Events

TTIP: beneficial to our economy or a threat to our democracy?

27 May 2015
TTIP protest in London

This TTIP Summit explored the biggest free trade negotiations in history and their implications for the future of people in Yorkshire and across the country.

  • Richard Corbett MEP – MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber and Deputy Leader of the Labour MEPs

  • Sam Lowe – Campaigner, Friends of the Earth

  • Elisabeth Roderburg – TTIP Adviser, BritishAmerican Business

  • Alex Scrivener – Policy Officer, Global Justice Now

  • Michael Strawson – Senior Associate, Chamber International (West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce)

News / Parliament Matters Bulletin: What's coming up in Parliament this week? (9-13 September)

This is the last sitting week before Parliament adjourns again for a three week recess for party conference season. We will find out this week who will chair the Select Committees in the House of Commons and the members of the new Modernisation Committee will be appointed. Two of the five days of parliamentary business are likely to be dominated by debates on the Statutory Instrument to implement the Government's controversial changes to Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners.

08 Sep 2024
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News / Inside the Private Members' Bill Ballot: 20 MPs win the legislative lottery - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 46

The Private Members’ Bill (PMB) ballot for this Session has been drawn, giving 20 MPs the opportunity to introduce a law of their choice. Potential bills could include proposals such as assisted dying, but what are the real chances of success? We talk to PMB expert, Dr. Daniel Gover, to understand the value of these bills and what to watch out for in the coming months.

06 Sep 2024
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News / Inside the hidden world of law-making: A conversation with Nikki da Costa - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 45

How is a King’s Speech crafted? What really happens behind the doors of the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Cabinet Committee? How have parliamentary tactics on legislation evolved and what new tactics might MPs employ when facing a Government with such a commanding majority? In this episode we discuss the art and strategy of law-making with Nikki da Costa, former Director of Legislative Affairs for two Conservative Prime Ministers in 10 Downing Street.

16 Aug 2024
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Blog / Puberty blockers legislation: has the parliamentary calendar undermined accountability?

Before the General Election, the Government rushed through legislation - in the form of two Statutory Instruments - to temporarily restrict the supply of 'puberty blockers' to under-18s for gender dysphoria. One of those Instruments has now been the subject of a judicial review, before MPs have had any opportunity to consider it. Reasonable people can hold different views on the policy merits, but the way that a policy of such political and legal salience was implemented demonstrates some of the anomalies and weaknesses in the delegated legislation system – particularly how the parliamentary calendar can undermine MPs’ role in scrutinising such Instruments - and why the system needs reform.

09 Aug 2024
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News / £22 billion financial 'black hole': What is Parliament's role? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 44

This week's bruising Commons exchange between the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and the man she replaced at the Treasury, Jeremy Hunt, is just the opening encounter in what promises to be a long running parliamentary battle over the state of the public finances. MPs can expect to be asked to approve extra spending Estimates in the autumn, and there'll be a Budget and a full-scale Comprehensive Spending Review as well.

02 Aug 2024
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