By Peter HoskinFollow Peter on Twitter Here's David Cameron's statement: “I would like to congratulate Barack Obama on his re-election. I have really enjoyed working with him over the last few years and I look forward to working with him again over the next four years. There are so many things that we need to do: […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Lots of Tory MPs reacted angrily yesterday to the decision of the PCS union to disrupt border control on the eve of the Olympics. Here's a selection of what they Tweeted: My hope is that the anger that we felt yesterday and today is not forgotten. We need to […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter David Cameron dispensing ice creams in Downing Street and with girl guides: Robert Halfon at a Royal Legion Jubilee Party: Stuart Andrew and friend waiting on the Commons Terrace for the pageant to pass by: Rob Wilson with Sir John Madejski, Chairman of newly promoted Reading FC: Matt Hancock and […]
A variety of reactions are pasted in this blog. The names of those calling for some change of message, priority or operational changes are emboldened. We have also included the contributions of MPs who have not advocated substantial changes. 5.45pm A little round-up of what Tory MPs have said during the day: David Ruffley MP […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt (pictured) was one of forty or so MPs and peers from all parties who ran yesterday's Westminster Mile – a race to raise funds for Sport Relief. The winner, though, was another Tory MP, George Eustice. He beat last year's winner David Davies into second place. […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter I'm with Douglas Carswell in believing that John Bercow has been good for the power of backbenchers versus the executive but I also do think he seeks too much attention. His constant Ratner-like interventions at Prime Minister's Question Time – telling MPs that the public doesn't like their behaviour – […]
By Joseph Willits Follow Joseph on Twitter It would probably be fair to say that anything the Speaker and his wife Sally do, will attract criticism from somewhere. The latest in a long list of 'what's wrong with the Bercow's' is a Christmas card, originally a Sun cartoon by Andy Davey. The image, bought by the Bercows […]
By Tim Montgomerie Follow Tim on Twitter. Episodes like John Bercow's meanness towards Tim Loughton, Michael Gove and the Government Chief Whip fuel Tory suspicions that the Commons Speaker is biased against Conservatives. Rob Wilson – the Conservative backbencher who recently described the Speaker as "partisan" and "divisive" – has turned anecdote into evidence by […]
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter. Conservative MP Rob Wilson has launched a direct attack on the Speaker, John Bercow. He hasn't done it on the floor of the House but on the pages of The Daily Telegraph. He writes that Bercow "has emerged as a partisan, divisive figure, and one far too full of […]
by Paul Goodman On Wednesday afternoon, I picked up unease in the Commons from Conservative backbenchers about the Government's University admission plans. Yesterday, this unhappiness was reflected during Business, Universities and Skills questions – "Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East) (Con): I have discussed on many occasions with the Minister for Universities and Science my view […]
By Jonathan Isaby In Westminster Hall yesterday, Reading East MP Rob Wilson secured a debate on the issue of access to private schools. He cited a number of statistics about the poor educational attainment of pupils from the poorest backgrounds, from GCSE results all the way up to the gaining of university places. Before setting […]
I wondered earlier this week here whether Labour MPs would use the Select Committee elections to make life difficult for David Cameron. They didn't. Instead, they lined up behind the Conservative establishment candidates. Andrew Tyrie took the Treasury Select Committee; Richard Ottaway, Foreign Affairs (a big, big consolation prize, after his defeat in the 1922 […]
Reading East MP Rob Wilson secured a Westminster Hall debate for today, on the subject of Fibromyalgia. North Thanet MP Roger Gale was in the chair. Highlights from Mr Wilson's speech follow. It is clear that this is another area where the data that ministers gather is inadequate – a theme I wrote about recently. "I […]
Here are the highlights from yesterday's Children, Schools and Families questions. Buckingham MP John Bercow advocated a more liberal exclusion policy: "Of course, schools sometimes mistake disability for disobedience. Children with special educational needs are nine times more likely to be permanently excluded from school, and the Government are rightly committed to reducing the incidents […]