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Tue, 24 December 2024

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Sophie Church

Sophie Church

Sophie Church is a Reporter at The House magazine.

Boundary Changes Have Made It Harder to Provide Service To Constituents, Warn MPs
Parliament
Boundary Changes Have Made It Harder to Provide Service To Constituents, Warn MPs
Providing a consistent level of service to constituents is proving “very challenging” for MPs after boundary changes at the last election increased the population sizes of some seats.
'When we're all together in the Chamber we're actually very loud': Lib Dem Liz Jarvis
Parliament
By Sophie Church
'When we're all together in the Chamber we're actually very loud': Lib Dem Liz Jarvis
With a career in journalism behind her, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh Liz Jarvis tells Sophie Church why Labour’s failure to listen to the public could prove costly
James Cartlidge: 'Defence should be the number-one priority'
Defence
By Sophie Church
James Cartlidge: 'Defence should be the number-one priority'
With Europe racing to procure arms against the threat of widespread war on the continent, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge tells Sophie Church the UK risks falling behind. Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer
Alberto Costa: 'I am not and never have been a saint'
Parliament
By Sophie Church
Alberto Costa: 'I am not and never have been a saint'
New Standards Committee chair Alberto Costa tells Sophie Church why punishments for MPs breaking minor rules should be less severe
We Shouldn't Expect MPs To Be “Saints”, Says Standards Chair
Technology
We Shouldn't Expect MPs To Be “Saints”, Says Standards Chair
People who stand to be MPs should not be expected to be “saints”, the recently-elected Standards Committee chair has said, adding that punishments for minor parliamentary rules breaches are too “severe”.
Adrian Ramsay: 'We need less of the horrific yah-boo style approach we see in the Chamber'
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Adrian Ramsay: 'We need less of the horrific yah-boo style approach we see in the Chamber'
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay speaks to Sophie Church about why Labour should take ‘another look’ at its tax on farming, and the ‘ridiculous’ notion he is against net-zero
Labour MP Criticises 'Hypocritical' Disinterest In UK Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia
Foreign affairs
Labour MP Criticises "Hypocritical" Disinterest In UK Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia
A Labour MP has said outrage over arms exports to Israel is “hypocritical” given the UK exports a higher volume of arms to Saudi Arabia which is currently at war in Yemen.
Greens Urge Government To Rethink Tax On Farming
Environment
Greens Urge Government To Rethink Tax On Farming
The Green Party has urged the government to take “another look” at its plans to introduce inheritance tax on farm land, as farmers prepare protests in the capital this week against the changes.
Layla Moran: 'We are basically at a standstill with social care'
Health
By Sophie Church
Layla Moran: 'We are basically at a standstill with social care'
In her first interview since becoming Health and Social Care Committee chair, Layla Moran tells Sophie Church why Labour’s ‘glaring omission’ in its budget on social care will sink the NHS further. Photography by Tom Pilston
Green Party Members Rejected Proposal To Join With Women’s Equality Party
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Green Party Members Rejected Proposal To Join With Women’s Equality Party
Green Party members declined a partnership with the Women’s Equality Party (WEP) just before the party shut down its operations, PoliticsHome can reveal.
Sir Stephen Bubb: The economic impact charities can make is 'vast'
Economy
By Sophie Church
Sir Stephen Bubb: The economic impact charities can make is "vast"
A straitened state is in retreat and banking on economic growth to fend off a return to austerity. But Sir Stephen Bubb tells Sophie Church it needs charities as much as businesses to mend the breach
Social Care At “Standstill” After Budget, Says Health Committee Chair Layla Moran
Health
By Sophie Church
Social Care At “Standstill” After Budget, Says Health Committee Chair Layla Moran
The social care system is “basically at a standstill” following the Budget, the new chair of the Health and Social Care Committee Layla Moran has said.
Ukraine Should Drop Notes Onto Battlefield Urging North Korean Soldiers To Defect, Says Peer
Defence
Ukraine Should Drop Notes Onto Battlefield Urging North Korean Soldiers To Defect, Says Peer
Ukraine should drop notes to North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia guaranteeing them South Korean citizenship should they defect, a sanctioned peer has said.
National Grid's Alice Delahunty: 2030 clean power target is unachievable without 'reform'
Energy
By Sophie Church
National Grid's Alice Delahunty: 2030 clean power target is unachievable without "reform"
Labour is pulling all levers to reach zero-carbon electricity by 2030. Speaking to Sophie Church, the National Grid’s Alice Delahunty warns the government risks missing its target
Green Party Spend £1m on Legal Fees In Four Years As Gender Rows Continue
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Green Party Spend £1m on Legal Fees In Four Years As Gender Rows Continue
The Green Party has spent £1m over four years fighting legal battles against its own members, as divisions over gender continue to threaten the party’s finances.
Charities Suffer From APPG Rule Changes
Parliament
By Sophie Church
Charities Suffer From APPG Rule Changes
Charities are struggling to adapt to the “very difficult” process of establishing an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) following recent rule changes.
“He still calls me ‘Miss’': The Josh Fenton-Glynn and Allison Gardner interview
Parliament
By Sophie Church
“He still calls me ‘Miss’": The Josh Fenton-Glynn and Allison Gardner interview
During the election, Josh Fenton-Glynn realised fellow Labour candidate Allison Gardner was his old science teacher. Now MPs, they speak to Sophie Church about their time at school and ambitions for Parliament
