All posts tagged: Commons

Andy Burnham makes dramatic comeback as fiery Commons clash erupts over Hillsborough | Politics | News

Andy Burnham makes dramatic comeback as fiery Commons clash erupts over Hillsborough | Politics | News

Published by Sam Flores

Andy Burnham (Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire) Andy Burnham praised Sir Keir Starmer for his work on the long-delayed Hillsborough law as MPs approved new legislation to prevent cover-ups linked to failures of the state. It imposes a duty on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively co-operate with official investigations and inquiries. The legislation has been delayed by wrangling over how the duty applies to the intelligence services, with ministers recently breaking the deadlock with further changes. The bill’s approval comes in Sir Keir’s final days as prime minister with Mr Burnham succeeding him on Monday. Speaking in the Commons for the first time since his election as Labour MP for Makerfield, the Prime Minister-in-waiting said the legislation will “change the way this country thinks and works about justice”. Directing his words at the man he ousted in a coup d’état, Mr Burnham said: “It feels fitting to be here tonight, and particularly to be with my right honourable friend, the Prime Minister. “Because I remember very clearly at the …

Badenoch And Phillipson Clash In Extraordinary Commons Bust-Up

Badenoch And Phillipson Clash In Extraordinary Commons Bust-Up

Published by Sam Flores

Kemi Badenoch and Bridget Phillipson during prime minister’s questions in the Commons Kemi Badenoch accused Bridget Phillipson of “destroying children’s lives” during an extraordinary bust-up after prime minister’s questions. The pair clashed after several Labour MPs confronted the Tory leader in the Commons. Badenoch had earlier been reprimanded by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle after she called Phillipson, the education secretary, a “spiteful class warrior” for adding VAT to private school fees. A Tory source said: “Labour MPs confronted Kemi, including Bridget Phillipson. Kemi replied: ‘I will never stop fighting you. You’re destroying children’s lives’.” An ally of Phillipson told HuffPost UK: “Badenoch has once again disgraced herself.  “She and her putrid party can’t stand working class women who do well.  “If standing up for the 94% of kids in state schools makes Bridget a spiteful class warrior then she’ll wear it with pride.” The Conservative leader stunned many within the Labour Party with her visceral attack on Keir Starmer and his most senior ministers in the Commons today. Speaking during Starmer’s first PMQs since he announced …

Opposition MPs Tease Andy Burnham As He’s Sworn Into Commons

Opposition MPs Tease Andy Burnham As He’s Sworn Into Commons

Published by Sam Flores

Andy Burnham faced some good-natured teasing from opposition MPs as he was sworn in as the Makerfield MP on Monday afternoon. The former Greater Manchester mayor won the north-west by-election last Thursday with more than 55% of the vote. He is now widely expected to be the next prime minister after Keir Starmer’s resignation on Monday morning. While there is still plenty of time for other MPs to join the subsequent leadership contest, Burnham is the only one to have publicly stepped forward so far. Even Ex-health secretary Wes Streeting, who had promised to enter any leadership race, withdrew and backed Burnham on Monday. All eyes were on the Makerfield MP’s swearing-in ceremony as a result. When his name was announced in the Commons, Labour MPs cheered delightedly, but opposition MPs quipped, “Who?” and “Rome is saved.” One joked, “he’s not the Messiah!”, to which Burnham replied, “naughty boy”, in reference to a scene from Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Another MP on the opposition benches made a comment about “turning water into wine” while …

The House | How Philosopher John Stuart Mill Spent His Time In The House Of Commons

The House | How Philosopher John Stuart Mill Spent His Time In The House Of Commons

Published by Sam Flores

John Stuart Mill (Stephen Burrows/Alamy) 4 min read4 hr Most people know of John Stuart Mill as a philosopher, but for three years he was also an MP. Helen McCabe records a reluctant celebrity politician unafraid to be right It is a warning that many candidates may have longed to give but thought better of delivering. When John Stuart Mill stood for election as MP for the City Of Westminster in July 1865 he said he “could not undertake to give any… time and labour to… local interests”. He also refused to canvass, believing that candidates ought to personally finance their campaigns.  In addition to insisting that he wasn’t going to champion any constituency causes, Mill also said he would, as an MP, advocate for votes for women. At the time, this was risible: Mill was widely mocked by cartoonists, who often portrayed him wearing women’s clothes. No wonder, then, that a contemporary said, “the Almighty himself would have no chance of being elected on such a programme”. But elected he was, possibly …

