en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/8116920 Comments by David_Boothroyd https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/01/stephen-laws-how-attempts-to-postpone-brexit-could-create-a-constitutional-crisis-and-drag-the-queen-into-it.html#IDComment1068677552 If both Houses of Parliament pass a Bill in the same form, then it is presented for Royal Assent and Royal Assent is duly given. There is no stage at which the Government, or the Prime Minister, may advise the monarch to refuse Royal Assent. It would be unconstitutional for them to do so. Mon, 21 Jan 2019 17:27:36 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/01/stephen-laws-how-attempts-to-postpone-brexit-could-create-a-constitutional-crisis-and-drag-the-queen-into-it.html#IDComment1068677552 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2018/09/who-is-endorsing-whom-to-be-the-conservative-candidate-for-mayor-of-london.html#IDComment1065582245 Havering councillors Bob Perry and Melvin Wallace appear to be supporting both Andrew Boff and Shaun Bailey. Wed, 26 Sep 2018 12:08:15 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2018/09/who-is-endorsing-whom-to-be-the-conservative-candidate-for-mayor-of-london.html#IDComment1065582245 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2018/06/the-electoral-commission-didnt-stop-what-was-happening-in-tower-hamlets-is-it-really-capable-of-thwarting-putin.html#IDComment1062683064 The Electoral Commission does not have any power to investigate registration fraud or criminal offences relating to election campaigns - that is the responsibility of the police. It has a general power to recommend changes in electoral law to government but it can only intervene over campaign financing and party registration issues. It really is no use complaining that the Electoral Commission fails to do that which it has no power to do. Fri, 8 Jun 2018 08:41:39 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2018/06/the-electoral-commission-didnt-stop-what-was-happening-in-tower-hamlets-is-it-really-capable-of-thwarting-putin.html#IDComment1062683064 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2018/02/liam-booth-smith-westminster-councils-voluntary-levy-on-the-wealthy-is-to-be-applauded.html#IDComment1058791733 Can I point out that the level of business rates is set by central government. Fri, 23 Feb 2018 09:41:49 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2018/02/liam-booth-smith-westminster-councils-voluntary-levy-on-the-wealthy-is-to-be-applauded.html#IDComment1058791733 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/09/oliver-cooper-the-claim-that-rich-foreigners-are-driving-up-house-prices-is-a-myth.html#IDComment1048919967 Those statistics on 'long-term empty homes' are bunk. For private housing they derive from the council tax register. Until 2013 owners used to register their homes as long-term empty as they could claim Class C exemption from council tax for six months, but Class C exemption has now been abolished and no-one is claiming it. So no-one is surveying private residential property to find any that are long-term empty. Fri, 1 Sep 2017 08:16:43 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/09/oliver-cooper-the-claim-that-rich-foreigners-are-driving-up-house-prices-is-a-myth.html#IDComment1048919967 http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2017/07/joel-davidson-it-is-time-to-ditch-three-member-wards-in-london.html#IDComment1046103349 That's not how it works. If you dropped the level of allowances, then people of working age wouldn't be able to afford it and almost all councillors would be people over retirement age. Mon, 3 Jul 2017 11:14:28 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2017/07/joel-davidson-it-is-time-to-ditch-three-member-wards-in-london.html#IDComment1046103349 http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2017/04/election-2017-the-mps-standing-down.html#IDComment1042639996 Natalie McGarry has not announced that she's standing down. She has been denied renomination as an SNP candidate only. Mon, 24 Apr 2017 13:10:42 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2017/04/election-2017-the-mps-standing-down.html#IDComment1042639996 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/01/spencer-pitfield-should-the-real-battle-with-trade-unions-be-over-political-affiliation.html#IDComment1037292235 The RMT stopped affiliating to Labour (actually it was expelled) in 2004, which is why it hasn't made much news recently. Its last donations to Labour were in 2002. It did donate to Corbyn's leadership campaign, but that's only an internal party election. You're welcome to check the Electoral Commission's register of donations. (There's a one-off donation to Neil Findlay MSP from 2014 - that was part of the Scottish Labour leadership election) Sun, 15 Jan 2017 14:30:36 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/01/spencer-pitfield-should-the-real-battle-with-trade-unions-be-over-political-affiliation.html#IDComment1037292235 