Margaret Hodge
Cameron’s tax tightrope
David Cameron didn’t spend yesterday wringing his hands in Downing Street about the progress of his gay marriage bill: he was meeting his business advisory group. He allowed Google CEO… Continue reading
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Wind power is unnecessarily stretching the cost of living
The perfect news to greet a freezing Britain today — energy bills are set to take another hike thanks to a series of dodgy wind energy contracts. According to today’s… Continue reading
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When ‘boycott’ isn’t quite the right word
Boycott Amazon was the message from Margaret Hodge MP in last weekend’s Observer. This comes in the wake of new revelations about just how little UK tax is paid by… Continue reading
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Boris, bishops and other gossip from the Spectator Parliamentarian awards
Justin Welby, the nominated Archbishop of Canterbury, accepted his Spectator award for Peer of the Year (in recognition of his work on the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards) by conceding… Continue reading
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The Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards
The Spectator’s Parliamentarian of the Year awards are being held this afternoon at the Savoy Hotel. In total 14 awards were presented by Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education,… Continue reading
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Headmistress Hodge grills HMRC on tax avoidance
Ever since Margaret Hodge took over the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee, its evidence sessions have become rather lively: more like a fearsome grilling from the headmistress than a… Continue reading
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Hodge’s new nemesis: Sir Jeremy Heywood
Margaret Hodge subjected senior civil servants to a fierce ear-boxing this morning. She accused them of trying to avoid the scrutiny of her Public Accounts Committee, and declared the current… Continue reading
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The dark side of the Big Society
The A4e scandal is getting worse. Emma Harrison has quit as David Cameron’s back-to-work tsar, the police are still investigating a case discovered last year and there’s a suggestion their… Continue reading
31 CommentsAnother fine mess at HMRC
Today’s report by the Public Accounts Committee hasn’t so much been released as detonated onto the Westminster scene. The Exchequer is owed around £25 billion, it suggests, from major companies… Continue reading
42 CommentsMPs turn on PFI
There is nothing like being wise after the event. The Public Accounts Committee has turned on the private finance initiative, saying there is ‘no clear evidence’ that PFI delivers more… Continue reading
27 CommentsSelect committee chairmen in full
Courtesy of PoliticsHome, here is the full list of the new chairmen of select committees: ‘The following candidates have been elected unopposed as select committee chairs: – Culture, Media and… Continue reading
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