Keir Starmer Fights For Survival In Make-Or-Break Commons Showdown

Keir Starmer Fights For Survival In Make-Or-Break Commons Showdown

Published by Sam Flores

Keir Starmer is a man under pressure. Keir Starmer will battle to save his job as he faces MPs amid calls for him to resign over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. A Labour peer is among those demanding the prime minister quit after it was revealed the shamed former US ambassador failed security vetting before taking up the plumb diplomatic role. Starmer said he was “furious” that he was not told that Olly Robbins, the top civil servant in the Foreign Office, had ultimately cleared Mandelson to carry out the job. The PM only found out last Tuesday – and Robbins was sacked on Thursday night. Starmer has been accused of lying to parliament and the public for previously stating that all of the appropriate vetting processes had been followed before Mandelson was appointed. He will make a Commons statement on Monday before facing questions from MPs about what he knew and when. Supporters of Olly Robbins have insisted he was legally precluded from telling the PM that Mandelson had failed the security vetting, but …

Starmer left ‘fuming’ after heated Commons exchange with Speaker

Starmer left ‘fuming’ after heated Commons exchange with Speaker

Published by Sam Flores

Sir Keir Starmer became embroiled in a heated argument with Sir Lindsay Hoyle after the Speaker ordered him to properly answer Kemi Badenoch’s questions. The exchange was captured on video after Wednesday’s session of Prime Ministers Questions, during which the Prime Minister was reminded that he is supposed to answer rather than ask the questions. “Prime Minister, it’s Prime Minister’s Questions. We’ve got to concentrate,” Sir Lindsay told Sir Keir as the two party leaders clashed on defence. Sir Keir used the session to dismiss criticisms from three authors of the strategic defence review, telling MPs that Labour planned to spend record sums on the military. The Prime Minister could be seen approaching Sir Lindsay’s chair as he left the Chamber to speak to him. One MP told the Daily Mail that Sir Keir was “fuming” with the Speaker, while another told the Guido Fawkes website that Sir Lindsay stood his ground and was trying to say something back but the PM just walked off. It is the third time in recent weeks that the …

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle demands justice for family of defrauded pensioner Joan Green | UK News

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle demands justice for family of defrauded pensioner Joan Green | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

It is “outrageous” that a convicted fraudster tracked down by Sky News in Tenerife is still on the run, the Speaker of the House of Commons has said. Pamela Gwinnett isolated 89-year-old Joan Green from her family during the COVID-19 pandemic, convinced Joan to give her lasting power of attorney, then raided her life savings. Gwinnett spent almost £300,000 of retired accountant Joan’s money on Botox, expensive meals and mortgages on properties she owned. She fled to Tenerife and did not attend her trial, but was given a six-year prison sentence in her absence last year for theft and fraud by abuse of position. Image: Pamela Gwinnett and Joan Green. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who is the local MP for Ms Green’s family, told Sky News: “Here she was, found guilty, sentenced to six years. “What a way to have your sentence, in the sun in Tenerife! Lap of luxury. “Living in an apartment, taking the sun every day, going out for meals.” He added: “People will be asking – why? I’m also asking …

Starmer risks misleading Commons claims if Mandelson story doesn’t match files, warns Harman | Politics News

Starmer risks misleading Commons claims if Mandelson story doesn’t match files, warns Harman | Politics News

Published by Sam Flores

Sir Keir Starmer will face accusations he misled the Commons over his appointment of Peter Mandelson if there is not “absolute consistency” between what he told MPs and government files, Harriet Harman has said. The former Labour deputy leader’s comments on Sky’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast come after the government published documents detailing the vetting process undergone by Lord Mandelson when he was made US ambassador last year. He was subsequently sacked over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Politics latest: Starmer facing questions after files released Baroness Harman told Sky News politics editor Beth Rigby: “I’m sure the opposition will be looking at the documents to see whether or not there’s absolute consistency between what the prime minister said to the House of Commons and what’s in the documents, because if there’s not then it will raise the issue of misleading the House.” The veteran Labour peer, who was deputy leader while Lord Mandelson was in Gordon Brown’s cabinet, led the parliamentary inquiry into whether Boris Johnson misled the House of Commons over the partygate …