Political Updates 12 December 2016

House of Commons

Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election

Caroline Johnson (CON) was elected as Member of Parliament on 8th December for Sleaford and North Hykeham with 17,570, 53.5% of the vote, and a majority 13,144 votes.

House of Lords

• Lord Stunell has been appointed to the Committee on Standards in Public Life. He replaces Lord Alderdice.
• Lord Rana has switched from sitting as Crossbench member of the House to join the Conservative Party.
• Lord Scott of Foscote will retire from the House at the end of 2016.
• Baroness Emerton  took a Leave of Absence from the House on 1st December.

Select Committees

Procedure: Lord Fowler (Non-affilated) joined; Baroness D’Souza (Crossbench) left.

EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee: Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke (LAB) joined; Lord Fink (CON) left.

Devolved Institutions

• Alex Johnstone (CON) MSP for North East Scotland has passed away.

• A Consultation process has been launched to consider renaming The National Assembly for Wales. Alternatives include ‘Senedd’ and ‘Parliament’.

Local Government

• Heidi Allen MP (CON), has announced her intention to seek the Conservative nomination for the new role of Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The election will take place in May 2017.
• Nickie Aiken has been appointed by the Conservative majority group as its leader on Westminster City Council. Subject to a full council vote on 25th January she will become the next Leader of the council.
• Liz Redfern, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council has announced she will step down from the role in the New Year.
• Joanne Roney has been chosen as the next Chief Executive of Manchester Council, subject to approval from the councillors on 14th December. The current Chief Executive Sir Howard Bernstein announced his resignation in September.
• The Conservative group on Pendle Borough Council has tabled a vote of no confidence in the Leadership, a vote will be held on Thursday, 15th December. 
• Dyfed Edwards, the Leader of Gwynedd Council has announced he will stand down at the local elections next May.

European Parliament

This week MEPs will be in Strasbourg for the plenary meeting of the Parliament.

• Gianni Pittella re-elected as leader of the Progressives. He was elected by acclamation.
• Eleonora Forenza MEP has been selected by the European United Left – Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) as its candidate for the presidency of the European Parliament.
• The European People’s Party (EPP) will announce their candidate for Presidency on 13th December.
• Alessandra Mussolini MEP has joined the Non-Attached members in the Parliament, leaving the EPP.

Party News

• The UK Independence Party is to hold talks on the issue of whether Nathan Gill has to give up on of his seats. He currently sits in both the European Parliament and Welsh Assembly, in the latter he sits as an Independent.