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Mon, 29 April 2024

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The Rundown Podcast: Where is Boris Johnson's Lawyer?
Home affairs
The Rundown Podcast: Where is Boris Johnson's Lawyer?
Labour's shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry joins PoliticsHome's Eleanor Langford and Adam Payne on this week's episode of The Rundown, and asks "where is Boris Johnson's lawyer?" after Downing Street wrangled over whether 'partygate' fine recipients broke the law this week.
Emily Thornberry Challenges Government Lawyer To Publish Partygate Legal Advice To Boris Johnson
Political parties
Emily Thornberry Challenges Government Lawyer To Publish Partygate Legal Advice To Boris Johnson
Exclusive: Emily Thornberry, the shadow attorney general, has challenged her opposite number Suella Braverman to set out the legal advice she has given to Boris Johnson on partygate.
We must break the cycle of short-termism and futureproof levelling up
Political parties
By Will Tanner
We must break the cycle of short-termism and futureproof levelling up
The biggest test of levelling up is whether it can survive a change in the political weather. The United Kingdom economy has been unbalancing for decades and will only be rebalanced by the concerted effort of successive governments.
The Rundown Podcast: Is Rishi Sunak 'Playing Games' With The Cost Of Living Crisis?
Economy
The Rundown Podcast: Is Rishi Sunak "Playing Games" With The Cost Of Living Crisis?
On this week's episode of The Rundown – Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, the Institute for Fiscal Studies' Paul Johnson and Conservative chair of the treasury select committee Mel Stride join Alain Tolhurst and Noa Hoffman to discuss how Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement has landed and whether he's the tax-cutting Chancellor he says he is.
Levelling Up: Expectations Meet Reality
Communities
By Chaminda Jayanetti
Levelling Up: Expectations Meet Reality
The Levelling Up white paper is hardly the first time government has sought to solve regional inequalities, but it is perhaps unique in its scope and ambition. How can it hope to succeed – and what will success actually look like? Chaminda Jayanetti reports.
Maiden Voyages: Commander Redvers Prior
Parliament
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Commander Redvers Prior
Theresa May was probably relieved, given her majority, that by-elections became a rarity when she was prime minister. There were just five from 2017 to 2019, the fewest in any parliament save the eight months between elections in 1974. Things are now getting back to normal
Home Office Accused Of Making It 'As Difficult As Possible' For Ukrainian Refugees To Secure Visas
Foreign affairs
Home Office Accused Of Making It "As Difficult As Possible" For Ukrainian Refugees To Secure Visas
Ministers have been accused of "pretending to care" about refugees after sponsors warned the Home Office are being too slow to process visa applications.
Vladimir Putin must fail in Ukraine - and be seen to fail
Foreign affairs
By Ross Allen
Vladimir Putin must fail in Ukraine - and be seen to fail
President Vladimir Putin’s brutal assault on Ukraine has naturally focused attention on Nato’s eastern flank and particularly the Baltic states. As the British ambassador to Estonia, the embassy team and I have been responding to the crisis in three main ways
Captain Dmytro Donskoi: 'We're ready to die for our freedom'
Foreign affairs
By Adam Payne
Captain Dmytro Donskoi: "We're ready to die for our freedom"
On the day The House sat down with Captain Dmytro Donskoi in the Ukrainian embassy in west London, a Russian missile exploded just half a mile from his apartment in Kyiv.
Health and Safety Executive Investigating Asbestos Release in Parliament
Parliament
By Georgina Bailey
Health and Safety Executive Investigating Asbestos Release in Parliament
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is now investigating the asbestos release in Parliament which it has emerged could have affected as many as 117 members of staff.
The UK’s response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis has not been good enough - our visa scheme must change
Home affairs
By Diana Johnson MP
The UK’s response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis has not been good enough - our visa scheme must change
It is now over two weeks since Vladimir Putin’s Russia illegally invaded Ukraine on 24 February. In that time around two million people have been displaced.
No recourse – no hope?
Home affairs
By Laura Hutchinson, Head of UK Political Intelligence
No recourse – no hope?
Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are affected by a Home Office policy denying them access to welfare. Most Black or from minority ethnic backgrounds; many have British-born children; and most are living below the poverty line.
