Archiv: Members of Parliament (MPs)
Workers Party of Britain
The Workers Party of Britain (WPB), also called the Workers Party of Great Britain (WPGB) or Workers Party GB,[13][14][15] is a socialist political party in the United Kingdom, formed in December 2019 and led by George Galloway, the Member of Parliament for Rochdale since a 2024 by-election.
‘Little Rishi Sunak’: George Galloway Fires Back After Prime Minister Calls Win ‘Alarming’
Galloway turned the question around: “We had this conversation last night. Why are you reheating it?”
Coates repeated: “Because in the light of the Prime Minister’s…”
“Don’t keep telling me about the Prime Minister as if he was Moses!” the MP interrupted.
“Do you not respect the Prime Minister?” Coates asked.
“Do I respect the Prime Minister? I despise the Prime Minister,” Galloway said.
Rishi Sunak calls George Galloway win ‚very alarming‘ in Downing Street statement
“What started as protests on our streets have descended into intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence.
“Jewish children fearful to wear their school uniform lest it reveals their identity. Muslim women abused in the street for the actions of a terrorist group they have no connection with.
“Now our democracy itself is a target. Council meetings and local events have been stormed. MPs do not feel safe in their homes. Long-standing parliamentary conventions have been upended because of safety concerns.
“And it’s beyond alarming that last night, the Rochdale by-election …
‘This Is for Gaza’: George Galloway, Leftist Firebrand, Wins U.K. Seat
As he celebrated victory early Friday after winning a parliamentary election, George Galloway, a veteran left-wing firebrand, directed his attack squarely at the leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party.
“Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza,” Mr. Galloway said, wearing the fedora hat that has become his trademark. “You have paid, and you will pay, a high price for the role you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on.”
Veteran British left-wing disruptor George Galloway wins a special election dominated by war in Gaza
George Galloway’s victory was described as “beyond alarming” by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who used a Friday evening address to the nation to warn that British democracy was being targeted by extremists.
Galloway, 69, swept to victory in Thursday’s contest, winning almost 40% of the vote in the parliamentary seat of Rochdale.
Galloway Back in Parliament, Declaring Duopoly Defeated
“We crushed Labour by ten thousand votes,” he told supporters back at headquarters. “The second place candidate was not the Conservatives,” but an independent. “This is the first time in British political history that in a by-election both of the major parties were completely crushed,” he said.
“We changed politics in Britain for good,” James Giles, Galloway’s campaign manager, told supporters back at campaign headquarters. “Maybe we have changed politics in the world for good.
LIVE: UK parliament debate and vote on Israel-Gaza ceasefire
Sir Keir Starmer faces the prospect of a second rebellion among his MPs over a ceasefire in Gaza, with a government intervention threatening to expose Labour divisions.
The Labour leader had attempted to see off a revolt by tabling a Commons amendment, which for the first time backed an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
However, parliamentary procedure means it may not be debated, potentially forcing his MPs to back a motion put down by the Scottish National Party (SNP).
An attempt by UK lawmakers to vote on a cease-fire in Gaza descended into chaos
The mayhem broke out during debate on a motion from the opposition Scottish National Party, or SNP, urging an immediate cease-fire, the release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas and “an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
The main opposition Labour Party, which is divided over how strongly to criticize Israel, submitted a tweaked version of the motion calling for an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire,” without the mention of collective punishment.
The governing Conservatives put forward their own amendment, which backed an “immediate humanitarian pause,” followed by “moves towards a permanent sustainable” cease-fire.
NEW: The government hid from Parliament the Foreign Office‘s „serious concerns“ about Israel‘s compliance with International Humanitarian Law in Gaza, according to newly-released court papers. This should be national news – and it should end arms sales to Israel.
The papers show that at the start of the war the Foreign Office set up an internal International Humanitarian Law assessment process.
On 10 November it judged: “the volume of strikes, total death toll, as well as proportion of those who are children raise serious concerns”. 2/12
It also said: „the government’s current inability to come to a clear assessment on Israel’s record of compliance with International Humanitarian Law poses significant policy risks”.
But look at what Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said to me just 4 days later… 3/12
In Parliament on 14 November, I asked Mitchell if British-made weapons had been used in violation of international law in Gaza.