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/01/spencer-pitfield-should-the-real-battle-with-trade-unions-be-over-political-affiliation.html#IDComment1037291645 "Good unions and their leaders are not affiliated to any political party" - really? The RMT is not affiliated to any political party. Sun, 15 Jan 2017 14:13:46 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2017/01/spencer-pitfield-should-the-real-battle-with-trade-unions-be-over-political-affiliation.html#IDComment1037291645 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2016/11/alex-wild-this-should-be-the-last-ever-autumn-statement.html#IDComment1034171100 The original point of the Autumn Statement was that the budget only dealt with taxation, while the Autumn Statement dealt with government spending. But in 1993 the Budget and Autumn Statement was merged and Kenneth Clarke's four budgets were all delivered in November/December. Gordon Brown moved the budget back to the Spring, but kept an interim financial statement in the Autumn to allow for smaller changes. Wed, 23 Nov 2016 11:55:52 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2016/11/alex-wild-this-should-be-the-last-ever-autumn-statement.html#IDComment1034171100 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/08/cameron-and-osborne-defeated-the-labour-moderates-before-corbyn-did.html#IDComment1028676090 I suggest you're engaging in the same sleight of hand as Jeremy Corbyn in describing Ed Miliband as 'moderate'. Ed Miliband was on the left of the Labour Party by all traditional yardsticks (as is Owen Smith). The Corbyn supporters are often quite keen to imply that Labour's bad electoral performance in 2010 and 2015 shows that moderate Labour leaders do poorly, but in fact Gordon Brown was mainstream Labour and Ed Miliband was soft left; they were not Blairites and were not offering Blairite policies. Wed, 24 Aug 2016 10:32:11 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/08/cameron-and-osborne-defeated-the-labour-moderates-before-corbyn-did.html#IDComment1028676090 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2016/05/salvatore-murtas-khans-challenge-to-secularism.html#IDComment1021076368 G.K. Chesterton did not write that. A Belgian critic wrote that, in analysis of something Chesterton had put into the mouth of Father Brown. Sat, 14 May 2016 10:50:44 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2016/05/salvatore-murtas-khans-challenge-to-secularism.html#IDComment1021076368 http://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2016/01/lewis-baston-westland-the-heseltine-resignation-row-that-rocked-thatcher-30-years-ago-this-month.html#IDComment1010143828 Westland's financial difficulties in 1985 are also linked to another great 1980s story, the libel trial between Nikolai Tolstory and Lord Aldington. Aldington (formerly Brigadier Toby Low) was chairman of Westland from 1977 and pressed the company to make a civilian version of the successful Lynx helicopter it had made for the British Army. Westland eventually did, but the WG 30 was enormously expensive to develop and then failed to sell. The government pushed India to buy some, which they did but with UK aid; the Indians then found that it was useless for the purpose they wanted them, and refused to have them. (They are said still to be in storage somewhere) Fri, 15 Jan 2016 14:28:49 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2016/01/lewis-baston-westland-the-heseltine-resignation-row-that-rocked-thatcher-30-years-ago-this-month.html#IDComment1010143828 http://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2015/12/iain-dale-how-hilary-benns-speech-moved-me-to-tears.html#IDComment1005702160 Tony Benn was religious - I think he was Church of England throughout his life. He didn't take the oath when taking his seat but that was a political stance, not a religious one. One of his last books was called 'Dare to be a Daniel' from a Christian poem taught him by his father - it certainly applies to Hilary: Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone. Dare to have a purpose firm. Dare to let it [be] known. Fri, 4 Dec 2015 15:58:26 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2015/12/iain-dale-how-hilary-benns-speech-moved-me-to-tears.html#IDComment1005702160 http://www.conservativehome.com/to-the-point/2015/08/the-lords-and-how-its-swelling-out-of-shape.html#IDComment989843140 Unfortunately looking just at the number of Peers by their party allegiance doesn't give the whole story. In 1999 a large number of the hereditary peers took little or no part in House of Lords business; many of the Conservatives were known as 'backwoodsmen' who might be summoned to vote on a crucial issue once or twice a session but were otherwise left alone. Also before 1999, life peerages were given as straightforward honours, to people who were distinguished but for whom the seat in the House of Lords was just a side benefit. That was why some honours lists were known as 'working peers' - they were not primarily honours, but for people who were expected to take a large part in the work of the House. Nowadays the backwoodsmen are gone, and no new peerages are given out as pure honours. All