With only 50 days between the Budget and the general election, we may well see unprecedented political posturing from not just the opposition, but the coalition’s junior partner too.
Adam Afriyie: he just can’t live like this.
Dave Thompson/PA
All university admissions tutors know about single-termers. They are those students – some badly advised and intellectually bewildered, others more devious – who decide around mid-November that they want…
What happens when it doesn’t add up?
EPA/Daniel Deme
Britain is now in full general election countdown mode – and the polls indicate another hung parliament is the most likely outcome on May 7. Gus O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, recently reflected…
What do you say Dave — five more years?
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wir
The UK is having what might be called a constitutional moment. In the wake of the Scottish referendum and after nearly five years of coalition government, the fundamental rules of the political game are…
Check your privilege before you speak.
Eric Hossinger
Labour MP Jim Hood is under scrutiny for making allegations about former home secretary Leon Brittan in the House of Commons. He was able to do so under what is known as parliamentary privilege. The British…
Standing behind his new leader.
Stefan Rousseau/PA
The least surprising part of Douglas Carswell’s defection to UKIP was surely his decision to resign his Clacton seat and seek re-election in a by-election. Quite apart from any satisfaction at the anxiety…
Speaker Bercow is in a pickle over his choice of clerk.
PA/PA Wire/Press Association Images
As the Chief Officer of the House of Commons, the speaker is well used to being in the spotlight. But in recent weeks, John Bercow has dominated the airwaves more than at any point since his election in…
They’ve polished the benches and everything.
UK Parliament
MPs from all parties have called in recent weeks for parliament to be reconvened to enable them to debate the ongoing crisis in Iraq. They have met with unbending opposition. But David Cameron’s decision…
C'mon fellers – the 21st century is this way…
Rebacca Naden/PA Wire
When we talk about “gender quotas”, what we really mean is quotas for women. We see the under-representation of women as the problem that needs fixing. So we try to explain why there aren’t more women…
Talking terms: Iran is expected to re-open its embassy in London.
EPA/Andy Rain
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee’s new report on policy towards Iran contains no surprises – startling new departures aren’t in the nature of such documents – but does help crystallise a…
Lest we forget: the 2009 expenses scandal began the push for a recall bill.
Dominic Lipinski/PA
“Meaningless”, “a stitch-up”, “a breathtakingly cynical attempt to convey an impression of democratic reform” – this was how Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith reacted to his own government’s announcement in…
This campaigning business…d'you ever wonder what it’s all about?
Stefan Rousseau/PA
With the political fallout from the local and European elections fresh in the memory, the electoral circus has moved on to Newark. At stake is the seat vacated by MP Patrick Mercer, who resigned over a…