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Sun, 12 May 2024

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Kate Proctor

Kate Proctor

Political Editor of PoliticsHome and The House magazine.

Whitehall Staff Are Scrambling For Treasury Cash With Green Spending Review On The Horizon
Economy
By Kate Proctor
Whitehall Staff Are Scrambling For Treasury Cash With Green Spending Review On The Horizon
Whitehall staff are scrambling to bid for Treasury cash ahead of a Spending Review expected to be held this Autumn.
Flood Victims Who Protect Their Homes Will Get Cheaper Insurance, Minister Announces
Environment
By Kate Proctor
Flood Victims Who Protect Their Homes Will Get Cheaper Insurance, Minister Announces
Flood victims who protect their homes to withstand rising water in the future could get cheaper insurance premiums under new plans released by the Environment Secretary.
Labour Insiders Fear Keir Starmer's Make-Or-Break Conference Could Be Overshadowed By Job Losses
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Labour Insiders Fear Keir Starmer's Make-Or-Break Conference Could Be Overshadowed By Job Losses
Labour’s plan to axe 90 jobs as part of a bid to save £5m in costs could overshadow Keir Starmer’s pivotal conference next month, according to staffers.
Army Is Needed To Deal With Devastating Weather Events, Says Flood Zone MP
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Army Is Needed To Deal With Devastating Weather Events, Says Flood Zone MP
The army should be brought in to help councils deal with devastating inner city flooding, according to an MP whose community bore the brunt of the weekend’s downpour.
Ministry of Defence 'Failing' To Protect Women in the Armed Forces, MPs Report Finds
Defence
By Kate Proctor
Ministry of Defence "Failing" To Protect Women in the Armed Forces, MPs Report Finds
Women serving in the Armed Forces are not being protected by the Ministry of Defence or helped to reach their full potential, a damning new report by MPs has found.
Lorry Drivers Union Criticises 'Ridiculous' Isolation Exemption Process For Critical Workers
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Lorry Drivers Union Criticises "Ridiculous" Isolation Exemption Process For Critical Workers
The lorry drivers union has described the government as putting the industry into a “ridiculous situation” by making firms apply to be exempt from self-isolation when the sector is already facing huge job shortages.
Westminster Orders Northern Ireland's Leaders To Set Up Abortion Services Immediately
Health
By Kate Proctor
Westminster Orders Northern Ireland's Leaders To Set Up Abortion Services Immediately
The UK government has intervened on abortion access in Northern Ireland with the secretary of state Brandon Lewis issuing a directive ordering Stormont to roll out services.
Attorney General Criticised Over Pleas For MPs To Pay For £175,000 Royal Sculpture
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Attorney General Criticised Over Pleas For MPs To Pay For £175,000 Royal Sculpture
Exclusive: The Attorney General has sent personal letters to MPs asking them to donate funds for a £175,000 sculpture to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee in Parliament.
Food And Haulage Firms Slate Government's 'On The Hoof' Plan To Decide Who Can Skip Isolation
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Food And Haulage Firms Slate Government's "On The Hoof" Plan To Decide Who Can Skip Isolation
Pressure is mounting on the government to publish a list of which sectors have critical workers after they announced that more people in strategic jobs can request to avoid isolation if they test negative for Covid-19.
Government Scientists Issue Warning Over Nightclubs Less Than 24 Hours After They Were Allowed To Reopen
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Government Scientists Issue Warning Over Nightclubs Less Than 24 Hours After They Were Allowed To Reopen
Just hours after nightclubs opened for the first time in 16 months, government scientific and medical officers have issued a stark warning about attending "closed, crowded" spaces and suggested evidence from abroad shows they can be "super-spreader" venues.
The Government Doesn't Know How Many People Have Deleted Covid-19 App As 'Pingdemic' Continues
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
The Government Doesn't Know How Many People Have Deleted Covid-19 App As "Pingdemic" Continues
The government has admitted it does not have a record of how many people have deleted the NHS Covid-19 app as more than 500,000 people are self-isolating in the so-called "pingdemic".
The Green Party Is Tearing Itself Apart In A Furious Row Over Trans Rights
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
The Green Party Is Tearing Itself Apart In A Furious Row Over Trans Rights
Sian Berry alluded to a row about trans rights when she announced her decision not to stand again as Green Party leader this week, lighting a fuse among members – just a few months after record election results.
