nearly 400,000 people aged 50 and over have, in the blink of an eye, disappeared from the British workforce in the wake of the pandemic. James Kirkup, director of the Social Market Foundation, asks where they’ve gone – and how we can get them back.
Frontline Worker Pay Is Struggling To Keep Up With Rising Rental Prices
Home affairs
Frontline Worker Pay Is Struggling To Keep Up With Rising Rental Prices
New analysis from PoliticsHome has found that recently qualified nurses and police officers are seeing a significant chunk of their income eaten away by rented accommodation as the government faces pressure to increase public sector pay.
Britain's waterways: do we need a right to connect or the right to clean rivers?
Environment
By Baroness McIntosh
Britain's waterways: do we need a right to connect or the right to clean rivers?
While the government rightly looks to growth, innovation and the housing that the United Kingdom desperately needs, the discussion needs to also address the fact that much of England’s water courses and wastewater infrastructure is still living in the 19th century.
Broken Britain: Blaenau Gwent – the most deprived constituency in Wales
Economy
By Victoria Winckler
Broken Britain: Blaenau Gwent – the most deprived constituency in Wales
Blaenau Gwent is at or near the top of almost every league you don’t want to win. This small constituency, in the north-eastern corner of the South Wales valleys, is known as the birthplace of NHS founder Nye Bevan and home of the mighty Ebbw Vale steelworks. Today it is also known for its high levels of poverty and deprivation, low levels of educational qualifications and low wages. Many people would see Blaenau Gwent as an archetypal “left behind” community.
Why Thousands Of Teachers Are Going On Strike
Education
Why Thousands Of Teachers Are Going On Strike
Thousands of teachers in England and Wales are set to strike on Wednesday after talks between education unions and the government failed to reach an agreement.
MPs Insist 1992's Narrow Tory Victory Is A Blueprint For Rishi Sunak To Cling To Power
Political parties
MPs Insist 1992's Narrow Tory Victory Is A Blueprint For Rishi Sunak To Cling To Power
Hope and belief that Rishi Sunak can pull off a 1992-style Conservative general election victory is gaining traction among his MPs — in their public statements, at least — despite opinion polls continuing to show large, double-digit leads for the Labour Party.
Who Is Going On Strike And When In February?
Health
Who Is Going On Strike And When In February?
Mass walkouts are set to take place across multiple sectors in February affecting the NHS, schools, rail services and more.
What You Need To Know About Michael Gove's Post-Grenfell Cladding Crackdown
Communities
What You Need To Know About Michael Gove's Post-Grenfell Cladding Crackdown
Housing Secretary Michael Gove has announced tough new plans to hold developers responsible for funding repair works to buildings with fire safety issues, and warned those who fail to comply could be blacklisted from the market.
Pastimes: Ros Urwin gets into jazz with Lord Kerslake
Culture
By Rosamund Urwin
Pastimes: Ros Urwin gets into jazz with Lord Kerslake
In her occasional series, Rosamund Urwin meets up with parliamentarians to discuss how they unwind away from Westminster. Here, Lord Kerslake shares his love of jazz
Cladding chaos: Why some tenants are suffering from the drive to remove cladding
Health
By Andrew Kersley
Cladding chaos: Why some tenants are suffering from the drive to remove cladding
In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, flammable cladding was removed from flats around the country. As Andrew Kersley discovers, some has yet to be replaced – and as the cost of living crisis escalates, tenants are suffering as a result
The Jonathan Ashworth interview: “We're going to shift power and resources out of Whitehall”
Economy
By Tali Fraser
The Jonathan Ashworth interview: “We're going to shift power and resources out of Whitehall”
Following his keynote speech setting out Labour’s plans for jobs and welfare, Jonathan Ashworth tells Tali Fraser about linking together health and employment services, his childhood experience of benefits and his determination to not become addicted to work.

Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer
Our ambitious levelling up agenda will unlock the potential of the entire country
Economy
By Dehenna Davison MP
Our ambitious levelling up agenda will unlock the potential of the entire country
In recent weeks, the government has applied a laser-like focus to restoring trust in the economy and dealing decisively with inflation.
The Winners And Losers From The Latest Round Of Levelling Up Funding
Communities
The Winners And Losers From The Latest Round Of Levelling Up Funding
The government has announced their second round of funding from the £4.8bn levelling up scheme aimed at reducing inequality across the UK but have faced criticism over regional disparity.