UK Families of Ukrainians Say 'Chaotic' And “Cruel” Refugee Visa Process Could Cost Lives
Foreign affairs
UK Families of Ukrainians Say "Chaotic" And “Cruel” Refugee Visa Process Could Cost Lives
Ukrainian people attempting to reach the UK through family routes are facing delays and bureaucratic hurdles as they apply for visas.
Which European Countries Are Taking The Most Ukrainian Refugees?
Foreign affairs
Which European Countries Are Taking The Most Ukrainian Refugees?
The UK has been heavily criticised for taking a much lower proportion of refugees from Ukraine than its European counterparts — here is how many refugees are being offered a home in countries across Europe.
Pay transparency pilot: forging a fairer path
Economy
By Baroness Stedman-Scott
Pay transparency pilot: forging a fairer path
Every one of us has experienced the excitement of finding the right job. Reading through the advertisement, knowing it’s tailor made for you, excited to get stuck in and show off your skills. But then you see there’s no salary listed. Some people see that as a challenge; a chance to head to the negotiating table and ask for what they want. But for others, it means they end up receiving less than they are worth, and deserve.
British parliamentarians must lead the way in fighting for equality both at home and abroad
Foreign affairs
By Maria Miller MP
British parliamentarians must lead the way in fighting for equality both at home and abroad
In Ukraine, International Women’s Day is usually a public holiday, an opportunity to mark the unique role women play in the culture of the whole nation. This year will be very different. Thousands of Ukrainian women, their children and family members are forced to flee their homeland, fearing for their lives, as the country faces brutal attack from a mindless dictator.
This is no longer a man’s world - our politics needs to catch up
Political parties
By Ella Robertson McKay
This is no longer a man’s world - our politics needs to catch up
Last week, a photograph of the CEO luncheon at the Munich Security Conference was widely ridiculed as it showed a large room packed with exclusively white men of a certain age. With countless reports showing the benefits of diversity in decision making, it was no wonder that this group of leaders seemed absurdly out of touch.
We have demonstrated that MPs who bully, harass, or commit sexual misconduct can be held to account
Parliament
By Sir Stephen Irwin, Chair of the Independent Expert Panel
We have demonstrated that MPs who bully, harass, or commit sexual misconduct can be held to account
Just over 15 months ago I was appointed the first chair of the Independent Expert Panel (IEP). The House of Commons created the IEP to ensure that complaints about bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct by MPs are decided completely independently, and in a fair and rigorous manner.
'Boris Johnson Is Leaving My Family To Die': Ukrainians Fear Time Is Running Out For The UK To Ease Refugee Rules
Communities
"Boris Johnson Is Leaving My Family To Die": Ukrainians Fear Time Is Running Out For The UK To Ease Refugee Rules
Ukrainians fleeing from Russia's invasion have called on the government to act quickly to save people's lives as fighting intensifies.
Symbolism or Substance?
Communities
By Nels Abbey
Symbolism or Substance?
If ‘levelling up’ is to make a tangible difference to deprived communities, the focus must be on hard progress and economic advancement not token gestures, writes Nels Abbey.
The PoliticsHome Podcast Is Back – Introducing The Rundown: A Weekly Look At The Biggest Stories In Westminster
Defence
The PoliticsHome Podcast Is Back – Introducing The Rundown: A Weekly Look At The Biggest Stories In Westminster
On this week's episode of The Rundown — how is Westminster responding to the crisis in Ukraine? Should the UK be doing more for refugees fleeing the conflict? What does the Economic Crime Bill mean for Russian oligarchs?
A Teenage Ukranian Refugee Fighting To Reach Safety Texts His Story
Foreign affairs
By Kate Proctor
A Teenage Ukranian Refugee Fighting To Reach Safety Texts His Story
PoliticsHome followed the journey of Aleksandr*, a 19-year-old Ukranian student, as he tries to flee the country. Through voice notes and swapping messages, he charts his last seven days of escaping war, and the impact on his family.
“What happens, happens, I’ve lived a good life”: British Volunteers Headed For Ukraine’s Frontline
Foreign affairs
“What happens, happens, I’ve lived a good life”: British Volunteers Headed For Ukraine’s Frontline
British volunteers are already preparing to head for Ukraine’s frontline, despite warnings they could be killed or face legal implications when they return to the UK.