He replied reassuring me of Israel‘s commitment to international law, even though just 4 days earlier his department registered serious concerns. 4/12
Mitchell said: „The member will know that the President of Israel has made it clear that his country will abide by International Humanitarian Law“.
These court papers reveal that his own department, the UK Foreign Office, doubted the Israeli President‘s words.
The Israeli Ambassador, Tzipi Hotovely, has encouraged the full destruction of Gaza. This is a clear call for the genocide of Palestinians. I‘ve written to the Foreign Secretary, calling on him to condemn this and to take the strongest possible action against the Ambassador
Demands for Israeli Ambassador to UK‘s Expulsion After ‚Clear Call for Genocide‘
Hotovely told Dale that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have found that „every school, every mosque, every second house, has an access to tunnel,“ referring to the tunnels used by Hamas—which were first built when Gaza was under Israeli control in 1980.
„That‘s an argument for destroying the whole of Gaza, every single building,“ Dale said, prompting Hotovely to ask, „Do you have another solution, how to destroy the underground tunnel city?“
Journalist Hamza Ali Shah said the ambassador‘s statement amounted to „a clear call for genocide.“
As a UK Member of Parliament, I fully support South Africa invoking the Genocide Convention today, against Israel, at the International Court of Justice. The UK government, Prime Minister and Labour Party leader should now consider their complicity and position. Ceasefire Now
(29.12.2023)
MP Layla Moran’s family trapped inside Catholic church in Gaza City
This week parliament will debate a #CeasefireNOW and for the UK to #StopArmingIsrael. This couldn‘t be more urgent. Israel‘s bombing of Gaza has already killed over 16,000 Palestinians. Please join me and lobby your MP using @PSCupdates online action
https://palestinecampaign.eaction.online/ceasefireMPdebate
How many innocent Palestinian civilians have been killed by UK arms?
My letter to the Prime Minister
UK’s Sunak fires aide who called for Israel-Hamas ceasefire
Tory MP Paul Bristow, who served as Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan’s parliamentary private secretary, was ousted from that role following a letter he sent to Sunak last week accusing Israel of carrying out “collective punishment” on the people of Gaza.
“Paul Bristow has been asked to leave his post in government following comments that were not consistent with the principles of collective responsibility,” a Downing Street spokesperson says.
„Can the Prime Minister please give his personal assurance that every single step is being taken to open the Rafah Crossing for both humanitarian aid and for UK nationals to flee?” The Prime Minister must do all he can to ensure that the border is opened.
Rishi Sunak accused of ‚rolling out red carpet‘ as Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman to visit UK
The US intelligence community concluded Saudi Arabia‘s crown prince had approved the killing of the well-known and respected journalist, while a UN expert who investigated the murder also said there was „credible evidence“ that MBS was responsible for the murder.
Any visit to the UK will be interpreted as the latest sign of Western countries softening their stance towards the controversial leader and follows a similar move by the US to integrate the crown prince back into the diplomatic fold.
Selby and Ainsty by-election results: Keir Mather’s historic Labour win unpacked
The Labour Party candidate Keir Mather has won a record victory over the Conservatives in the Selby and Ainsty by-election, in the highest majority the party has ever overturned in by-election history.
It marks the first time Labour has ever won the seat, with a majority of 4,161 on a 41.9% turnout. One party source said that if Labour won seats requiring a similar swing at a general election, it would win more seats than in 1997.
In Mather’s victory speech, he said he had seen so much “hardship” in the constituency during his campaign, with voters highlighting the cost-of-living squeeze, and pledged to ensure change.
As Julian Assange begins 5th year detained for publishing at the UK‘s harshest prison, over 30 UK Parliamentarians from six parties, as well as independent MPs and Lords, write letter to US Attorney General requesting he ‚ends the extradition proceedings against Julian Assange‘
Late night session at the Knesset. MK Ofer Cassif is removed from the podium for calling the new government „fascist“ and for calling for „civil rebellion“
(07.02.2023)
Communist MK Urges the People to Rise Up against the Far-Right Govt’
(08.02.2023)
A Communist lawmaker on Tuesday urge at the Knesset podium citizens of the nation to civil unrest against the “dictatorship” of the new Netanyahu government. MK Ofer Cassif (Hadash) was quickly removed by Knesset ushers. “In light of the current emergency situation, I call for civil unrest…” Cassif said before being interrupted by Deputy Speaker Nissim Vattori (Likud), who called on Knesset ushers to forcibly remove Cassif from the plenum.