50 Tories Vow to Hold Boris Johnson's 'Feet To The Fire' On Levelling Up
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
50 Tories Vow to Hold Boris Johnson's "Feet To The Fire" On Levelling Up
More than 50 Conservative MPs have pledged to hold the Prime Minster’s “feet to the fire” over his levelling up promises, saying he must deliver on his commitments before the next election.
Zarah Sultana Was Told To 'Lower Her Tone' By Minister During Racism Debate
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Zarah Sultana Was Told To "Lower Her Tone" By Minister During Racism Debate
Home Office minister Victoria Atkins clashed with Labour MP Zarah Sultana during a Commons debate on racism, telling her to “lower the tone” and "stop shouting'.
Boris Johnson's Controversial £4bn Aid Cut Will Go Ahead After Tory Rebellion Fails
Foreign affairs
By Kate Proctor
Boris Johnson's Controversial £4bn Aid Cut Will Go Ahead After Tory Rebellion Fails
Boris Johnson has quelled a Tory rebellion in the Commons, after MPs vote by 333 to 298 to cut foreign aid from 0.7% to 0.5 % of national income.
Johnny Mercer and Lord West: Fighting Talk
Defence
By Kate Proctor
Johnny Mercer and Lord West: Fighting Talk
A generation apart but with a shared background serving their country in government and the military, former veterans minister Johnny Mercer and Admiral Lord Alan West, former First Sea Lord, discuss defence. Chaired by Kate Proctor.
Minister Backs Welsh Schools Singing 'Wonderful' 'One Nation, One Britain' Song, Despite Major Backlash
Culture
By Kate Proctor
Minister Backs Welsh Schools Singing "Wonderful" 'One Nation, One Britain' Song, Despite Major Backlash
A government minister is backing Welsh schools if they want pupils to sing the “One Britain, One Nation” song on Friday and said he fully supports its “wonderful” message.
Shop talk: behind the scenes of Britain’s charity stores
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Shop talk: behind the scenes of Britain’s charity stores
Military medals, designer clothes and rare Beatles records … charity shops have long been a treasure trove for the eagle-eyed bargain hunter. Kate Proctor speaks to the people running some of the UK’s stores, and discovers the weird and wonderful donations they’ve received
Matt Hancock's Pandemic Claims “Did Not Stack Up” Committee Member Says
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Matt Hancock's Pandemic Claims “Did Not Stack Up” Committee Member Says
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is far from being cleared of lying about his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a member of the committee which is investigating the government’s response.
Labour Launch A New Policy Plan But Final Proposals Could Still Be Two Years Away
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Labour Launch A New Policy Plan But Final Proposals Could Still Be Two Years Away
Labour is launching a new plan to come up with policies to fight the Tories – but concrete ideas could still be two years away, PoliticsHome has learnt.
Amersham and Chesham By-Election Is Believed To Be 'Neck And Neck'
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Amersham and Chesham By-Election Is Believed To Be "Neck And Neck"
The Tories and Lib Dems are both claiming they face a tight race as voters go to the polls in the Amersham and Chesham by-election tomorrow
Boris Johnson's 'Commitment' To Ensuring A Grenfell Style Fire Never Happens Again Is Under Question
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Boris Johnson's "Commitment" To Ensuring A Grenfell Style Fire Never Happens Again Is Under Question
Campaigners for safer cladding have hit out at the Prime Minister's claim that he is committed to making sure another Grenfell-style fire never happens again, arguing that there still hasn't been enough done by government to prevent further tragedy.
Exclusive: Top Keir Starmer Aide Digs In Over Plan To Remove Her From Leader's Office
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Exclusive: Top Keir Starmer Aide Digs In Over Plan To Remove Her From Leader's Office
Keir Starmer’s most senior adviser Baroness Jenny Chapman has won a major power battle at the top of the Labour Party after plans to remove her following a series of damaging election results were dropped.
UK And US Urged To Donate Millions More Covid Vaccines To Address Global Shortfall
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
UK And US Urged To Donate Millions More Covid Vaccines To Address Global Shortfall
The world’s leading charities have said G7 countries need to significantly up their offer to donate 600 million covid vaccines more quickly to help address the shortfall in the poorest nations.
Elton John Warns Lord Frost That Post-Brexit Touring Rules Will Ruin A Generation Of Musicians
Culture
By Kate Proctor
Elton John Warns Lord Frost That Post-Brexit Touring Rules Will Ruin A Generation Of Musicians
