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Wed, 19 February 2025

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Sienna Rodgers

Sienna Rodgers

Sienna Rodgers is Deputy Editor of The House magazine.

Lucy Powell interview: 'The Tories were found to be on the wrong side of modern Britain'
Culture
By Sienna Rodgers
Lucy Powell interview: 'The Tories were found to be on the wrong side of modern Britain'
Amid a Tory leadership race and a great British summer of sport, shadow digital, culture, media and sport secretary Lucy Powell talks to Sienna Rodgers about politics and play
Parliament hosts Commonwealth Games exhibition
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
Parliament hosts Commonwealth Games exhibition
In the latest issue of the magazine, we offer parliamentary news from a Commonwealth Games exhibition in Portcullis House to the NHS Parliamentary Awards 2022...
Where Are They Now? James Frith
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
Where Are They Now? James Frith
James Frith, Labour MP for Bury North 2017 – 2019
Lord Remnant and Lord Wrottesley win hereditary peers by-election
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
Lord Remnant and Lord Wrottesley win hereditary peers by-election
Lord Remnant and Lord Wrottesley have been chosen as the newest hereditary peers in a by-election triggered by the retirement of Lord Brabazon of Tara and the death of Lord Swinfen.
Labour Leadership Branded “Heartless” In Row Over Left-Wing MP Deselection
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Labour Leadership Branded “Heartless” In Row Over Left-Wing MP Deselection
Allies of Keir Starmer have been branded “heartless” after they rejected calls for votes against reselecting Labour MP Apsana Begum to be invalidated in light of her being signed off sick.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy at 30: 'We can’t assume democracy is safe – it’s not'
Foreign affairs
By Sienna Rodgers
Westminster Foundation for Democracy at 30: 'We can’t assume democracy is safe – it’s not'
For 30 years, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy has been spreading the word about the importance of democratic structures. Sienna Rodgers hears from three of its current MP board members on how its work has never been more vital
Refugee Week marked in Parliament with exhibition featuring portraits of refugee women
Culture
By Sienna Rodgers
Refugee Week marked in Parliament with exhibition featuring portraits of refugee women
Refugee Week is being celebrated in Parliament with a special artistic exhibition of portraits featuring refugee women from around the world.
Labour Front Benchers Banned From Joining Picket Lines Amid Rail Strikes
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Labour Front Benchers Banned From Joining Picket Lines Amid Rail Strikes
Exclusive: Labour front benchers have been told by the party leadership that they are banned from picket lines this week amid rail strikes organised by the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers' union.
Committee Corridor: Tom Tugendhat on Ukraine, Afghanistan and failures of leadership
Defence
By Sienna Rodgers
Committee Corridor: Tom Tugendhat on Ukraine, Afghanistan and failures of leadership
Conservative MP, former soldier and foreign affairs specialist Tom Tugendhat is the host of a new podcast about Commons committees. He talks to Sienna Rodgers about the war in Ukraine, Afghanistan and failures of leadership
Hague the Older: from precocious teenager to Conservative leader and beyond
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Hague the Older: from precocious teenager to Conservative leader and beyond
To mark the 25th anniversary of his election as Conservative leader, Lord Hague tells Sienna Rodgers about his youthful gamble, current Tory dissatisfaction with Boris Johnson and why he has left politics
House of Commons to become ‘menopause friendly’ employer
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
House of Commons to become ‘menopause friendly’ employer
In the latest issue of the magazine, we cover parliamentary news, from Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle backing ‘menopause friendly’ policies to a new restoration and renewal approach being agreed – and plenty more...
From maternity rights to terminal illness support: The House guide to 2022 Private Members' Bills
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
From maternity rights to terminal illness support: The House guide to 2022 Private Members' Bills
Out of 460 MPs who entered the Private Members' Bill ballot in May, a total of 20 were drawn – allowing these parliamentarians to introduce their chosen bills to the House of Commons today.
Tory Grandee Says Boris Johnson Could Face A 'Cabinet Car Crash' After Tight Confidence Vote Victory
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Tory Grandee Says Boris Johnson Could Face A "Cabinet Car Crash" After Tight Confidence Vote Victory
Exclusive: William Hague, former foreign secretary and Conservative Party leader, has warned that Boris Johnson could face a “car crash in the Cabinet” after the Prime Minister only narrowly won a confidence vote in his leadership.
How the process for a confidence vote in the Conservative leader works
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
How the process for a confidence vote in the Conservative leader works
Following the publication of Sue Gray’s final report, Sir Graham Brady received a steady stream of letters calling for a confidence vote in Boris Johnson. He has now announced that the threshold has been reached. What does that mean – and what happens next?
Bob Seely on Ukraine: 'Our political classes collectively have been hugely naïve'
Foreign affairs
By Sienna Rodgers
Bob Seely on Ukraine: 'Our political classes collectively have been hugely naïve'
Conservative MP Bob Seely is a Russian warfare expert and former soldier who worked in Eastern Europe as a journalist. He tells Sienna Rodgers about his recent trip to Ukraine, Boris Johnson’s Russophilia and how he thinks the war will end
Children’s Parliament event planned to mark Sir David Amess’ death
