Political Updates 5 December 2016

House of Commons

Richmond Park by-election

Sarah Olney (Lib Dem) was elected as Member of Parliament on 1^st December for Richmond Park, with 20,510 votes, 49.7% of the vote, and a majority of 1,872.

Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election

The by-election will take place this Thursday 8^th December.

The final list of candidates is:

• The Iconic Arty-Pole – Monster Raving Loony Party
• Victoria Ayling – UKIP
• David Bishop – Bus-Pass Elvis Party
• Jim Clarke – Labour
• Paul Coyne
• Dr Caroline Johnson – Conservatives
• Marianne Overton – Lincolnshire Independents
• Ross Pepper – Liberal Democrats
• Sarah Stock – Independent
• Mark Suffield

Select Committees:

Defence: Gavin Robinson (DUP) joined; Jim Shannon (DUP) left.

Women and Equalities: Tracy Brabin (LAB) joined; Gill Furniss (LAB) left.

Northern Ireland Affairs: Gregory Campbell (DUP) and Jim Shannon (DUP) joined; Ian Paisley (DUP) and Gavin Robinson (DUP) left.

House of Lords

• Lord Freud announced he will be retiring as Minister of State for Welfare Reform at the end of December. He has been minister at the Department for Work and Pensions since May 2010.
• Baroness King of Bow has taken a Leave of Absence from the Lords.

Devolved Institutions

• A new Brexit cross party group has been launched by Alex Neil MSP (SNP). An initial meeting was held on 29^th November, attended by members of Labour and the Conservatives.

Local Government

• Cllr Bob Wellington CBE will stand down as leader of Torfaen council at the end of 2016.
• The Labour Party group in Torfaen are now conducting an election process. An interim leader of the council will be announced on 13^th December. A formal appointment will be made by the full council in the New Year.

European Parliament

This week MEPs will be in Brussels for committee meetings and political group meetings.

• On 6th December the Socialists and Democrats will hold an election for their leader in the Parliament. Gianni Pittella, the current leader is expected to be re-elected.
• Gianna Pittella launched a bid for the Presidency of the Parliament on 30th December.
• Following an election process the Socialists and Democrats will announce their candidate for the Presidency of the Parliament on 7th December.
• The European People’s Party will announce their candidate on 13th December.

Party News

Paul Nuttall was elected as the new leader of the UK Independence Party on 28th November with 62.6% of the vote.

Following his election Nuttall has made a series of party appointments:

• Peter Whittle – Deputy Leader and Culture Spokesperson
• Patrick O’Flynn – Senior Political Adviser and Media and Sport Spokesperson
• Paul Oakden – Party Chair
• Mike Hookem – Fisheries Spokesperson
• John Bickley – Immigration Spokesperson
• Gerard Batten – Brexit Spokesperson
• Julia Reid – Environment Spokesperson
• Bill Etheridge – Defence Spokesperson
• Suzanne Evans – Deputy Party Chair, Health Spokesperson, and Chair of the Policy Committee
• William Dartmouth – Deputy Chair and International Trade Spokesperson
• David Kurten – Education and Apprenticeships Spokesperson
• Star Anderton – Disability Spokesperson
• Roger Helmer – Energy Spokesperson
• Jim Carver – Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Spokesperson
• Jill Seymour – Transport Spokesperson
• Mark Reckless – Economics Spokesperson
• Stuart Agnew – Agriculture Spokesperson
• Ernie Warrender – Small Business Spokesperson
• David Sprason – Welfare and Social Policy Spokesperson