March 12, 2025

In a heated parliamentary session, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens faced intense questioning over the impact of rising national insurance contributions on employment in Wales, amidst concerns from businesses about job losses due to increased taxes and a higher minimum wage….

The Labour government announced it secured £5 billion for farming over two years, the largest budget for sustainable food production in UK history, but the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme is now fully subscribed and closed to new applications. Opposition…

On the 40th anniversary of the Swann report, which exposed institutional racism in the UK education system, parliamentarians reflected on its findings and the ongoing challenges faced by black and ethnic minority students. The report highlighted the wrongful placement of…

Knife crime in the West Midlands has surged, prompting MP Saqib Bhatti to advocate for increased use of stop and search powers to combat the issue. Despite the effectiveness of stop and search in seizing weapons, concerns were raised about…

New housing developments are causing sewage backups in homes and gardens, leaving residents to deal with raw sewage due to inadequate water infrastructure. Water companies are not statutory consultees in the planning process, which means they cannot formally object to…

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill underwent detailed scrutiny in its twenty-second sitting. Discussions focused on amendments related to the establishment of a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner and the operation of Assisted Dying Review Panels, which would assess…

Victoria Atkins raised concerns about the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs giving misleading information regarding the closure of the SFI scheme, affecting farmers’ business decisions and potentially leading to legal issues. Dr Marie Tidball corrected the record by…

Lisa Smart passionately argued for increased government support for community theatres, highlighting their role in empowering young people and stimulating local economies. She used the Forum theatre in her constituency as a case study, emphasizing its community benefits and the…

The UK Parliament debated the ongoing human rights abuses and the lack of peace in Kashmir, highlighting the international community’s failure to enforce a UN resolution for a plebiscite that would allow Kashmiris to determine their future. MPs expressed concerns…

MPs passionately debated the unique challenges faced by rural communities, highlighting issues like inadequate public transport, poor broadband and mobile connectivity, and the closure of essential services such as banks and pubs. Caroline Voaden emphasized the rural-urban divide and the…

Liam Conlon introduced a Bill aimed at ensuring that payments from Ireland’s Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme are not counted against UK survivors’ benefits. The scheme compensates survivors of the horrific abuses in Irish mother and baby homes, yet…

Parliament swiftly approved a new industrial training levy for the construction industry, set to support workforce development. Additionally, changes to local election cycles and Church of England financial measures were sent to specialized committees for further scrutiny. These moves highlight…

The government proposed a technical amendment to maintain three court fees at their current levels, ensuring continued funding for the court system without increasing costs for users. The fees in question relate to council tax liability orders, warrants of entry,…