Archive for david heath
Adrian Sanders is still right
With the reduction in number of MPs back in the news, so too is the question of how many ministers there are. As I wrote in October last year: I agree with Adrian Sanders and 22 Conservative MPs Yesterday in Parliament Adrian Sanders and 22 Conservative MPs voted to reduce the maximum number of ministers allowed in [...]
I agree with Adrian Sanders and 22 Conservative MPs
Yesterday in Parliament Adrian Sanders and 22 Conservative MPs voted to reduce the maximum number of ministers allowed in the Commons in line with the forthcoming reduction in the number of MPs: If the number of constituencies in the United Kingdom decreases below 650, the limit on the number of holders of Ministerial offices entitled [...]
A classy put-down from David Heath
From the latest debate in Parliament on the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill: I was also considering the amendments proposed by the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant). One of the great advantages of having an overnight break is that we can look back at the Official Report and read what the protagonists have said. [...]
Dear Nick Clegg…
I think you are missing an important issue about how the changes to election expense rules introduced for the 2010 general election are driving political parties in the wrong direction.
Growing a civil economy through a civil society – with Shirley Williams and David Heath
Alongside the Lib Dem Voice fringe about lessons from the general election and the Cancer Research UK discussion, I’m also speaking at a ResPublica fringe meeting at the Lib Dem conference in Liverpool. Titled “Growing a civil economy through a civil society”, it will see me speaking alongside David Heath MP and Baroness Shirley Williams. [...]
Like a yeti in a barber shop?
With that unconventional question, Liberal Democrat MP David Heath has joined the ranks of blogging MPs (having previously tried out a few posts that were simply his newspaper column reproduced):
I’m not sure the resemblance is that obvious, but that’s what Ann Treneman called me in the Times this morning. I guess it’s better than “like [...]
MPs vote to reform Parliament – and reject Tory/Labour plan to water down plans
From the BBC:
MPs have backed a series of reforms aimed at beefing up the ability of backbenchers to create new laws and hold the government to account.
Proposals backed include a creating a backbench committee to set a timetable for Commons business.
A bid by the Labour and Tory front benches to restrict the committee to setting [...]
Hansard gems: Blunkett talks confectionary
It’s 2003. Parliament is debating foreign surveillance. The then Home Secretary, David Blunkett, is debating a point with Liberal Democrat MP David Heath. Blunket makes a one word interjection. The word? Chocolate. Obvious, really. It sets off a whole debate about how a hypothetical case of Belgians smuggling chocolate into the UK might be handled [...]
