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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: British Parliament

British Parliament stories: 33 news summaries

1 - 20 of 33 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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Airline Pulls Own Mag After Holocaust Memorial Shoot

Budget easyJet did fashion spread without permission

Nov 20, 09 11:50 PM CST
(Newser) - British budget airline easyJet has taken its in-flight magazine out of its planes after the New Statesman pointed out that a fashion spread in its current edition was shot at Berlin’s Holocaust memorial. The airline blamed the outside publishing house in charge of the magazine, which, judgment and taste... More »

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British Parliament • airline industry • budget airlines • EasyJet • Berlin Holocaust Memorial • in-flight magazine

 Brown to Repay 
 $20K in Expense 
 Scandal 

PM had called for ministers to pony up

Oct 12, 09 12:19 PM CDT
(Newser) - Gordon Brown has been sent a bill for £12,415 ($19,600) for questionable expense account claims, and the prime minister intends to pay up, 10 Downing St. announced today. The lion’s share of that money was used for housecleaning, with a bit going to gardening and decorating.... More »

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British Parliament • Gordon Brown • David Cameron • Britain • scandal • inappropriate expenses • Nick Clegg

 As 4th Minister Quits, 
 Brown's Outlook Bleak 

Blears resigns in potentially fatal blow to PM's authority

Jun 3, 09 7:28 AM CDT
(Newser) - With one day to go before clutch British elections, another minister resigned from Gordon Brown's Cabinet today, dealing the beleaguered PM another devastating blow. Hazel Blears, an arch-Blairite who was exposed for avoiding $21,000 in capital gains tax, refused to praise Brown in her resignation statement. She is the... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • Gordon Brown • British elections • Labour • inappropriate expenses • Blairites

UK Expenses Scandal Hits Alistair Darling

Govt's No. 2 claimed 2 houses at same time, may be demoted

Jun 1, 09 6:52 AM CDT
(Newser) - Britain's ongoing political expenses scandal reached all the way to the second-highest post in government today, after the Telegraph broke news that Chancellor Alistair Darling reportedly expensed the service charge on a South London apartment he was renting out while also claiming allowances on his Downing Street house. Though he... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • Gordon Brown • Alistair Darling • Chancellor of the Exchequer • inappropriate expenses • expenses

(Newser) - London’s Big Ben will celebrate three 150th birthdays this year, starting with today’s anniversary of the first movement of the huge clock, the Evening Standard reports. July 11 marks the first ringing of “Big Ben,” the Great Bell that eventually gave its name to the tower,... More »

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architecture • London • British Parliament • England • Big Ben • anniversary • landmark • clock tower

 British MP Billed 
 Taxpayers for 
 'Servants' Wing' 

Tory then sold house and evaded capital gains tax

May 28, 09 7:49 AM CDT
(Newser) - Just when the scandal over British MPs' expenses seemed to be petering out comes news that a Conservative legislator charged taxpayers $27,000 to build servants' quarters at his second home, the Times of London reports. Sir John Butterfill told the BBC the suggestion he had servants was a "... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • tax evasion • Conservative Party • inappropriate expenses • staff • expenses

ANALYSIS

Forget Tea Parties: Irate Brits Talking 'Bout a Revolution

Decades-long tensions come to the fore over latest scandal

May 24, 09 12:48 PM CDT
(Newser) - Britain’s embattled politicians may have another revolution on their hands, but this time one that’s brewing on their own soil. Citizens are fuming over outrageous personal expenditures—including a miniature “duck house” and the clearing of a moat—by members of Parliament, but tensions have been simmering... More »

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British Parliament • Gordon Brown • corruption • House of Commons • revolution • Britain • political scandal • Michael Martin

 US Journo 
 Exposed UK 
 Expense Scandal 

Freelancer's Freedom of Information Act query lifted lid on abuse of system

May 20, 09 6:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - The scandal shaking Britain's Parliament to its core was set in motion by a simple request from a freelance American writer, the New York Times reports. Heather Brooke submitted a query about politicians' expenses under Britain's Freedom of Information Act after it came into effect, only to meet years of... More »

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British Parliament • Britain • political scandal • inappropriate expenses • expenses • Michael Martin • Heather Brooke

UK Expenses Scandal Claims House Speaker

House of Commons speaker Michael Martin steps down

May 19, 09 6:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - The ongoing controversy surrounding British MPs' lavish expenses has claimed its biggest victim: the speaker of the House of Commons. Michael Martin, who presides over the country's main legislative body, will announce his resignation today after losing the support of party leaders, including Gordon Brown—not for cheating on his... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • Gordon Brown • parliament • inappropriate expenses • expenses • Michael Martin

(Newser) - The improper-expenses scandal roiling the British government is so crippling that the entire parliament ought to be dissolved, and an emergency general election held, opposition leader David Cameron said today. The “political system is paralyzed,” said Cameron, who could push for a June vote, the Telegraph reports. “... More »

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British Parliament • Gordon Brown • Labour Party • Tory Party • David Cameron • inappropriate expenses • special election • expenses • Michael Martin