The Hadash lawmakers present at the time then erupted in a shouting match, with Cassif and fellow opposition MKs labeling the coalition members as “fascists.”
Sunak urged to drop ‘unspeakably cruel’ two-child limit and benefit cap
Households with more than two children where universal credit or child tax credit is claimed no longer receive additional funds.
It applies to additional children born after 6 April 2017, however exemptions apply for those who had children in a multiple birth or children conceived due to rape or coercion.
However, the exemptions have caused controversy as women must disclose that they were raped in order to be eligible – known as the rape clause.
Britain‘s first non-white and Hindu prime minister takes power on Diwali: Rishi Sunak‘s journey from GP‘s son to multi-millionaire ‚Maharajah of the Dales‘ and then to youngest modern occupant of No10 (at the second attempt)
He will now visit the King to be appointed as the UK‘s first non-white and Hindu leader. The UK‘s first – and only other – minority prime minister was Benjamin Disraeli, who was Jewish, in 1874. (…)
He will become the youngest PM in the modern era to enter No 10, at the age of 42 – younger even than David Cameron in 2010 and Tony Blair in 1997.
The Party is Over
It is fascinating that both the Tory and Labour parties have now adopted exactly the same mechanism to prevent the membership electing a leader again with views outside the narrow Establishment consensus – in both parties that mechanism being an increase in the number of MPs who have to nominate, before a candidate can get their name before the party membership.
The professionals are to radically limit the options of the members.
‘Like being in a cult’: MPs on the seven days that brought down Liz Truss
One weary-sounding Conservative MP said they felt they had been in the grip of a cult over the last six weeks – and had escaped just in time. Others, however, still felt trapped, they said. “That is literally what it’s been like … It’s such a sense of relief. I just thank God it’s over.”
„The ultimate death match“: Will it be Boris vs Rishi?
I set out four scenarios of how this might unfold in The Spectator earlier this month. There are two that MPs have most recently got in touch about: Rishi by Christmas or the Boris restoration.
A week is a long time in politics – and next week could be one of the most dramatic yet.
Is Boris heading back to No10? Former PM takes early lead with Rishi Sunak in second as a quarter of Tory MPs declare their support in race to replace Liz Truss – candidates need at least 100 backers by MONDAY as battle ‚for soul of the party‘ intensifies
Boris Johnson is currently the most popular choice among Tory MPs to become prime minister as the race to replace Liz Truss roared into life today following her humiliating resignation after just 44 days in power.
With a quarter of MPs declaring support for their preferred candidates, Mr Johnson currently counts 38 backers, compared to Rishi Sunak‘s 27 and Penny Mourdant‘s 12, according to the latest tally by Guido Fawkes.
Awake all night and sending texts to friends at 4am: How Liz Truss‘s last day in No. 10 unfolded as her fate was sealed
– Liz Truss dramatically resigned as Prime Minister this afternoon after lasting just 44 days in the top job
– Her close friends said they knew she was going to quit after they began receiving texts from her at 4am
– Sir Graham Brady told her later that day she had lost the party‘s support and would lose a confidence vote
Liz Truss threatened with Tory revolt in showdown ‘confidence vote’ on fracking
Liz Truss was facing a revolt by Tory MPs opposed to fracking on Wednesday despite whips saying a crunch Commons vote was a “confidence motion in the Government”.
At least three MPs signalled that they would not back the Government in the showdown vote, including the Prime Minister’s net-zero tsar Chris Skidmore, Conservative MP for Kingswood.
Liz Truss to dodge MPs’ questions, sending Penny Mordaunt instead
Borrowing one of Margaret Thatcher’s favourite put-downs, a Labour source described the prime minister as “frit” – meaning “frightened”.
