Political Updates 21 November 2016
This week’s Political Updates covers moves and changes at all levels of government: local, devolved, national and supranational.
House of Commons
- Corri Wilson MP has been appointed as the Scottish National Party’s Westminster Spokesperson for Disabilities.
- Patricia Gibson MP has been appointed as the Scottish National Party’s Westminster Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs.
Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election
- Caroline Johnson won the Conservative Party nomination on 10th November.
- Ross Pepper won the Liberal Democrat nomination on 11th November.
- Victoria Ayling won the UKIP nomination on 11th November.
- The Green Party has announced it will not stand a candidate, but will instead support independent Sarah Stock.
Select Committees
- European Scrutiny: Steve Double (CON), Michael Tomlinson (CON), David Warburton (CON), and Mike Wood (CON) joined; Alec Shelbrooke (CON), Kelly Tolhurst (CON), and Heather Wheeler (CON) left.
- Finance: Alan Meale (LAB) joined; Helen Jones (LAB) left.
- Northern Ireland Affairs: Bob Stewart (CON) joined; Oliver Colvile (CON) left.
- Procedure: Jenny Chapman (LAB), Christopher Chope (CON), James Duddridge (CON), and Huw Merriman (CON) joined; Ian Lucas (LAB), Edward Argar (CON), Simon Hoare (CON), and Alan Mak (CON) left.
- Welsh Affairs: Paul Flynn (LAB) joined; Gerald Jones (LAB) left.
House of Lords
- Baroness Brinton was re-elected President of the Liberal Democrat Party on 10th November.
Devolved Institutions
Scottish Parliament
- Andy Wightman MSP (Scottish Green) has been appointed Convener of the re-convened Cross Party Group on Russia.
Welsh Assembly
- Jayne Bryant AM (LAB) has replaced Jenny Rathbone as Chair of the Cross Party Group on Diabetes.
- Jayne Bryant AM (LAB) has been elected Chair of a new Cross Party Group on Preventing Child Sexual Abuse. A launch for the group was held on 9th November.
- Angela Burns AM (CON) has been elected Chair of a new Cross Party Group on Sepsis. A launch for the group was held on 16th November.
- Vikki Howells AM (LAB) has been elected Chair of the Industrial Communities Cross Party Group.
Local Government
- The new Leader of Westminster City Council will be announced on 7th December following a majority group leadership election.
- Councillor Craig Martin has announced he will stand down as leader of Falkirk Council in May 2017.
- Tim Clegg has replaced Ian Thompson as the new Chief Executive of Stafford Borough Council.
- Abdool Kara Chief Executive of Swale Borough Council has announced he will leave the council in February 2017.
European Parliament
- This week the European Parliament will be sitting in Strasbourg for the monthly Plenary Session.
- Manfred Weber was re-elected as leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) on 16th November.
- Guy Verhofstadt was re-elected leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats of Europe (ALDE) on 16th November.
- The EPP simultaneously held elections for its ten Vice-Chairs, all incumbents were re-elected:
- József Szájer
- Esteban González Pons
- Françoise Grossetête
- Lara Comi
- Esther de Lange
- Paulo Rangel
- Mariya Gabriel
- Sandra Kalniete
- Tadeusz Zwiefka
- Marian Jean Marinescu
Party News
- On 28th November (one week today) the new leader of UKIP will be announced.
Leave a Comment