Another UK Lawmaker Suspended
Over Expenses

Public outrage
grows over scandal

May 16, 09 9:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Britain’s Labour Party has suspended David Chaytor, the latest lawmaker caught up in a widening expense account scandal, the Daily Telegraph reports. Chaytor reportedly claimed $20,000 in interest on a mortgage that was already paid off. Chaytor has said he made an “unforgivable error in my... More »

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British Parliament • Labour Party • Britain • taxpayer money • inappropriate expenses • expenses • David Chaytor

UK Minister Resigns in Expense Flap

1st MP to step down says he acted '1 million percent by the book'

May 15, 09 12:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - Britain’s justice minister resigned today amid a furor over a sketchy rental agreement, the first MP to do so following the revelation of excessive expenses charged by members of parliament to taxpayers, the Telegraph reports. Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched an investigation into whether Shahid Malik breached conduct codes... More »

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British Parliament • Gordon Brown • Britain • taxpayer money • inappropriate expenses • expenses • Shahid Malik

OPINION

Media Playing Dirty in Brown Expenses Flap

PM's sister-in-law hits back after fiasco over housekeeping

May 11, 09 11:39 AM CDT
(Newser) - British politicians have endured four days' worth of brutal press coverage after a newspaper published leaked parliamentary expense accounts, which include claims for everything from major home renovations to a Kit Kat bar. Gordon Brown, normally thought of as a frugal preacher's son, expensed $10,000 for cleaning—made payable... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • Gordon Brown • housekeeper • inappropriate expenses • expenses

British in Uproar Over Bizarre MP Expenses

Ministers charged taxpayers for maids, x-rated movies, cat food

May 9, 09 9:43 AM CDT
(Newser) - Britain is up in arms today over a series of outrageous and in many cases ridiculous expense account charges from some members of the government. The expense reports were leaked to the Daily Telegraph, which yesterday revealed, that Gordon Brown had paid his brother $9,800 for housecleaning services... More »

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British Parliament • Gordon Brown • Britain • inappropriate expenses • expenses

 30 Years On, 
 Thatcher 
 Still Divides 



Britain's first female PM polarized during her rule, and after

May 4, 09 8:47 AM CDT
(Newser) - Thirty years ago today British voters elected Margaret Thatcher in a landmark election, ushering in 18 years of Conservative rule. She remains a polarizing figure: her enemies still regard her as nearly diabolical, while her admirers speak of her as a saint. The Telegraph looks back on her tumultuous 11-year... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • Conservative Party • Tory Party • Margaret Thatcher • conservatism

British Cabinet Starts to Rebel Against Brown

After a bad week, PM's deputy suggests she wants to lead Britain

May 4, 09 6:23 AM CDT
(Newser) - A disastrous week for Gordon Brown has reignited speculation that the British prime minister could be forced out of his job, as senior Labour figures struggled to rein in a restless party. After losing a vote on soldiers' rights and backing down on proposed reforms, Brown is facing renewed calls... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • Gordon Brown • British Cabinet • Labour Party • Harriet Harman • Alan Johnson

British MPs Blast Bankers
For 'Astonishing Mess'

Report by finance committee blames HBOS, RBS for meltdown

May 1, 09 7:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - Bankers bear the majority of blame for the global economic crisis for having made "an astonishing mess of the financial system," an investigation by the British parliament's finance committee has concluded. The Treasury Select Committee said in a report that bailed-out banks such as HBOS and Royal Bank... More »

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British Parliament • Royal Bank of Scotland • HBOS • banks • financial crisis • economic crisis • RBS

Hubby of Top UK Minister Billed Taxpayers for Porn

Home secretary's
future in gov't in doubt

Mar 30, 09 5:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Jacqui Smith, the British home secretary, was fighting for her political future today after revelations that her husband had billed the taxpayer to watch pornography at their house. The $15 rental fees for two adult movies were bundled into the minister's Internet bill, which he expensed to parliament. Smith has... More »

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British Parliament • pornography • Jacqui Smith • inappropriate expenses • Home Secretary

UK Conservative Leader's Son Dies at Age 6

Cameron's eldest child suffered from rare neurological condition

Feb 25, 09 5:31 AM CST
(Newser) - The eldest son of David Cameron, leader of Britain's Conservative Party and the country's possible next prime minister, died early this morning at age 6. Ivan Cameron suffered from severe epilepsy and cerebral palsy and required constant care, reports the Times of London. He was born with Ohtohara syndrome, a... More »

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United Kingdom • British Parliament • Conservative Party • Tory Party • David Cameron • Britain

Sky News Joins BBC in Refusing to Run Gaza Appeal

Both operations claim appeal would threaten image of impartiality

Jan 26, 09 7:00 AM CST
(Newser) - Britain's Sky News has joined the BBC in its controversial decision not to run a charity advertisement appealing for aid to Gaza, reports the Times of London. Sky News executives made the announcement as public and political pressure mounted for the BBC to change its stance. BBC officials said airing... More »

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Gaza • BBC • British Parliament • journalistic ethics • Disasters Emergency Committee

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