Posted by Chris Magee on 12 July 2010
…is the new mantra, but “Uncertainty, uncertainty, uncertainty…” is how it’s being received in local government, regeneration and property circles.
However, bit by bit, the Government’s intentions on localism are becoming clearer.
“I want to unlock the passions and drive of communities. I want to free them to realise their vision,” said Housing Minister, Grant Shapps to [...]
Posted by Katharina Derschewsky on 9 July 2010
Increasing public sector efficiency has never been so sexy. Or so Reform director, Andrew Haldenby concluded his introductory words to the think tank’s conference on ‘Reducing the deficit and improving public services’.
And indeed, with the current governing theme being “financial retrenchment” the topic, previously perceived by many as “too dull to bother”, suddenly does seem [...]
Posted by Chris Lowe on
One of the changes proposed by the Wright Committee and approved by the Commons was to set up a Backbench Business Committee. This appears to be a significant change to the procedures of the House for a number of reasons:
1. The Committee is to be given 35 days per year, (approximately one day a week), [...]
Posted by Chris Lowe on 8 July 2010
College Public Policy Partner, Chris Lowe, today (7 July 2010) spoke at the UK Business Conference in Westminster on ‘The Business Agenda of the Coalition Government” along with Adrian Bailey MP, the new Chairman of the BIS Select Committee, commentator Will Hutton, and the TUC’s Brendan Barber.
Speaking about the Coalition Government, Chris emphasised the role of [...]
Posted by Verity O’Keefe on 28 June 2010
Speaking on parliamentary reform, Sir George Young has announced that a new ‘public reading stage’ for bills will be introduced, allowing the public the opportunity to comment on proposed legislation online. In addition, a dedicated ‘public reading day’ will be introduced within a bill’s committee stage, where those comments will be debated by the committee [...]
Posted by Lydia Taylor on 24 May 2010
Last week the new government confirmed its plans to introduce ‘the 55% rule’, under which the existing government would dissolve by 55% of Parliamentary votes. The beady eyes of political commentators from all parts of the spectrum were quick to point out that the number of Conservative MPs is 47% – therefore requiring 2% of [...]
Posted by James Nason on 22 April 2010
After campaigning in the West Midlands marginal constituency of Telford (7% swing required for a Conservative victory) over the last few days the following themes have come to the fore:
• There are plenty of people who voted for Labour in the last election who are now reconsidering their support for the Party. A swing to [...]
Posted by Warwick Smith on 20 April 2010
This is the third or fourth time I’ve started to write this. I’ve not finished previous attempts because we are in uncharted waters following the LibDem surge on the back of Nick Clegg’s performance in the first party leaders’ televised debate.
We’re off the edge of the political map: where, centuries ago, explorers found written on [...]
Posted by Chris Lowe on 31 March 2010
Everyone expects Gordon Brown to visit the Queen on Tuesday 6 April to ask her to dissolve Parliament so that a General Election can be held on Thursday 6 May.
Once Parliament is dissolved, there are no longer any MPs, merely Parliamentary Candidates, but because government must continue, Ministers remain in place. This period is known [...]
Posted by Warwick Smith on 22 March 2010
Just emerging from a series of radio and TV interviews on the weekend’s lobbying scandal … except it wasn’t. There was no lobbyist to be seen. Rather a few MPs willing to be paid to do things which most right-minded people would think were just plain wrong. As Nick Clegg said yesterday (I paraphrase), what [...]