Parliament
Portrait of the week
Home After it was twice defeated in the Lords on its plans to reduce working tax credits, the government announced…
The Spectator’s notes
When the Labour party began, its purpose was the representation of labour (i.e. workers) in the House of Commons. Indeed,…
Surviving the purge
Labour’s centrist forces could take years to recover. Or forever
Letters
Trimming the ermine Sir: I am a new boy in the House of Lords compared with Viscount Astor — though…
Flashmob rule
It is the duty of MPs to resist Twitter storms and online petitions
House in order
The shaming of Lord Sewel was a classic tabloid exposé. The fact that a peer of the realm (albeit one…
Laying down the law
A great test of political leadership is how well you deal with vested interests on your own side. In his…
Barometer
Forty years on The forthcoming EU referendum has rekindled memories of the in-out Common Market referendum of 1975. But it…
The Spectator’s Notes
Amnesty International and others have placed a large newspaper advertisement telling Michael Gove ‘Don’t Scrap Our Human Rights’. The ad…
Inequality, not socialism, is now the greatest threat to conservatism
Had the public been asked, before Monday morning, to identify two MPs who stood for honesty and decency, the names…
Barometer
Golden league Some MPs who earn Sir Malcolm Rifkind’s rate of £5,000 a day: — Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury): £3,333…
£67,000 is not enough for the brightest and the best
Last year, I had an exchange with Hugo Rifkind on Twitter in which I bet him dinner at Clarke’s that…
Going the wrong way one step at a time
If I were to give you a budget to choose your perfect house, you would quickly have a clear idea…
Oaths for MPs
Before taking their seats in Parliament, all MPs must swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen. Mark Durkan, MP…
The election where everyone loses
Whatever happens on 7 May, both main party leaders face disaster
What’s behind the Boris show?
To interview the Mayor of London is to witness an extraordinary performance
Letters
Faith and flexibility Sir: What a contrast in your two articles on religion last week: one liberal atheist parent (Claire…
A third way to war
Jesse Norman was permitted three minutes for his speech to the Commons in last Friday’s debate. But the contribution from…
Nobs and numbskulls
Suppose Charles were to reign as a meddlesome, self-pitying, indecisive plonker. It’s a thought. It’s now a play, too, by…
Could you afford to become an MP?
Mark Simmonds has been in politics long enough to know not to expect much sympathy from his constituents. He resigned…
The high price of public service
I feel some sympathy for Mark Simmonds, the Conservative MP who’s resigned as a minister and is stepping down at…
Barometer
Commons inheritance Emily Benn, granddaughter of Tony and niece of Hilary, has won the right to stand for Labour in…
Crimean notebook
Vladimir Putin still swears that there are no Russian troops in Crimea, so their mission is to say as little…
Barometer
Fat chances The National Obesity Forum said that Britain is reaching a ‘doomsday scenario’ where half the population is obese.…
Have I gone to the wrong party?
I’m still weighing up whether to run for Parliament, but after this week’s reshuffle I’ve concluded I’m in the wrong…
