By Matthew Barrett
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The Daily Mail this morning reports on the 118 Conservative MPs who have written to constituents indicating their opposition to gay marriage proposals. The Mail says "Their opposition has been expressed in letters and emails sent to constituents who have contacted them with their own concerns", and points out that if these MPs voted against proposals, it would constitute the biggest Tory rebellion in modern times. However, Equalities Minister (and Secretary of State for Culture) Maria Miller pointed out on Twitter that since any vote on the issue would be a free vote, it would not technically be counted as a rebellion.
I have listed the MPs from the Mail's story below.
Saturday, November 24, 2012 in Adam Holloway MP, Alec Shelbrooke MP, Alun Cairns MP, Andrea Leadsom MP, Andrew Bingham MP, Andrew Bridgen MP, Andrew Robathan MP, Andrew Rosindell MP, Andrew Selous MP, Andrew Turner MP, Andrew Tyrie MP, Anne Main MP, Anne Marie Morris MP, Anne McIntosh, Ben Wallace MP, Bill Cash MP, Bill Wiggin, Bob Blackman MP, Bob Stewart MP, Brian Binley MP, Caroline Dinenage MP, Charlie Elphicke MP, Cheryl Gillan MP, Christopher Chope MP, Christopher Pincher MP, Conor Burns MP, Craig Whittaker MP, David Burrowes MP, David Davies MP, David Davis MP, David Evennett MP, David Jones MP, David Nuttall MP, David Ruffley MP, David Rutley MP, David T C Davies MP, David Tredinnick MP, Douglas Carswell MP, Edward Leigh MP, Eleanor Laing MP, Esther McVey MP, Fiona Bruce MP, Gareth Johnson MP, Gary Streeter MP, Gavin Williamson MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Geoffrey Cox MP, George Freeman MP, George Hollingbery MP, Gerald Howarth MP, Glyn Davies MP, Gordon Henderson MP, Graham Brady MP, Guto Bebb MP, Henry Bellingham MP, Henry Smith MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, Jake Berry MP, James Wharton MP, Jeremy Lefroy MP, Jeremy Wright MP, John Glen MP, John Hayes MP, John Redwood MP, John Stevenson MP, John Whittingdale MP, Jonathan Evans MP, Jonathan Lord MP, Julian Brazier MP, Julian Lewis MP, Karl McCartney MP, Laurence Robertson MP, Marcus Jones MP, Maria Miller MP, Mark Pawsey MP, Mark Pritchard MP, Martin Vickers MP, Matthew Offord MP, Mel Stride MP, Mike Penning MP, Neil Parish MP, Nick de Bois MP, Nicky Morgan MP, Nicola Blackwood MP, Nigel Adams MP, Owen Paterson MP, Paul Maynard MP, Paul Uppal MP, Pauline Latham MP, Peter Aldous MP, Peter Bone MP, Peter Lilley MP, Philip Davies MP, Philip Hammond MP, Philip Hollobone MP, Phillip Lee MP, Priti Patel MP, Rehman Chishti MP, Richard Drax MP, Richard Fuller MP, Richard Shepherd MP, Robert Buckland MP, Robert Goodwill MP, Robert Halfon MP, Robert Syms MP, Robert Walter MP, Roger Gale MP, Simon Burns MP, Simon Reevell MP, Sir Paul Beresford MP, Stephen Crabb, Stephen McPartland MP, Stephen Metcalfe MP, Steve Brine MP, Stewart Jackson MP, Thérèse Coffey MP, Tim Loughton MP, Tony Baldry MP | Permalink | Comments
By Matthew Barrett
Follow Matthew on Twitter.
4pm update: People's Pledge sources tells me that Anne Marie Morris, the MP for Newton Abbot has come out in support of a referendum.
Mike Freer, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, has also backed a referendum. This is significant because Freer was not one of the 81 rebels, but has now come round to the view that Britain should have an in/out European referendum.
These two new additions to the list of MPs supporting the People's Pledge means 68 MPs - from several parties - back a referendum.
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Following on from their successful referendum campaign in Thurrock - turnout was higher than in the recent local elections - The People's Pledge campaign have announced further referendums, to be held in 3 contiguous seats. The campaign has announced a shortlist of 39 seats, grouped in 13 contiguous triples, from different regions, from which one triplet will be chosen in the next few days, with a polling date set for late July.
Monday, May 14, 2012 in Anne Marie Morris MP, Bernard Jenkin MP, Charlotte Leslie MP, Chris Skidmore MP, Craig Whittaker MP, Douglas Carswell MP, Geoffrey Cox MP, George Eustice MP, Louise Mensch MP, Mark Reckless MP, Mike Freer MP, Nadine Dorries MP, Peter Bone MP, Philip Davies MP, Philip Hollobone MP, Robert Goodwill MP, Sarah Newton MP, Simon Kirby MP | Permalink | Comments
By Matthew Barrett
Follow Matthew on Twitter
Earlier today, on Comment, Daniel Hannan MEP wrote:
"Today, the People’s Pledge announces the most ambitious campaign ever to secure an In/Out referendum. It aims to show MPs in all parties that there is a premium in doing the right thing: that supporting a referendum carries an electoral reward. It is backed by supporters of every party and none, and by prospective ‘Yes’ as well as ‘No’ voters. I am confident that it will succeed: the momentum is now wholly one way."
In a LabourList post this morning, Director of Communications for the People’s Pledge, Ian McKenzie, gave details of the "most ambitious campaign ever" for a referendum. McKenzie explained that the People's Pledge would hold an in/out referendum in a single constituency early this year, followed by ten later this year, and 100 next year.
The referendums will be independently administered by Electoral Reform Services Ltd and conducted by full postal ballot. The People's Pledge will next week chose the first referendum seat from one of the following shortlisted constituencies:
Monday, January 30, 2012 in Ben Gummer MP, Daniel Hannan MEP, Geoffrey Cox MP, Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Louise Mensch MP | Permalink | Comments
Here are some interesting answers from the latest edition of Hansard.
Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary David Willetts asked a question that couldn't be answered:
"Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many EU citizens working in the UK paid sufficient national insurance contributions to earn a potential entitlement to the state pension in each year since 1997. [265049]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not available as National Insurance contributions paid by migrants are not reported separately."
National Insurance is effectively income tax - especially as we have no guarantee that we will see the benefit of our contributions when we retire. It is staggering that the Government doesn't know how much it takes from British subjects specifically.
Continue reading "Government doesn't know how much National Insurance it takes from UK subjects" »
Thursday, April 02, 2009 in Andrew Rosindell MP, David Willetts MP, Dominic Grieve MP, Geoffrey Cox MP, Iain Duncan Smith MP, Mark Pritchard MP, Michael Ancram MP, Theresa Villiers MP, Written answers round-up | Permalink | Comments (4)
And the winner of the Conservative awayday quiz was...
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