Sebastian Whale

From grammar school to the green benches, Diane Abbott has made a habit of proving people wrong. Along the way, she has encountered prejudice, resistance and received her fair share of criticism. But her political journey is not over yet. The Shadow Home Secretary sits down with Sebastian Whale

In this week’s The House magazine, Dame Eleanor Laing becomes the first MP to declare their intention to stand to be Speaker when John Bercow steps down. Though there is currently no vacancy, who else might be considering a go at the top job? Sebastian Whale reports

As she makes her pitch to be the next Speaker, Dame Eleanor Laing opens up to Sebastian Whale on her experience as a working mother, how a new generation is driving reform – and why we need less testosterone in Westminster

The starting gun on the race to become the next Commons Speaker has been fired as Dame Eleanor Laing confirmed she will run to replace John Bercow when he steps down.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds will be banned from purchasing scratch cards under fresh plans being considered by the Government.

Sir David Natzler has defended Speaker John Bercow against accusations of bullying, arguing “you can’t believe everything you read in the newspapers”.

After 43 years working in Parliament, and four as Clerk of the Commons, Sir David Natzler retires next week. His tenure ends at a time of upheaval for the House, as traditional party ties fray, debate rages over the relationship between government and the backbenches, and the authorities grapple with a bullying and harassment scandal. He sits down with Sebastian Whale 

“Sport is everything,” according to Mims Davies. The new DCMS minister talks to Sebastian Whale about the power of sport to change lives and tackle discrimination

The Housing First principle to tackling homelessness has seen success in countries such as Finland, Canada and the United States. With three pilots being rolled out in England later this year, could this be the route to solving the country’s rough sleeping crisis? Sebastian Whale spends time with workers on the SIB project in Greater Manchester to see how it works

Melanie Onn has lived experience of being homeless from when she was in her late teens. Now a shadow minister for Housing, the Great Grimsby MP is determined to change perceptions of those without a place to call their own. She speaks to Sebastian Whale

We expect politicians to make decisions of great magnitude without complaint. But we would do well to acknowledge the task at hand for many MPs across the House, writes Sebastian Whale

Suggesting Luciana Berger is facing a no-confidence motion because of rumours she could join another party is completely disingenuous, writes Sebastian Whale

A government minister has suggested he will quit in order to vote against a no-deal Brexit.

Stephen Hammond was caught off guard when Theresa May asked him to join the government in November. Though he has undergone a remarkable transformation from Brexit “mutineer” to minister, the Tory MP has not resiled from his views on leaving the European Union. But as the man in charge of EU exit in the Department of Health, he is ensuring the UK is ready for all eventualities. He talks to Sebastian Whale

The Prime Minister appeared to rule out scrapping the controversial backstop mechanism – did that render the Malthouse compromise dead in the water? 

Westminster was blind-sided last week when a new ‘plan c’ for Brexit won the backing of leading Tory Leavers and Remainers alike. But what is the Malthouse plan, and could it be the key to breaking the Brexit deadlock? Sebastian Whale reports

Chris Grayling has hit back at personal attacks on his political competence and declared: "I’m a lightning rod for the anti-Brexit brigade."

Chris Grayling has spent almost nine consecutive years on the government payroll. During that time, he has accumulated his fair share of detractors. The Transport Secretary argues much of the angst against him comes from his pro-Brexit views, and vows to do what he thinks is right for the country, not what would get him praise in the media. He sits down with Sebastian Whale

Rules underpinning referendums must be updated before a second EU vote can take place to ensure lessons are learned from the 2016 campaign, the interim head of the Electoral Commission has warned.

The Electoral Commission has had its work cut out in recent years. And with the Brexit impasse persisting, the regulator could be called into action once more. But is the UK’s electoral law up to the job? Bob Posner, the interim chief executive of the independent body, speaks to Sebastian Whale

Supporters of a second referendum and a Norway Plus Brexit want to prevent a no deal EU exit. But their factional dispute is not helping with that endeavour, writes Sebastian Whale

With the Withdrawal Agreement all but dead and buried, Sebastian Whale examines the stark choices facing Parliament and the Prime Minister

Where once it was an idea on the fringes, support for a Norway-style Brexit has entered the political mainstream. With Theresa May clamouring for a solution, supporters of a Common Market 2.0 believe they have the solution to get the Prime Minister out of a deep hole. Sebastian Whale sits down with three of the group’s backers, Lucy Powell, Rob Halfon and Stephen Kinnock

Sexual violence as a tactic in conflict is on the increase – but the scale of these atrocities has not daunted the UN’s Pramila Patten in her fight to secure justice for the survivors. She talks to Sebastian Whale about gender inequalities and prevention – and why the UK government should allocate a specific portion of its aid budget to help combat this most calculated of crimes

William Hague shocked some of his fellow foreign ministers when he put combatting sexual violence on the international agenda in 2012. Since he co-founded the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, the issue has been discussed much more widely across the globe. But with reports from countries including South Sudan, Myanmar and Iraq continuing to reveal harrowing crimes, has much progress been made? He talks to Sebastian Whale 

Westminster moves at such breakneck speed these days that few can find time to take stock of what has taken place. Sebastian Whale has documented the key moments from a tumultuous 12 days and spoken to those at the heart of the action to capture another extraordinary period in British politics.

A second EU referendum may be the only way to break the impasse at Westminster, the chair of the Brexit Select Committee has said.

The former attorney general says it is "unsatisfactory" for the Government to have pushed back the meaningful vote into the new year.

The head of the CBI has lambasted Theresa May for her “derogatory” comments about freedom of movement allowing EU nationals to “jump the queue” ahead of British workers.

MPs must ensure Theresa May suffers a heavy defeat on her Brexit deal so that "the stake goes through its heart", David Davis has said.

The CBI’s Carolyn Fairbairn fears a defeat for Theresa May’s Brexit agreement could unleash yet more disruption and uncertainty for British business. She tells Sebastian Whale why the deal – while far from perfect – offers a clear route map to success

In July 2016 David Davis was appointed Secretary of State at the new Department for Exiting the EU and tasked with delivering Brexit. Two and a half years on, as MPs vote on the government’s withdrawal agreement, he is urging MPs to “drive a stake” into the deal, which he claims would be worse than remaining. He talks to Sebastian Whale about how we got here, and how he would get Brexit back on track

As chair of the Business Select Committee, Rachel Reeves has been inundated with dire warnings about the consequences of a no deal Brexit. But with the Prime Minister’s deal looking unlikely to win the support of MPs at next week’s crunch vote, is there any way forward that works for British business? Sebastian Whale reports

A number of errors by Downing St have made the already daunting task of passing Theresa May's Brexit deal all the more challenging, says The House magazine's political editor Sebastian Whale

At first glance, Penny Mordaunt and Richard Curtis seem an unlikely double act. But, through the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the duo have found common ground. With a $2.5trn annual funding shortfall to make up, do they have a plan to ensure the objectives are met by 2030? Sebastian Whale sits down with the Cabinet minister and the film director in parliament

Next month MPs will face their most momentous decision for a generation. Sebastian Whale sets out how the process for voting on the Withdrawal Agreement will work – and what could happen next