Political Updates 20th February 2017

This week’s Political Updates, covers moves and changes at all levels of government. 

UK Government

New ministerial responsibilities have been set out for the for the Life Sciences sector, the new ministers are:

• Lord O’Shaughnessy
• Nicola Blackwood
• Lord Prior of Brampton
• Greg Hands

Click here for full details.

MPs return from recess this week.

Stoke Central by-election

The by-election will take place this Thursday, 23rd February.

The final list of candidates is:

• Mohammed Yaqub Akram (Independent)
• Zulfiqar Ali (Lib Dem)
• Jack Bereton (Conservative)
• The Incredible Flying Brick (Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
• Adam Colclough (Green)
• Godfrey Davies (Christian People’s Alliance)
• Barbara Fielding (Independent)
• David Furness (British National Party Local People First)
• Paul Nuttall (UKIP)
• Gareth Snell (Labour)

Copeland by-election

The by-election will take place this Thursday, 23rd February.

The final list of candidates is:

• Michael Guest (Independent)
• Rebecca Hanson (Lib Dem)
• Trudy Harrison (Conservative)
• Roy Invinson (Independent)
• Jack Lenox (Green)
• Fiona Mills (UKIP)
• Gillian Troughton (Labour)

Peers return from recess this week.

New and Reformed All Party Parliamentary Groups and Chairs

15th February register

• Alternative Investment Management – Chris Evans (Lab)
• Assistive Technology – Seema Malhotra (Lab)
• Belarus – John Whittingdale (Con)
• Caribbean – Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Con)
• Cayman Islands – Graham Brady (Con)
• Community Development in Europe – Ian Liddell-Grainger (Con)
• Croatia – Ian Liddell-Grainger (Con)
• Dairy – Simon Hoare (Con)
• Deafness – Jim Fitzpatrick (Lab)
• Freight Transport – Robert Flello (Lab)
• General Aviation – Byron Davies (Con)
• International Trade and Investment – (Con)
• Korea – James Berry (Con)
• Leasehold and Commonhold Reform – Peter Bottomley (Con)
• Legal and Constitutional Affairs – Nick Thomas-Symonds (Lab)
• Libraries – Gill Furniss (Lab)
• Oral Hormone Pregnancy Tests – Yasmin Qureshi (Lab)
• Pub – Toby Perkins (Lab)
• Small Shops – Simon Danczuk (Independent)
• Uzbekistan – Andrew Bridgen (Con)
• Vegetarianism and Veganism – Christina Rees (Lab)

Scottish Parliament

MSPs return from recess this week.

National Assembly for Wales

Assembly Members are on recess this week.

 Local Government