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National politics

National politics. Covering Parliament History The press gallery Sources of stories Parliament visit. The House of Commons. Parliament & the press. Before 1771, reporting debates in Parliament was a crime punishable by fines or imprisonment

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National politics

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  1. National Politics National politics Covering Parliament History The press gallery Sources of stories Parliament visit The House of Commons

  2. National Politics Parliament & the press • Before 1771, reporting debates in Parliament was a crime punishable by fines or imprisonment • Publications resorted to subterfuge – disguising reports as if they were letters, or the proceedings of fictitious societies • In 1771, judges refused to hear a case against a printer who published a report from the Commons after he was locked in the Tower of London, and coverage of Parliament began. Parliament by JMW Turner

  3. National Politics Hansard: official record • William Cobbett started to write Parliamentary Debates in 1802, published by Thomas CursonHansard. • In 1812, Hansard bought the publication. From 1829, reports of the day in Parliament were printed with the name “Hansard” on the title page. • In 1889, Hansard was subsided by Parliament to ensure there was always a permanent record of debates, and in 1909 it took over publication entirely. A bound volume of Hansard

  4. National Politics The press gallery • In 1803 the public gallery was so full to hear Pitt speak on the Napoleonic Wars that reporters lost their seats. The speaker ruled a part of the public gallery would be reserved for the press. • After the Second World War, MPs’ speeches were broadcast into the gallery so reporters could clearly hear what was being said. Telephone kiosks, enabling reporters to file copy directly to their news desk, were added. The press gallery, above the speaker’s chair

  5. National Politics Women in the gallery • Not until 1919. • In 1890, a request from the Women’s Penny Paper was declined with the warning: “the consequences were too difficult to conceive”. • When they were finally given access, it was to cover the arrival of the UK’s first woman MP, Nancy Astor. • But it was not until 1945 that women could take up permanent posts in the gallery. The first was Eirene Jones, of the Manchester Evening News. Nancy Astor, the first female MP

  6. National Politics The modern press gallery • About 170 journalists work in the press gallery today. • They file from the cramped upper gallery of the house. • Members include every national daily & Sunday newspaper, major broadcasters, websites including Conservative Home and Politics.co.uk, magazines including the Spectator, the Economist, the Muslim News and Middle East News – plus major regional papers. Adam Boulton, Sky News politics correspondent

  7. National Politics

  8. National Politics Reporting on Parliament The headline-stealers: • Prime Ministers questions (30 mins every Wednesday, 12pm) • Question Time (One hour Monday to Thursday, 2.30pm) • Major scheduled debates Cameron at PMQs

  9. National Politics Question Time • Ministers called to answer questions in a rota, known as the Order of Oral Questions. • Questions must be submitted in advance. • MPs who are called to ask their question can then ask a supplementary question, which is not revealed in advance. • The last 15 minutes is reserved for “topical issues” – i.e. that day’s news. Jeremy Hunt answers questions

  10. National Politics Question Time rota

  11. National Politics Prime Minister’s Questions • The leader of the opposition can ask up to six questions of the PM • Others must submit questions by 12.30pm the preceding Thursday • But these questions tend to be bland inquiries about his diary and engagements • These are tabled so that MPs can ask their real question as a supplementary – without giving the PM warning of what they want to bring up. PMQs tend to be a pantomime

  12. National Politics Order of business – Jan 8 11.30am Prayers Then PMQs 12.10pm Attorney General Qs 12.30pm Ministerial statements Then Regulation of Bailiffs (10 minute rule) Then Welfare Benefits up- rating bill (2nd reading) Then Funding of Newcastle City Council (adjournment debate)

  13. National Politics Private Members’ Bills • Most bills are proposed by government ministers • But any MP can attempt to change the law by introducing a Private Members’ Bill • Very few are published in full, and even fewer pass into law • But they can raise important issues, and often influence future debate and legislation Examples of successful PMBs