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
Children’s Parliament event planned to mark Sir David Amess’ death
In the latest issue of the magazine, we cover Westminster news, from a ban on MPs giving paid parliamentary advice to those drawn in the Private Members’ Bill ballot – and more...
Champions of LGBT rights among MPs awarded in Jubilee honours list
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
Champions of LGBT rights among MPs awarded in Jubilee honours list
Two champions of LGBT rights in Parliament, Maria Miller and Nia Griffith, are among the MPs being awarded damehoods in the new Jubilee honours list.
Ping Pong: Has the House of Lords become a House of opposition?
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
Ping Pong: Has the House of Lords become a House of opposition?
The House of Lords inflicted a record number of defeats on the government in the last parliamentary year. As a new session begins, Sienna Rodgers looks at why the relationship between the two chambers has become so tense
Ex-Iran detainee Anoosheh Ashoori: 'My heart is with the people I’ve left behind'
Foreign affairs
By Sienna Rodgers
Ex-Iran detainee Anoosheh Ashoori: 'My heart is with the people I’ve left behind'
Sentenced to 10 years on spying charges, Anoosheh Ashoori returned from Iran on the same plane as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. He tells Sienna Rodgers about his ordeal and continuing fight for the remaining detainees
Ex-Iran Detainee Anoosheh Ashoori Is “Extremely” Angry With Boris Johnson
Foreign affairs
By Sienna Rodgers
Ex-Iran Detainee Anoosheh Ashoori Is “Extremely” Angry With Boris Johnson
Exclusive: Anoosheh Ashoori, who was detained in Iran for five years until his release alongside Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in March, has said he is “extremely” angry with Boris Johnson over his handling of the case.
The Neil Kinnock interview: 'As long as I breathe, I’m going to be interested in the Labour Party'
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
The Neil Kinnock interview: 'As long as I breathe, I’m going to be interested in the Labour Party'
Lord Kinnock may not have made it to No 10, but he remains a totemic presence in Labour. He shares with Sienna Rodgers his analysis of leaders past and present – and what the party must do to secure a successful future
Meet the British MPs who have opened their homes to Ukrainian refugees
Parliament
By Sienna Rodgers
Meet the British MPs who have opened their homes to Ukrainian refugees
MPs are among thousands of Britons offering accommodation to those fleeing war in Ukraine. But providing sanctuary means more than sprucing up the spare room. Three parliamentarians tell Sienna Rodgers about the challenges and rewards of opening their homes to refugees.
Firefighters’ Union To Vote On Cutting Ties With The Labour Party
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Firefighters’ Union To Vote On Cutting Ties With The Labour Party
Exclusive: The Labour Party’s union link is at risk of weakening further as the left-wing firefighters’ union FBU is set to vote on disaffiliation from the party at a conference this week.
Lord of the Locals: Lord Hayward on results, refereeing and regrets
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Lord of the Locals: Lord Hayward on results, refereeing and regrets
Known for his skill at reading the political temperature of the nation, election expert Lord Hayward talks to Sienna Rodgers about results, refereeing and regrets
The Yvette Cooper interview: 'Priti Patel's Home Office is failing'
Home affairs
By Sienna Rodgers
The Yvette Cooper interview: 'Priti Patel's Home Office is failing'
Yvette Cooper is back on the Labour front bench and in a brief which is familiar territory. The shadow home secretary talks to Sienna Rodgers about how she hopes new leadership will change Labour’s fortunes – and why she would do a better job than Priti Patel
Yvette Cooper Says Priti Patel Is The “Weakest Home Secretary I’ve Ever Seen”
Home affairs
By Sienna Rodgers
Yvette Cooper Says Priti Patel Is The “Weakest Home Secretary I’ve Ever Seen”
Exclusive: Yvette Cooper has described Priti Patel as “the weakest Home Secretary that I’ve ever seen” and declared that “Priti Patel's Home Office is failing” amid widespread criticism of the UK’s Ukrainian refugee scheme.
Keir Pressure: The State of Labour
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Keir Pressure: The State of Labour
After a challenging 18 months as the new Labour leader, Keir Starmer and his party now share a single focus: 2023.
Left behind: sexism in the Labour movement
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Left behind: sexism in the Labour movement
When it comes to equality, Labour talks a good game but a closer look at the treatment of women within their own political circle reveals there is work to be done before the political left can claim gender parity.
'Policymaking Is Not Their Top Priority': How Keir Starmer Has Changed the Labour Machine
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
'Policymaking Is Not Their Top Priority': How Keir Starmer Has Changed the Labour Machine
Keir Starmer has a firm hand on the levers of Labour party machinery, but what does the new management style mean for member democracy?
How Labour lost the 'Red Wall'
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
How Labour lost the 'Red Wall'

As hurt over Labour's election defeat quickly shifts into a battle for the party’s future, LabourList editor Sienna Rodgers reflects on what went wrong – and how the party can get back on the road to power   
Margaret Beckett: “People put you in a box, and sometimes they change the box”
Political parties
By Sienna Rodgers
Margaret Beckett: “People put you in a box, and sometimes they change the box”

Margaret Beckett has had a front-row seat on political history for over 40 years. The Labour stalwart could be forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu as the current EU wranglings rumble on. But, as she tells Sienna Rodgers, just like in 1975 she’s still on the side of a people’s vote