In Limbo event: EU nationals on Brexit, in their own words

On Friday 8^th December, more than 75 people packed into the Norwich City Council Chamber in City Hall to hear testimonies of EU nationals living in the UK.

More thoughts on Votes at 16

So, the Tories have given Votes at 16 the red light, for now…

Needless to say, I was pretty upset on Friday when the Conservatives succeeded in filibustering Jim McMahon’s Private Member’s Bill for Votes at 16 out of Parliament before a vote could take place. However, the positive reaction to the idea in the lead up to the vote confirmed that it is a matter of when, rather than if, a bill will be successful and Votes at 16 will become a reality.

Why I’m Rooting for Votes at 16 Today

The time has come.

Later today, Jim McMahon MP presents his Private Member’s Bill to the Commons for its second reading, urging the house to support for votes for sixteen year-olds after years of campaigning by the NUS and British Youth Council’s Votes at 16 Coalition. The bill is supported by many notable MPs including Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas. Chuka Umunna, Clive Lewis and Hilary Benn are also among the MPs who will be voting in favour after the debate. Here’s the story of why I’m desperate to see it passed…

My General Election reaction

Having written a ‘morning after’ blog post following the EU referendum, I feel like it would be nice to start a tradition and do so for the 2017 General Election (that, and the fact that I’ve been down to London a few times recently and have a whole load of new stock photos of Westminster taken with the express intention of using on my blog…)

Good Lords!

Oh god. Tony’s talking about politics again.

‘You wouldn’t let it lie’– Vic Reeves

Over the past few years, I will admit to having been critical of the Lords at times, and calling for reform of the red benches. I have been lucky enough to see inside Parliament, and it occurred to me that the decadent throne at the front of the chamber is emblematic of all that is wrong with Parliament, and the British political system more widely.

Politics Roundup

So, happy Valentine’s day everyone! If you are lacking a significant other, then fear not, because I’m here to save you from boredom by climbing up on my soapbox and telling you exactly how it is. Enjoy!

The Commons’ Most Telling Vote

So, the results are in. Article 50 will, wholly unsurprisingly, be triggered after the Parliamentary vote last night. I doubt he read my comment section in Concrete (but you can here!) but in resigning from the front bench and going against Jeremy Corbyn’s three-line whip on the final vote, Clive Lewis behaved superbly and represented his constituents properly, having to lay down his shadow cabinet role for now at least and immediately jumping to the top of the odds lists to succeed Corbyn at the helm of the Labour Party.