  14. National Politics Private Members Bills Current proposals: To ban smoking in cars when children are present • Alex Cunningham (Lab) Restore standing at football grounds (banned after Hillsborough) • Don Foster (Lib Dem) Create an offence of causing death or injury by reckless cycling • Andrea Leadsom (Con) A dangerous cyclist

  15. National Politics Private Members’ Bills Ballot Bills Every MP that wants to put forward a Bill can enter a lottery held at the start of every year. Seven lucky winners earn a day’s debate of their issue. Ten Minute Rule MPs get 10 minsafter Question Time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to introduce a Bill. An opponent has 10 minutes to argue against it. Very rarely become law. Politics is a lottery

  16. National Politics Early Day Motions • A formal motion submitted by an MP for debate in the Commons • They are a tool generally used by backbench MPs to highlight specific issues they feel are important • Very few are actually debated • Other MPs that support the motion can add their signature to it – like a petition • They can be a good tool for journalists to find burning issues. EDMs have a strict format

  17. National Politics Early Day Motions • Go to this web link, where you can search current Early Day Motions and see how much support they have. • Find one that interests you as a story. • Think of three sources you could use to turn it into a news story or a feature. Website to search latest EDMs

  18. National Politics Adjournment debates • MPs use them to discuss issues in their constituencies, or to raise broad policy points where there is not yet a firm proposal to vote or decide upon. • They get a response from a government minister. • There is 30 minutes at the end of every day reserved for these debates in the Commons. • MPs are selected by ballot each day. Adjournment debates last week

  19. National Politics Written questions Ordinary questions • By convention they are answered within 7 days. House of Lords questions • Can table up to six a day, and expect an answer in 14 days “Named day” questions • Only in the Commons. The MP can specify a date for the answer to be given, but must give two days’ notice before asking it. Limit of five per day per MP. Finding stories from questions

  20. National Politics Select committees Commons • Select committees examine the work of specific government departments • They focus on spending, policies and administration • They have a minimum of 11 members who decide topics of inquiry and carry out interviews and research • Findings are reported to the Commons and published, and the government has 60 days to reply

  21. National Politics Select committees Lords Investigate specialist areas. There are currently five: • The European Union Committee • The Science and Technology Committee • The Communications Committee • The Constitution Committee • The Economic Affairs Committee

  22. National Politics Modern day coverage • Political announcements made to the media, not to Parliament • Emphasis on press briefings, PR events • Announcements timed for Today Programme, BBC Breakfast etc. • It means political reporters spend less time in Parliament than before. Nick Robinson, the BBC’s political editor

  23. National Politics Churchill Speech to the press gallery, 1945 “The long fight which the House had against being reported is succeeded by the long fight which it is having and going to have over being reported at all.”

  24. National Politics RehmanChishti • MP for Gillingham and Rainham. Conservative. • Member of the Joint Committee on Human Rightsand the Justice Select Committee. RehmanChishti

  25. National Politics Dianne Hayter • Labour, member of the House of Lords • Opposition whip • Opposition spokeswoman for business and skills and the cabinet office • Chair of the Labour Party, 2007 to 2008. A former chair of the Financial Services Authority Consumer Panel. • Good issue: Lords reform Dianne Hayter

  26. National Politics Adam Boulton • Sky News political editor • Started out as political lobbyist • Presents Boulton & Co 1-2pm every weekday • Presents PMQs on Wednesday evenings, assessing performance during the Commons • Watch PMQs on Wednesday. • Watch his show at least once this week. Adam Boulton

  27. National Politics Parliament trip • Tuesday, January 22 • Must be there by 8.50am to sign in. • The 07:08 train from Gillingham will get you to Victoria by 8.17am • The 07:12 train from Gillingham gets you to Charing Cross by 8.36am • Both cost £31.60 return • We will meet at St Stephen’s Gate, opposite Westminster Abbey at 8.45am. Map from Westminster Underground station

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