Westminster

  • Westminster Week: Howdy partner

    Monday

    Luke Pollard MP (Plymouth Sutton and Devonport/Labour) accuses Reform UK of working with Russia. He’s obviously lost his briefing notes. Reform leads in listening to UK citizens, therefore taking the advantage off parties that haven’t put any boots on the ground in Ukraine to fight Russia. It stinks of hypocrisy. Danny Kruger MP (East Wiltshire/Reform UK) rightfully looks on at him in derision. Reform UK shouldn’t take such hits so willingly.

    Tuesday

    Brendan O’Hara MP (Argyll, Bute, and South Lochaber/SNP) accuses “ethnic cleansing” of the State of Israel, thus proving these matters are not understood by all. The effort to tell Members it’s neither the United Nations nor a protest group is still falling on deaf ears. So too is the reminder we’re not invovled in the Middle East, as long hoped for by people like him. Time is short for such protesters, and so is their memory. It was a complete withdrawal that they wanted, and an end to such meddlesome ways in that region by London.

    Wednesday

    Prime Minister’s Questions

    The two big hitters are away, so next in is the Deputy Prime Minister. It’s refreshing to see him, especially since his Great Escape from the Epstein scandal. He’s probably feeling reassured that there are other matters to attend to, but believe me, this scandal has embarrassed a lot of people. It’s not easy for others to move on so quickly.

  • Prime Minister’s Questions

  • Photo Report: Palace of Westminster

    Parliament is described differently depending on the visitor. I’ve heard ‘donkey’ on the one hand, and ‘wonder’ on the other. I suppose it’s the outside that inspires the former, and the inside that incites the latter. It can all be appreciated as you walk up to the site and take a tour of its interior.

    What opens up is an historic token of many influences in halls, chambers, and meeting spaces. There are new inspirations being added because matters are explored in modern and mature aspects by its main occupants. These bring perspective by way of faces, meanings, and features of unique walks of life that have roots here.

    However, take a look again in the fresh air and see the “guardians” (as they were once called) placed carefully around the exterior. Some look like people, but others are just specific in their height, shape, or proximity to something else. Like many coded artworks, there are lessons worked in for us.

  • Westminster Week: Risky business

    Tuesday

    With the PM in the crosshairs for his appointment of Peter Mandelson, MP’s discuss the appropriate course of action, laying out an appearance to the Privileges Committee on the table. It may seem a polite way to seek to understand someone’s conduct to those outside, but it counts as a sort of review of performance so far for insiders. This isn’t always convenient, and government media managers would hate having even more work to do at present.

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    The PM survives a vote, showing that he’s got some support in there, even if some Labour MP’s and many others just want him out. This is political opportunism. Now he’s shown an ability to dodge a bullet.

    Wednesday

    It’s a tale of two cities. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the Prime Minister has hollowed out the budget for a welfare power grab, and the Prime Minister says she bungled her own response to the Iran conflict, leaving her voters at risk. This is tough stuff.

    Parliament is prorogued.

  • Starmer survives, but some want him out

    The Prime Minister has avoided being forced to appear before the Privileges Committee, therefore surviving his leadership and leaving him to focus on his Plan For Change in government.

    MP’s voted 335 to 223 against the motion, suggesting the PM enjoys some broad support, even if a small number of Labour MP’s continue to criticise his tenure.

  • Westminster Week: Games & drama

    Monday

    It’s Judgement Day for the Prime Minister, as some might suspect, and usually no stone is left unturned on these occasions. The rapid questioning can be bewildering as it comes across remotely, but I’m told it’s necessary in the Chamber for some to get their argument across.

    Then, there are others that choose to cross a line. Lee Anderson MP (Ashfield/Reform UK) and Zarah Sultana MP (Coventry South/Your Party) both left, on the orders of the Speaker. The latter had more of a hard time of it, being suspended it would seem for calling the Prime Minister a liar. It’s a hard road ahead for the party in waiting.

    The noise in the ‘background’ can take attention off proceedings, but experts tell me to pay attention to the faces in the foreground. They’re trying urgently to shine a light on themselves, perchance a gap comes up for a new leader. It’s a long shot, because the Prime Minister isn’t being openly challenged as yet, but that’s the thing. This may help to turn that on its head.