UK Sanctions Explained: How The West Plan To Squeeze Russia's Economy
Defence
UK Sanctions Explained: How The West Plan To Squeeze Russia's Economy
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to "hit Russia very hard" following their invasion of Ukraine, but what do the UK sanctions look like, and what will they do to the Russian economy?
Westminster Has United Against Putin After Months Of Scandal And In-Fighting
Defence
Westminster Has United Against Putin After Months Of Scandal And In-Fighting
This week has seen parliamentarians from both sides of the political divide unite in furious condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Why The UK Wants To Block Russia From SWIFT Payment System While The EU Is Resistant
Economy
Why The UK Wants To Block Russia From SWIFT Payment System While The EU Is Resistant
Defence Minister Ben Wallace has claimed the UK is still intent on getting Russia kicked out of the SWIFT international payments system, despite EU leaders blocking the move.
Westminster Repair Bill Could Reach £22bn And Take 76 Years If MPs And Peers Don't Decant
Political parties
By John Johnston
Westminster Repair Bill Could Reach £22bn And Take 76 Years If MPs And Peers Don't Decant
An extensive new report has claimed costs for the vital repair works could soar if MPs choose to remain in the Palace of Westminster.
Elections should be confirmed by a simple Commons majority – anything else would be contrary to the view of Parliament
Political parties
By Lord Lansley
Elections should be confirmed by a simple Commons majority – anything else would be contrary to the view of Parliament
Where does power lie? That was the question at the heart of debate in the Lords on the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill. The issue: should the decision to seek a general election be in the hands of the executive, in the person of the Prime Minister, or should it be subject to the will of the Commons as expressed in a simple majority resolution?
Maiden Voyages: Louie French
Parliament
By Patrick Kidd
Maiden Voyages: Louie French
In his occasional series, Patrick Kidd looks at maiden speeches of note
MPs Call For A Crackdown On 'Extreme Dieting' Posts To Be Added To The Online Safety Bill
Culture
MPs Call For A Crackdown On "Extreme Dieting" Posts To Be Added To The Online Safety Bill
Content promoting or glamorising "extreme" diets and exercise regimes could be severely restricted on social media platforms under the government’s Online Safety Bill.
Remembering the past – protecting the present
Parliament
By Noa Hoffman
Remembering the past – protecting the present
Security guard Marcus Burdyszek has an extraordinary – and tragic – family history. He tells Noa Hoffman how honoured he was to represent his grandfather at Parliament’s Holocaust Memorial Day
Five Charts That Show The Current State Of Covid-19 In The UK
Coronavirus
Five Charts That Show The Current State Of Covid-19 In The UK
Boris Johnson has announced that all Covid regulations could end this week — a month earlier than planned.
'That’s absolutely the wrong culture to have in our Parliament': #MeToo in Westminster four years on
Political parties
By Georgina Bailey
"That’s absolutely the wrong culture to have in our Parliament": #MeToo in Westminster four years on
Four years after Westminster was rocked by allegations of bullying and harassment, MPs tell Georgina Bailey there is still work to be done to fix the culture in Parliament
Tories Are Bracing For Crisis If Boris Johnson Is Hit With A Fixed Penalty Notice Over Partygate
Political parties
Tories Are Bracing For Crisis If Boris Johnson Is Hit With A Fixed Penalty Notice Over Partygate
As MPs prepare to return to Westminster from February recess, the Prime Minister faces what could become a defining moment for his time in Number 10, and potentially the biggest threat to his under-pressure leadership.
Boris Johnson Loyalists Are Still Confident The Prime Minister Can Survive A Fixed Penalty Notice Over Parties
Political parties
Boris Johnson Loyalists Are Still Confident The Prime Minister Can Survive A Fixed Penalty Notice Over Parties
Allies of the Prime Minister say they are increasingly confident that he will survive the partygate scandal and win over Tories who have been wavering over his leadership, regardless of whether he is issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice by police.
Ukrainians In The UK Say They Are 'Scared For Tomorrow' And Demand Tougher Russia Sanctions
Defence
Ukrainians In The UK Say They Are "Scared For Tomorrow" And Demand Tougher Russia Sanctions
The UK government must urgently bring forward tougher economic sanctions on Russia, Ukrainians living in London have said during an emotional demonstration outside Downing Street.