The urgent question was tabled in a bid to force Ms Truss to answer MPs’ questions after she resisted Labour demands for a statement to the Commons today to explain the reversal of the bulk of her mini-Budget in a series of massive U-turns.
Liz Truss refusing to come to the House of Commons to answer Labour‘s Urgent Question on the economic crisis, this afternoon. She will send Penny Mordaunt instead.
The Chancellor‘s briefing with Tory MPs has finished. A Government source said Mr Hunt „emphasised the need for stability and said that the PM should be commended for changing tack in the face of the deteriorating global economic situation“
The Tory MPs calling for Liz Truss to resign
New Tory prime ministers currently enjoy a year of immunity from confidence votes under the party rulebook.
But George Osborne, the former chancellor, predicts the beleaguered PM will likely be gone by Christmas, adding that „there will be a way“ for the party to remove her from Downing Street.
Here are the Conservative MPs calling for Ms Truss to quit.
Eight minutes, four questions and NO apology! Liz Truss makes hasty exit from press conference after U-turning on flagship corporation tax cut after SACKING Kwasi Kwarteng and replacing him with Jeremy Hunt
Under fierce fire from journalists, Ms Truss refused to apologise for ‚trashing‘ the Tories‘ reputation – before abruptly walking out after eight minutes and just four question.
Downing Street will now be waiting anxiously to see if the PM has done enough to cling on, but the early response was not promising, with one former Cabinet minister telling MailOnline the PM had been ‚robotic‘ and made the situation far worse.
Bericht: Torys diskutieren Aus für Truss
(today, 08.36 am)
In der Konservativen Partei nimmt einem Bericht der Londoner „Times“ zufolge der Widerstand gegen die britische Premierministerin und Parteivorsitzende Liz Truss zu. Führende Torys würden eine Ablösung der Regierungschefin nach nur gut einem Monat im Amt diskutieren, schrieb die Zeitung. Es gebe Überlegungen, einen gemeinsamen Kandidaten bzw. eine gemeinsame Kandidatin für die Parteispitze aufzustellen. Das Bauernopfer könnte allerdings Finanzminister Kwasi Kwarteng sein.
Kwasi Kwarteng to be sacked as Chancellor by Liz Truss – live updates
9:28AM
Tory MP: ‚I have lost confidence in the Chancellor and the PM‘
The mood among some Tory MPs is particularly grim this morning.
One tells me they have now lost confidence in Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng and that many MPs now believe the PM needs to be replaced.
They said: “I have lost confidence in the Chancellor and the Prime Minister for that matter. It is a total mess and there is no obvious solution.
“The vast majority of people [MPs] I speak to think she has to go.”
Tory MP ‚submits letter‘ calling for Liz Truss confidence vote amid backbench rebellion
The unnamed member of the parliamentary Conservative party told Bloomberg political editor Kitty Donaldson that they had handed in their letter to the 1922 committee on Sunday night.
While Tory MPs say letters have been going in for more than a week, this may be the first report of an MP personally admitting they have sent one themself.
Current rules give Liz Truss until next September before she can be ousted – but these could be changed by MPs.
Human Rights Act and Government accountability ‘WHAT ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF’: MPs CALL FOR PRE-LEGISLATIVE SCRUTINY FOR PROPOSED BILL OF RIGHTS
(21 Jun 2022)
Ministers of the devolved nations have also highlighted how the Government’s proposals to replace the Human Rights Act threaten to undermine the devolution settlement in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the Good Friday Agreement put in serious risk by any changes to the Human Rights Act.
Pre-legislative scrutiny of these plans is made even more important by the divergence between the proposals and the findings of the independent panel established by the Government to review the operation of the Human Rights Act. The panel found that the HRA is operating effectively to preserve parliamentary autonomy and to protect individuals’ rights.
However, the Government’s proposed Bill of Rights ignored these findings and would be a vast and deeply consequential overhaul of human rights protections in this country.
In a letter sent on Monday 20 June 2022, the groups urged the Government to respect the principles of our parliamentary democracy and subject the proposed Bill of Rights to the pre-legislative scrutiny it clearly requires.
Liberty Director Martha Spurrier, said: “Scrapping the Human Rights Act poses a real, imminent threat to rights in the UK. It’s a blatant, unashamed power grab from a Government that wants to put those in power above the law. They are quite literally rewriting the rules in their favour so they become untouchable.