Ben Obese-Jecty: 'There doesn’t seem to be a coherent, holistic view of defence'
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Ben Obese-Jecty: 'There doesn’t seem to be a coherent, holistic view of defence'
One of just 26 new Conservative MPs, Ben Obese-Jecty speaks to Sophie Church about Labour’s ‘duplicity’ and his reasons for wanting to tackle knife crime
The Tory Party's Trump Conundrum
Foreign affairs
By Sophie Church
The Tory Party's Trump Conundrum
With the US election coming up, Sophie Church explores how the Conservatives are approaching the possibility of Trump’s return to power.
Ed Davey: Tories will have us 'breathing down their necks'
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Ed Davey: Tories will have us 'breathing down their necks'
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey oversaw a campaign that elected a record-breaking 72 Lib Dem MPs to Parliament. He speaks to Sophie Church of his disappointment on Labour’s current gloomy outlook, and how the Lib Dems are strategising for the next election. Photography by Tom Pilston
Growing Pains: Inside The Green Party Gender Row
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Growing Pains: Inside The Green Party Gender Row
With four MPs in Westminster, the Green Party is enjoying record-breaking success. However, behind closed doors, the party is navigating a fierce debate on gender issues, which some say could “tear the party apart”. 
The Lib Dems Are Eyeing Labour Seats To Target At The Next Election, Says Party President
Political parties
By Sophie Church
The Lib Dems Are Eyeing Labour Seats To Target At The Next Election, Says Party President
The Liberal Democrats are already thinking about seats they can take from Labour at the next general election, according to the party president.
Education Secretary Urged To Grant Home Fees For Britain’s Hong Kong Students
Home affairs
By Sophie Church
Education Secretary Urged To Grant Home Fees For Britain’s Hong Kong Students
BNO visa holders, backed by MPs and peers, are calling on Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to end international fees for Hong Kong students living in the UK.
Threats To MPs Should Be Classed As Terrorism, Says Government Adviser On Terrorism Law
Home affairs
By Sophie Church
Threats To MPs Should Be Classed As Terrorism, Says Government Adviser On Terrorism Law
Threats of violence towards MPs should be investigated as terror offences, the government’s terrorism legislation adviser has said.
Wendy Morton's Deputy Speaker Bid To Raise Standards Of Behaviour
Parliament
By Sophie Church
Wendy Morton's Deputy Speaker Bid To Raise Standards Of Behaviour
It took Wendy Morton a long time to work out what three words encapsulated her bid for deputy speaker.
Karen Bradley Wants To 'Put MPs First' In Her Deputy Speaker Bid
Parliament
By Sophie Church
Karen Bradley Wants To "Put MPs First" In Her Deputy Speaker Bid
When Conservative MP for Staffordshire Moorlands Karen Bradley was elected in 2010, she would often come to the Chamber, simply to sit and listen.
Nus Ghani Wants To Let MPs Work “WIthout Fear Or Favour”
Parliament
By Sophie Church
Nus Ghani Wants To Let MPs Work “WIthout Fear Or Favour”
Running for deputy speaker was something Nusrat Ghani, the Conservative MP for Wealden, had “always wanted to do”.
Labour Economist: Paying More Taxes Will Make People Happier
Economy
By Sophie Church
Labour Economist: Paying More Taxes Will Make People Happier
Labour peer and economist Lord Layard has spent years researching happiness. He tells Sophie Church why putting happiness at the heart of policy will keep Labour in power for longer
Green Shoots: How the Green Party made gains in 2024
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Green Shoots: How the Green Party made gains in 2024
The Green Party now has four MPs in Parliament – its highest number ever. Sophie Church explores the party’s grassroots campaign and the problems it may experience in Westminster
How the Lib Dems rose from the ashes
Political parties
By Sophie Church
How the Lib Dems rose from the ashes
The Liberal Democrats have surged back after almost a decade of decline following a campaign that certainly got their leader noticed. Sophie Church on the method behind the madness and what comes next
Eight Green Party Members Expelled in Alleged Gender Critical Purge
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Eight Green Party Members Expelled in Alleged Gender Critical Purge
Eight members of the Green Party, including one former councillor, claim to have been expelled from the party for expressing gender critical views.
Were Fears Of Disinformation During The Election Exaggerated?
Technology
By Sophie Church
Were Fears Of Disinformation During The Election Exaggerated?
Politicians were bracing themselves for a tidal wave of foreign-state disinformation in the run-up to the General Election.
'Turquoise Tories' Could Sound The Death Knell For The Conservatives In Marginal Seats
Political parties
By Sophie Church
'Turquoise Tories' Could Sound The Death Knell For The Conservatives In Marginal Seats
Around one in six 2019 Conservative voters who want to see action taken on the climate said they will switch parties at the coming election, according to polling data shared exclusively with PoliticsHome.
Liz Truss Is Campaigning Harder Than Ever In Her Once Safe Tory Seat
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Liz Truss Is Campaigning Harder Than Ever In Her Once Safe Tory Seat
The prospect of a Tory wipeout on 4 July means not even South West Norfolk is considered completely safe. Locals say Liz Truss, the constituency's MP of 14 years, is working harder than usual to avoid another political humiliation.
Green Party Withdrew Statement on Cass Review After LGBTIQA+ Greens Threatened To Remove Support For Leaders
Political parties
By Sophie Church
Green Party Withdrew Statement on Cass Review After LGBTIQA+ Greens Threatened To Remove Support For Leaders
The Green Party withdrew a statement about the Cass Review into NHS treatment of youngsters seeking help on gender and identity because it is so split over the issue.
Effluent Is Turning The Affluent Green
Environment
Effluent Is Turning The Affluent Green
The Greens hope a wave of outrage over the polluted River Waveney will help deliver a seismic victory where the Tories have "always" won.