Parliament after Next General Election Will Be Most Diverse Ever, Analysis Shows

THE OBSERVER: Record number of female and ethnic minority MPs expected to sit in Commons according to study of candidate selections

The next general election is set to herald the most diverse parliament ever, with record numbers of ethnic minority and female MPs, according to a detailed analysis of candidate selections in winnable seats.

The study, by the thinktank British Future, projects that the number of ethnic minority MPs is most likely to rise from 65 to as many as 83, with much of this rise expected whatever the actual outcome of the election.

If the number of ethnic minority MPs does reach 75 or more, it will have increased fivefold in a decade and a half, having been just 15 out of 650 in the 2005 to 2010 parliament. » | Toby Helm, Political editor | Sunday, January 7, 2024

Senior Tories Fear Mass Exodus from Parliament as Dozens of MPs Set to Quit

THE GUARDIAN: Former ministers, veterans and newcomers to quit Commons after years of exhausting political chaos

Senior ministers are expecting a “total clearout” of Tory MPs ahead of the next election, as party sources cited the experience of Boris Johnson’s premiership, the increasing stresses of the job and a continuing slump in the polls as reasons for a forthcoming bumper crop of departures.

More than 40 Conservative MPs have already announced they will step down at the next election – the most for a ruling party since the exodus of 100 Labour MPs ahead of the 2010 election in the wake of the expenses scandal and 13 years in government.

A senior party source said they were expecting “lots more” of the 352 Tory MPs to announce they were leaving as the election approaches. Insiders said the political chaos of recent years had meant many had stayed in parliament much longer than they had intended. “There are loads more to come, there will be a total clearout,” said a senior party figure. “There are some who expected to go before now but held on because 2017 was a snap election and 2019 was exciting. This is the moment many will go.” » | Michael Savage, Policy editor | Saturday, July 1, 2023

At first, the Europe question split the Conservative Party. So, to try and heal the rift, Cameron called for an advisory referendum on Europe. The Brexit referendum projected onto the country the rift that the Conservative Party itself had been suffering, thus splitting the country and turning region against region, friend against friend, and even slplitting families. The country hasn't, and will not heal. The country is divided – as divided as the Conservative Party was, is, and will remain. Without wishing to sound overly religious, what does it say about such divisions in the Bible? It says the following... “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. …” [Jesus] – Matthew 12: 26 (NKJV). Source: Bible Gateway.

Truly, this country needs a business-friendly political party, but the Conservatives are from another age, a bygone age. This country needs a forward-looking, Europe-friendly, business-friendly party to replace the Conservatives. As I have stated so many times before... The Tories need to go the way of the Whigs before them: into oblivion. – © Mark Alexander

Theresa May Addresses Parliament after Davis, Johnson Quit

Theresa May's Address to Parliament on Brexit Negotiations

Brexit Greenlight: UK Parliament Passes Trigger Bill

The UK Parliament has given the green light for the country to leave the EU, as the House of Lords passed a landmark Brexit bill allowing Prime Minister Theresa May to begin official Brexit procedures.

No Brexit without Parliamentary Approval – UK High Court Rules

Britons who voted for their country to leave the EU have been dealt a blow by a ruling from the UK’s High Court, which says the government will need Parliament’s approval to go ahead with Brexit.

UK's Brexit Cannot Pass without Parliament Approval

Britain's High Court has ruled there must be parliament approval first for the UK to leave the European Union.

Brexit Appeal: Parliament Has Final Say in Triggering Article 50

In a major blow for Prime Minister Theresa May, the British government has lost its case for making the sole call on triggering Article 50, the formal process to begin negotiations to leave the European Union.

Female? Black? Gay? All Three? Then You're More Likely to Become an MP Under Controversial New Plans
MAIL ONLINE: Controversial plans were unveiled yesterday to force political parties to make Parliament less white, male, middle-class and heterosexual.

Under proposals backed by Commons Speaker John Bercow, but labelled as 'insulting' by former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe, parties will be made to declare publicly how many women, ethnic minority, gay and disabled applicants they reject as potential Parliamentary candidates.

Parties also face demands to ensure at least half the MPs leaving Parliament at the next election - in what is expected to be the biggest exodus since 1945 - are replaced by women.

The proposals have emerged from a crossparty review set up by former Commons Speaker Michael Martin - and taken forward by his successor, Mr Bercow - on how to make the chamber more representative.

In an interim report published yesterday, the panel said parties must be made to be more transparent about the people putting themselves forward as would-be MPs.

The report said: 'The fact remains that, at present, the House of Commons continues to be largely white, male, middle-aged and middle-class: people from under-represented groups who are putting themselves forward for selection are still proportionately less likely to be selected.' >>> | Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Sarkozy: We Are Stronger Together
BBC: President Nicolas Sarkozy has said France and Britain have "never been so close", during an historic address to both houses of the UK Parliament.

He said he wanted a new Franco-British "brotherhood", saying that what brought Britain and France together was "stronger than what separates us".

His country would "never forget" what British people did to "free France" during the world wars, he said.

Peers and MPs gave him a standing ovation following the speech in French.

Mr Sarkozy said France and Britain were stronger side by side, and the world admired the UK's "courage". Sarkozy: We Are Stronger Together >>>

WACH BBC VIDEO:
Excerpts of Sarkozy’s Speech to UK Parliament

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