Elton John has accused Lord Frost and other ministers of being unwilling to fix the “gaping hole” in the current Brexit deal which means that artists must get visas and permits to go on tour in Europe.
Hello Westminster! An Arts Roundtable Chat
Culture
By Kate Proctor
Hello Westminster! An Arts Roundtable Chat
Even before stepping into the political spotlight, many parliamentarians were used to taking centre stage. From DJs and dancers to singers and musicians, The House brings together some of Westminster’s former performers for a revealing roundtable on buttock-clenching, jet-setting and losing their shirts.
Elections Expert Lord Hayward Says Boundary Review Is A 'Relief' For Tories
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Elections Expert Lord Hayward Says Boundary Review Is A "Relief" For Tories
Boris Johnson’s Tories will be “breathing a sigh of relief” after the proposals for new MP seat boundaries were revealed, according to Tory peer and elections expert Lord Hayward.
Exclusive: CBI Demand Six Month Extension To The Commercial Evictions Ban For Hardest Hit Firms
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Exclusive: CBI Demand Six Month Extension To The Commercial Evictions Ban For Hardest Hit Firms
Businesses who suffered significant financial harm because of the coronavirus pandemic should be given another six months protection from being evicted for not paying their rent, the CBI set out today.
Pressure Mounts On Government To Extend Commercial Eviction Ban To Save Businesses Ravaged By The Pandemic
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Pressure Mounts On Government To Extend Commercial Eviction Ban To Save Businesses Ravaged By The Pandemic
Pressure on the government to extend their commercial eviction ban is ramping up amid fears employers hoping to re-open on June 21 will face almost immediate orders to quit their premises over unpaid rent.
Inside The Decades Old Rivalry That Fuelled Dominic Cummings' Savaging Of Matt Hancock Over Covid
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Inside The Decades Old Rivalry That Fuelled Dominic Cummings' Savaging Of Matt Hancock Over Covid
Dominic Cummings’ no-holds-barred character assassination of Matt Hancock betrayed an apparent loathing of the health secretary during Wednesday’s seven hour evidence session in Westminster on the handling of the pandemic.
Pressure Is Mounting For The Covid Inquiry To Begin Now After 'Undignified' Cummings Hearing
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Pressure Is Mounting For The Covid Inquiry To Begin Now After "Undignified" Cummings Hearing
Unions and MPs have joined urgent calls to bring forward their independent inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic to this year, accusing the government of ducking scrutiny by waiting until 2022.
Bereaved Covid-19 Families Say It's 'Painful and Bleak' Listening To Cummings' Evidence On Pandemic
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
Bereaved Covid-19 Families Say It's "Painful and Bleak" Listening To Cummings' Evidence On Pandemic
Bereaved families whose loved ones died from Covid-19 have described Dominic Cummings’ evidence on the government’s handling of the pandemic as painful, and demanded the official inquiry begins immediately.
'Like A Scene From Independence Day': A Timeline Of The 'Crucial Week' In The Pandemic, According to Cummings
Coronavirus
By Kate Proctor
"Like A Scene From Independence Day": A Timeline Of The "Crucial Week" In The Pandemic, According to Cummings
Dominic Cummings has given a blow-by-blow account of the Downing Street operation in the “crucial week” of Covid-19 decision making pre-lockdown in which a senior aide explained that the country was "absolutely fucked".


Does the government have a plan for managing serious youth offenders?
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Does the government have a plan for managing serious youth offenders?
How to punish and accommodate children who commit the most serious crimes has long been a challenge. Now government plans to move to a novel “secure school” system seem to be drifting.
Kate Proctor looks at this often under-reported area of the criminal justice system
Former Army Major Dan Jarvis Drafted In To Batley And Spen As Keir Starmer Kicks Off Campaign This Week
Political parties
By Kate Proctor
Former Army Major Dan Jarvis Drafted In To Batley And Spen As Keir Starmer Kicks Off Campaign This Week
Labour’s Dan Jarvis has been drafted in to help run the Batley & Spen by-election alongside lead campaigner Holly Lynch as the party faces another tough battle to keep hold of a heartland seat.
Priti Patel Says Glasgow Immigration Raid That Detained Two Men Was What The British 'Voted For'
Home affairs
By Kate Proctor
Priti Patel Says Glasgow Immigration Raid That Detained Two Men Was What The British "Voted For"
Home Secretary Priti Patel has said the Glasgow immigration raid that caused outcry in Scotland is something she would approve again and is what the “British people voted for”.