new peers are expected to attend the Lords, and newspaper stories report critically on those who do not. That's why the House of Lords is overcrowded: instead of being 1,200 people who rarely come, it's now 800 people who are almost always there. Tue, 11 Aug 2015 10:40:07 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/to-the-point/2015/08/the-lords-and-how-its-swelling-out-of-shape.html#IDComment989843140 http://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2015/06/iain-dale-the-left-thinks-the-voters-are-stupid-no-wonder-labour-lost.html#IDComment976187303 The title says "The Left thinks ...". The text says "A couple of left-wing friends are ...". Just how do two people suddenly become "the left"? "The left" consists of tens of millions of people, many of whom didn't vote Labour. Some of them voted Conservative. But how often do we read articles on ConservativeHome (Iain Dale isn't the only culprit) where the "the left" is damned because the author has had a bad experience with one person who is perceived to be a political opponent? It's a terrible form of argument and it demeans you when you do it. Fri, 5 Jun 2015 08:37:25 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2015/06/iain-dale-the-left-thinks-the-voters-are-stupid-no-wonder-labour-lost.html#IDComment976187303 http://www.conservativehome.com/highlights/2015/05/the-rise-of-postal-voting-and-what-it-means.html#IDComment968962669 One of the reasons Houghton and Sunderland South is so high is down to Sunderland City Council's scheme to make it the first seat to declare. Sunderland City Council does its best to get as many votes by possible through the post - because some of the preparation work for the count can be done before 10 PM on the night and doesn't take up any time between 10 PM and the result being known. Tue, 5 May 2015 11:53:42 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/highlights/2015/05/the-rise-of-postal-voting-and-what-it-means.html#IDComment968962669 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/03/hugh-byrne-its-time-to-tear-down-the-cult-of-bevan-in-the-nhs.html#IDComment960661412 This is a fascinating and complicated area in which it is dangerous to tread, and largely irrelevant to contemporary political debates. Some points: a) The 1944 white paper was massively controversial; there were several Conservative ministers (including Beaverbrook and Bracken) who threatened resignation if it was not altered, although they were eventually persuaded to stay. b) William Beveridge (who only became a Liberal later) had practically nothing to do with it. His report was about social insurance, not health care. It said almost nothing about health services, beyond assuming that the cost of primary health care would not in future be met from National Insurance. c) There was not much detail in the 1944 white paper about how it would be run, save that it was probably going to be for local government. When Bevan became Minister of Health, he quite quickly decided to drop that idea and nationalise both the voluntary and local government-owned hospitals. The shape of the NHS we have now was not decided by Willink's white paper but by Bevan's decisions. d) Post-war, there was agreement across the parties that the health service would be comprehensive, free at the point of use, and paid for out of general taxation. There was no agreement about anything else. e) There always were separate National Health Services for England and Wales, and for Scotland. They were established by two separate Acts of Parliament. Mon, 30 Mar 2015 08:49:32 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/03/hugh-byrne-its-time-to-tear-down-the-cult-of-bevan-in-the-nhs.html#IDComment960661412 http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2015/03/full-list-of-conservative-mps-standing-down-at-the-general-election.html#IDComment960303709 You could also add Anne McIntosh (Vale of York), deselected. She said earlier this month that she will not be contesting the election. Sat, 28 Mar 2015 13:21:37 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2015/03/full-list-of-conservative-mps-standing-down-at-the-general-election.html#IDComment960303709 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/03/matthew-bailey-and-philip-cowley-the-conventional-wisdom-is-wrong-as-tory-leader-thatcher-stood-for-ideology-right-from-the-start.html#IDComment959157988 The story about Thatcher's meeting with Heath on 25 November 1974, when she told him she would be standing for the leadership and that Heath sat in silence and just said "You'll lose", is questionable. It was reported at the time but plainly came from Thatcher's campaign who had a motive in pointing out Heath's difficult personality. Thatcher's official version was that Heath said "if you must", Heath disputes it in his autobiography: "But I thanked her". (p. 530) Mon, 23 Mar 2015 10:30:41 +0000 http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2015/03/matthew-bailey-and-philip-cowley-the-conventional-wisdom-is-wrong-as-tory-leader-thatcher-stood-for-ideology-right-from-the-start.html#IDComment959157988