“The Human Rights Act and access to the European Convention of Human Rights has empowered people in the UK to enforce their rights in practice. It has enabled people to challenge unlawful policies, be treated with dignity by public authorities and secure justice for their loved ones.
“The Government’s plan is to weaken and undermine this, taking power away from the public to take for themselves. We all know this Government cannot be trusted to keep its word or play by the rules. We’re urging everyone to not let them get away with this looting of our rights. Speak up and make your voice hard.”
Truss vs Sunak – and the choice of two very different futures for Britain
Truss has pledged to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030, while Sunak would keep it on its present path, rising to 2.5 per cent over the same period. Although the former chancellor gave the Ministry of Defence special treatment in his spending review, he shares the Treasury’s scepticism about getting value for money from it.
While the Truss camp suggests Sunak would be less supportive of Ukraine amid fears of the impact on the UK of sanctions against Russia, in practice they would probably adopt the same approach. However, Truss would probably be more hawkish than him towards China.
Live: The Tory leadership debate
As things stand, Rishi Sunak is leading the way on MP nominations, but needs to win over Tory members to succeed in the final stage of the contest. Meanwhile Penny Mordaunt is the clear favourite with the bookies thanks to recent polling which suggests she is Tory members’ candidate of choice.
Lord Cruddas, ‘the ballot only has credibility if Boris is part of the process.’
Lord Cruddas threatens to cut off donations to Tory party
(today)
Lord Cruddas, who was last year forced to defend donating £500,000 to the party just three days after he was admitted to the House of Lords, said he wanted Boris Johnson to stay on as Prime Minister.
He said: “If the membership are asked to vote for the last two contenders they will be voting for two people that they do not want on the ballot. The ballot only has credibility if Boris is part of the process.”
Nadine Dorries says Boris Johnson should remain in post because „the donors have spoken“.
(06.06.2022)
What about the will of the people?
New snap poll from @OpiniumResearch shows 59% think Tory MPs should vote to remove Johnson as leader today
Tories brace for more blood on the carpet at 3pm: MPs finish voting in second round as Truss allies beg right-wing rivals to recognise the ‚reality‘ they cannot win – and slam surging Penny Mordaunt for inability to ‚master detail‘
Tories are braced for more blood on the carpet today as another hopeful is knocked out of the leadership race – with Liz Truss allies begging rivals to recognise the ‚reality‘ they cannot win.
The results are due to be revealed at 3pm after another frenzied day at Westminster that saw the Foreign Secretary officially launch her campaign insisting she can be ‚trusted to deliver‘ after taking on the EU over Brexit and Vladimir Putin over Ukraine.
In a dig at frontrunner Rishi Sunak she said she had been ‚loyal‘ to Boris Johnson, and it was not the time for ‚business as usual economic management‘.
AND THEN THERE WERE 6 – Rishi Sunak & Penny Mordaunt storm Tory PM leadership battle – but Hunt and Zahawi crash out
TUESDAY July 19 – FRIDAY July 22
– Knockout ballots will happen daily until just two candidates are left standing.
FRIDAY July 22
– The final two candidates tour the country trying to win the votes of 100,000 or so ordinary party members who will decide the next PM.
MONDAY September 5
– The results of the vote is announced and Britain‘s next PM is revealed
Conservative leadership race latest: Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Hunt voted out
With only 14 public backers apiece, it is unsurprising Jeremy Hunt and Nadhim Zahawi fell short of the 30 votes from MPs they needed.
The results, announced just now by Sir Graham Brady, leaves six candidates for MPs to vote on tomorrow. Rishi Sunak, as expected, is out in the lead with 88 votes, although is followed more closely expected by Penny Mordaunt, who has 67 backers.
The race to replace Boris Johnson, afternoon update (10 July):
Sunak: 30 MPs (+12)
Mordaunt: 18 (+11)
Hunt: 12 (+10)
Truss: 12 (+6)
Tugendhat: 12 (+6)
Badenoch: 11 (+5)
Zahawi: 10 (+7)
Braverman: 9 (-)
Chgs. w/ 24hrs ago