This is the right Minister in the right department. And though his room for manoeuvre is limited, he has a chance to make an impact on families policy.
He will defend Stephen Dorrell’s 2010 majority of 15,029 in a little over three months’ time.
The former Health Secretary had a majority of over 15,000 in Charnwood
There are big, brave, politically difficult discussions that we need to have as a nation, if we want to save our NHS from going over a cliff.
By Tim MontgomerieFollow Tim on Twitter One thing that David Cameron has lacked is a large number of big party beasts who have regularly gone into the press to defend (a) his alliance with Nick Clegg and (b) the decisions that his coalition government has taken. Former Health Secretary and 1997 Tory leadership candidate Stephen […]
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter. Yesterday's debate on the Lords Reform Bill was heated, yet relatively polite. I noticed far more speakers against reform of the Lords than for – perhaps because pro-reform Tories knew, the programme motion having been withdrawn, that they would win the Second Reading vote easily (thanks to Labour votes). […]
By Paul GoodmanFollow Paul on Twitter I would be suprised by Fleet Street's unanimous hostility to the Queen's Speech were it not, first, for Leveson (which the papers will never forgive) and, second, for the impasse between the Coalition partners on growth measures. The situation is too urgent to afford Vince Cable's lack of oomph. […]
By Jonathan Isaby Last month Andrew Lansley wrote exclusively for ConHome here about the Government's Health and Social Care Bill. The Bill had its Second Reading in the Commons yesterday, during which new Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams gave her maiden speech and David Miliband gave his first full speech as a backbencher […]
My most cherished memory of those early days was my first encounter with the MP for Huyton, Sir Harold Wilson.