After three failed attempts, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson successfully gained the support of parliament for his proposed December 12th general election. In all previous votes Labour had refused to support the election, despite having consistently asked for one following Johnson’s election, due to the threat of a no deal Brexit. However, following the EU’s…
Sex Survey 2019
Upskirting; ‘an act of violation a tool for humiliation’
On 15 January 2019, the House of Lords approved a ban on upskirting, one that was previously blocked June 2018 by MP Christopher Chope – at the time, the sole objector to the bill. It’s a ban that was tirelessly campaigned for by Gina Martin, who, at the British Summertime Festival in London 2017, became…
Comment
Lords should not be able to intervene in democracy
It was announced to the population as the ultimate form of democracy. It was presented as the purest form of listening to the will of the people and highlighted the control that would be taken back by British citizens. However, the EU referendum has resulted in an opinionated negotiation between unelected peers, politicians and a…
News
TEF and fees separated by Lords
The House of Lords has passed an amendment to cut the link between tuition fee rises and the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). However, student campaigners say there is little to celebrate with this announcement despite appearing to be a victory for campaigns like the National Student Survey (NSS) boycott. The government’s Higher Education Bill would…
Comment
Whatever the party line, it is highly unlikely we will see any reform to the House of Lords
The Conservative government was recently defeated in its attempts to cut tax credits. Owing to the nature of the cuts, many people were pleased about this news. Nonetheless, it has caused a significant amount of controversy, given that the proposed cuts were passed by the House of Commons but were then defeated in the House…
Environment, Featured Posts, Science
Interview: Jenny Jones – Green Party member of the House of Lords
Environment editor Peter Sheehan interviews Jenny Jones.