Political Updates 2nd May 2017

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

• The Queen has approved the appointments of Gavin Laurence Barwell MP and Melvyn John Stride MP as Privy Council members.
• Following the call from Theresa May to hold a general election on 8th June, numerous MPs have since announced their resignation. Here is an updated list:

Labour

Alan Johnson, MP for Hull West and Hessle
Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesborough South and East Cleveland
Gisela Stuart, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston
Michael Dugher, MP for Barnsley East
Andy Burnham, MP for Leigh
Jim Dowd, MP for Lewisham West and Penge
Rob Marris, MP for Wolverhampton South West
Dave Anderson, MP for Blaydon
Pat Glass, MP for North West Durham
Ian Wright, MP for Hartlepool
Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East
Fiona MacTaggart MP for Slough
Graham Allen, MP for Nottingham North

Conservative

George Osborne, MP for Tatton
Gerald Howarth, MP for Aldershot
Simon Burns, MP for Chelmsford
Angela Watkinson, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster
Eric Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar
Andrew Tyrie, MP for Chichester
David Mackintosh, MP for Nottignham South
Edward Garnier, MP for Harborough
Alan Haselhurst MP for Saffron Walden
Peter Lilley MP for Hitchen and Harpenden

Liberal Democrat

John Pugh, MP for Southport

Devolved Institutions

• MSP John Lamount has announced his intention to stand down from his Holyrood seat, effective 4th May 2017, to stand in the 2017 General Election for the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk seat. As a constituency MSP, his resignation will trigger a by-election in the constituency on the 8th June.

• The Welsh Assembly returns from recess on the 2nd May 2017.

Northern Ireland Assembly

• The Northern Ireland Act has received Royal Assent, setting a regional rate for Northern Ireland in 2017-18, removing a legal barrier to the formation of an Executive, providing an extension to the period in which a new Executive could be formed. The deadline is set to the 29th June.

• The European Parliament will be holding committee meetings in Brussels on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.