    Tuesday

    Olly Robins is a quiet figure in his own way, but in his capacity as a Civil Servant he’s a vocal defender of the position. He, like many others, stands up for the Service like a true gentleman, but digs in like a traitor in chief. It’s now obvious people disagree, recollections may vary, and it’s all above board whatever it is and whatever happened.

    Wednesday

    Peter Mandelson looms eerily over the proceedings of PMQ’s today, showing that his career has made some impact on the UK political system in the wrong way. The Leader of the Opposition is out to find the gaps in the reasoning of the Prime Minister, who just moves the pieces around as if frustrated halfway through a chess game. He hasn’t got a killer strategy, and it’s unlikely the benches opposite will give up.

  • Prime Minister’s Questions

  • Exclusive: Portcullis agitator

    In an exclusive for Conservative News Site, a criminal agitator alleged of attempted disruption of Portcullis House staffing arrangements has now been spotted loitering in the City of Westminster with intent to continue to commit his crimes.

    The suspect is known to law enforcement bodies but due to complex international investigations and prior difficulties in bringing a conviction in the European jurisdiction it’s not been possible to keep him off the streets.

  • Caught: Syria-backed antagonist

    In a stunning exclusive for Conservative News Site, a Syria-backed political antagonist believed to have insider knowledge of the Civil Service and its remit has now been spotted in central London.

    It’s believed he’s waged campaigns of misinformation and hatred against Civil Service staff, in particular seeking to derail normal working practices and daily collaborative activity by using interference networks comprised of criminals.

  • Prime Minister’s Questions (25 March)

  • Prime Minister’s Questions

  • Surely protest is down for a write off soon

    The phenomenon of being irritating and armed only with the truth is surely down for a write off at some point soon.

    We don’t think its argument is going to stand the test of time, that it’s someone’s right to de facto import the debate by themselves.

    It usually doesn’t relate to our wellbeing here, and so the ‘right’ is used to get someone out of jail for free elsewhere.

    This isn’t politics, it’s the same as protest in a dictatorship where there is no end. It’s a brutal face on a spirit that just says no.

    It’s a prison sentence for the real freedoms that stay because we defeat tyranny – and we keep it out by our every waking breath.

  • Starmer needs to grip the steering wheel

    The Prime Minister is in a fix of his own, not knowing how to progress and yet knowing that a lot lies ahead still. He’s guaranteed a place in the history books, but is it just a page rather than a chapter?

    This is the test of mettle for a Prime Minister that knows a lot of challenges lie ahead. He has to solve the small boats crisis – or Dover Crossings, here – and get on with the clear up in the rest of the UK where confusion is rife about it.

    He can – as a leader – make headway and secure a reputation for class A leadership. However, his options are slight and his chances slim.

    He needs to focus and to push through plans for the proper transaction of his ideas. He has to reassure his support base, especially after the Peter Mandelson scandal took over and scuppered it.

    The public’s support is also waning and he can’t let it slip. This is an important indicator of leadership now. If it doesn’t improve he will struggle to reassure even his party that he should stay on. It might be an early exit on the cards.

  • Call for information: Parliament fraudsters

    In a stunning exclusive for Conservative News Site, a pair of fraudsters alleged of attempting repetitively to keep false staff members in Parliamentary staffing lists and include new fake staff have now been spotted.

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    It’s believed the duo have been involved in this effort for over ten years and have been supported by some unknown MP’s as Police officer’s have attempted to either remove or interview them.

    Any information relating to these individuals must be passed to a relevant public body. It will be used to build an accurate case, if one exists.

  • The Prime Minister is charming – but misleading

    The Prime Minister is attempting to bridge a gap between the Labour party and the public by giving charming updates on his progress in government.

    It’s called a “Substack” newsletter and it’s going rather well. He’s updated it enough times to make it count.

    It now helps us to know more about his perspective on life from the vantage point of his seat in government.

    The challenge is knowing how to handle yet more forgiving dialogue on issues that don’t sit well for conservative readers.

    The issue of childhood is just one example of a matter that has been blown out of all proportion by overzealous politicians.

    The ‘freak out’ zone in politics – usually reserved for Liberal Democrat idealists – has been slowly occupied by more and more Labour Parliamentarians.

    Their fold is now a growing family of die hards and ideologues that join together on issues so everyday it sounds too common.

    The familiarity of the family dinner table cannot make the legislation of tomorrow. It’s only built on arguments and disagreements. It doesn’t sit well for all of us.