Speaker's Chair

New Speaker’s Chair site: A video to explain what it’s all about

Speaker's Chair Admin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:05:01 +0000

We’re now just days away from the launch of our sparkly new site, something we’ve been slaving away on for months. In case you missed it, you can read more detail about what it is, why we’re changing things and what to expect here. And to give you a bit more detail, check out this [...]

A sneak peek at the new Speaker’s Chair platform – launching soon

Speaker's Chair Admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:30:22 +0000

Speaker’s Chair was launched in April 2012 with a clear idea: create a genuinely cross-party political blog that would result in stronger, more relevant and less tribal debate. That concept was widely welcomed and embraced, with many thousands having visited the site and more than 130 people writing articles in that time. At the outset [...]

Ed Miliband speech: What’s the (price) point in changing VAT?

Luke Ireland — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:05:09 +0000

Despite the original UK implementation of it as a luxury tax, VAT has become a significant stream of government revenue (circa £79bn in the financial year 2011/12). Ed Miliband announced plans yesterday to cut it temporarily from 20% to a unspecified lower level to “boost economic growth.” Labour have implemented this policy before and it is often [...]

Labour’s 10p tax fiasco

Tom Chapman — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:13:17 +0000

Today’s announcement may have caught many people by surprise. First of all, the talk was that it would be David Cameron who would promise the 10p tax band. Secondly, Labour actually have a policy. But, the hypocrisy of it is undeniable. Ed Balls and Ed Miliband have said that they warned Gordon Brown that getting [...]

The ‘Bedroom Tax’ is not perfect, but the potential to improve future generations is worth the change

Ryan Gray — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:05:25 +0000

For the sake of this article I am going to assume that you have already heard of the ‘Bedroom Tax’ or ‘Under-Occupancy Rule’, as it is sometimes called, and therefore know a bit about it. If you have read any of Owen Jones, and other very left opinions, and believe every word they say, then [...]

Gay Marriage: A battle worth winning for David Cameron

Robert Payne — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:05:42 +0000

As the dust settled on what undoubtedly was one of the most momentous votes in recent Common’s history, the Conservative Party High Command can consider themselves fairly content with the outcome and fallout from the vote. The issue of gay marriage seemed to split the Conservative Party more divisively than it did to either Labour [...]

Reuniting the kingdom: reviving the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland

Ellis Wiggins — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:05:25 +0000

Outside England, the offices of the Conservative Party are a graveyard. Perhaps only in Wales can the Tories claim to be anything other than a political footnote, the electoral equivalent of Costa Rica – we all have a vague idea that it’s there, but it’s only impact on you and me is a mention in [...]

By-election: An odd wind blows through Eastleigh

Caroline Mortimer — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:05:51 +0000

Guido Fawkes was gleefully rubbing his hands together yesterday as Chris Huhne surveyed the burning wreckage of his ministerial career, his home life and probably his personal freedom. While the remains of one would-be king were being exhumed from Leicester social services’ car park, another is watching his career committed to the ground. A driving licence! A driving [...]

Cat Smith: It must be love

Cat Smith — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:26:43 +0000

On Tuesday history was made, and I could not be prouder. A majority of Members of Parliament filed through voting lobbies supporting the right for all people to marry the person they love. It is moments like this that lift my heart and remind me that parliamentary politics can change people’s lives for the better. The classic [...]

A measure too far? Ethnic Minority quotas – this is just getting embarrassing

Michael Comba — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:05:50 +0000

It is undeniable that the Conservative Party remains unpopular amongst ethnic minorities. Relations are still raw after the Rivers of Blood and the Tories unflattering record during Apartheid. Studies suggest only 16% of ethnic minorities landed their crosses in the Blue’s box in the last election. Even taking socio-economic factors into account, ethnic minorities were [...]