More than a third of MPs have signed a letter to Sir Keir Starmer calling for the UK to recognise Palestinian statehood. This includes 220 MPs from nine political parties, reflecting wide support, particularly from Labour members. They assert that UK recognition would deliver a "powerful symbolic message" essential for advancing towards a two-state solution.
Rushanara Ali stated that MPs are experiencing industrial levels of intimidation and harassment, with a disturbing increase in hostility impacting political participation among young individuals.
For Labour MP Cat Smith, Sunday will be her third London Marathon, yet she also has a few nerves. She says she is "fully diagnosing" herself with "maranoia" - the anxiety and fear that can hit a runner as marathon day approaches. "The last few days before you do the run you start thinking back to all the training runs and thinking 'maybe I should have done another one, or maybe I should've tried harder or worked harder'...
The parliamentary elections in December marked the first in Chad since 2011, with President Deby's party winning a significant majority, securing 124 out of 188 seats. This outcome reinforces the party's control and suggests continuity in Deby's leadership despite ongoing political challenges.
Currently, MPs can earn massive additional incomes through media contracts, with Reform UK's Lee Anderson and former minister Jacob Rees-Mogg earning six-figure sums from GB News. Anderson's income from the channel reportedly reaches 100,000 yearly for just eight hours of work, while Rees-Mogg made over 300,000 before losing his seat. This prompted discussions led by Lucy Powell to tighten regulations on MPs' outside interests, especially concerning lucrative media roles.
"The committee should particularly focus on considering what advantages, if any, outside paid engagements such as media appearances, journalism and speeches furnish to the public, versus the potential conflicts of interest and attention that arise from such paid endeavours."
