Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 19 March 2008 - Post vote slashes Labour majority (BBC)

  "The government has always underestimated the strength of anger on Labour benches against the privatisation and cuts in this essential public service." (more...)

• 18 December 2004 - Pleas ignored as 600 town post offices go (The Guardian)

  The Post Office is planning to shut more than 600 branches over the next three months despite protests by MPs and pensioner groups. (more...)

• 10 April 2002 - 3,000 post offices may close (Daily Mail)

  Sub-postmasters were today considering a restructuring plan which could lead to the closure of 3,000 post offices in towns and cities across the UK. (more...)

• 16 October 2002 - Closure of 3,000 sub-post offices endorsed (The Guardian)

  MPs last night overwhelmingly endorsed government proposals to rescue Britain's ailing postal service with a £210m package of subsidies that will allow the closure of up to 3,000 urban sub-post offices deemed surplus to modern consumer needs.. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 24 September 2002 - Containment is not working, Blair tells MPs (The Guardian)

  "Saddam Hussain's weapons of mass destruction programme is active, detailed and growing," Blair told an emergency session of the Commons. (more...)

• 18 November 2002 - Iraq 'breaching UN resolution' (BBC)

  US and British warplanes attacked Iraqi air-defence targets for the second day in a row on Sunday because they had been "threatened", US military chiefs said. (more...)

• 8 February 2003 - Iraq dossier assembled by junior aides (The Times)

  The Prime Minister's spokesman refused to say who had been responsible for the alleged plagiarism. (more...)

• 18 March 2003 - MPs back Blair on war (Daily Mail)

  Tony Blair won Commons backing for war against Iraq but at the personal cost of another huge backbench rebellion. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 1 November 2006 - Blair rules out Iraq inquiry before vote (The Telegraph)

  Tony Blair will defy Parliament and refuse to call an inquiry into the Iraq war even if MPs vote for an investigation in the Commons today. (more...)

• 31 October 2006 - Blair sees off Iraq inquiry call (The Sun)

  Downing Street fought tooth and nail against any public inquiry, insisting that holding such a review while British troops are still fighting in Iraq would send a message of weakness to the insurgents. (more...)

• 11 June 2007 - Tories urge Iraq inquiry support (BBC News)

  The Tories will call upon MPs to back the principle of an inquiry into the government's responsibilities in the war in Iraq. (more...)

• 12 June 2007 - Gord: No early exit from Iraq (The Sun)

  Gordon Brown flew to Baghdad yesterday and vowed Britain will not cut and run from Iraq when he becomes PM. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 21 March 2007 - Lib Dems slam Budget tax changes (BBC)

  Gordon Brown has "asked the poor to subsidise the rich" by cutting the basic rate of income tax and axing the 10p lower tax rate, the Lib Dems say. (more...)

• 1 December 2007 - Lower paid facing April tax rise (BBC)

  More than five million households, many on minimum wage, will be worse off after tax changes that start in April next year. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 18 May 2007 - MPs back 'squalid' secrecy bill (The Sun)

  MPs were today accused of trying to hide their expenses and allowances from the public. (more...)

• 10 May 2007 - Labour MP's warning on freedom of information (Daily Mail)

  Labour party bosses are secretly plotting to exempt Parliament from freedom of information laws, one of their own MPs claimed. (more...)

• 27 April 2007 - MP delays FoI exemption bill (The Guardian)

  "Many of us believe that is just a ploy to bring their MPs in on May 18 so there will be over 100 to try and pass the bill." (more...)

• 18 May 2007 - Brown will not block secrecy bid (BBC News)

  The MPs say they want to protect private letters from constituents - but critics say the move would also allow them to keep their expenses secret. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 14 March 2007 - MPs vote to renew Trident (The Guardian)

  Despite a massive Labour rebellion, MPs backed Tony Blair's bid to spend between £15bn and £20bn on new submarines to carry the Trident missiles.s. (more...)

• 15 March 2007 - Blair: Trident vote 'not last say' on deterrent (The Telegraph)

  Tony Blair has told MPs that if they vote to replace Trident today it will not be their last chance to debate whether Britain should renew its independent nuclear deterrent. (more...)

• 15 March 2007 - Trident plan wins Commons support (BBC News)

  "I believe it is important that we recognise that, although it is impossible to predict the future, the one thing... that is certain, is the unpredictability of it." (more...)

• 16 March 2007 - Why I saved PM & Gord's bacon (The Sun)

  THANKS to David Cameron, Tony Blair survived a 95-strong Labour revolt against replacing Britain.s Trident nuclear weapons system. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 12 January 2006 - Pubs face total smoke ban (The Sun)

  A blanket ban on smoking moved a step closer yesterday when Tony Blair said Labour MPs would get a free vote on the issue. (more...)

• 15 February 2006 - MPs vote for blanket smoking ban next year (The Guardian)

  A resounding cross-party majority of MPs yesterday rejected last minute compromises designed to exempt some pubs and private clubs. (more...)

• 16 February 2006 - Stubbed out! Smoking ban from next summer (Daily Mail)

  "Today's vote will protect thousands of workers and save many lives." (more...)

• 5 July 2007 - MPs 'smoking in Commons toilets' (BBC)

  Although it is not illegal to smoke in the Palace of Westminster, both Houses decided to ban it from Sunday - the same time as the rest of England. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 12 March 2005 - Q&A: Terror law row explained (BBC)

  The control orders would range from tagging suspects to placing them under what is effectively house arrest. (more...)

• Control orders (Wikipedia)

  Terrorist allegations against certain individuals are of such a nature and from such sources that they cannot be prosecuted "because that would mean revealing sensitive and dangerous intelligence" (more...)

• 1 March 2005 - Terror bill passed after mass rebellion (Daily Mail)

  The Tories branded control orders "unpleasant, repellent and disgusting". (more...)

• 13 March 2005 - Chaos as first terror orders are issued (The Guardian)

  Suspects must phone a private tagging company before they leave the house. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 10 February 2006 - Blair in appeal to head off ID cards rebellion (Daily Mail)

  Blair will say guaranteeing security is as important to the Labour Party as creating a fairer and more just society. (more...)

• 16 November 2005 - Peers demand total ID card cost (BBC)

  "Surely Parliament is entitled to know the total cost, which of course includes the cost to other departments who are going to use the scheme." (more...)

• 14 February 2006 - MPs reject ID card costings call (BBC)

  MPs also backed making it compulsory for people to be given cards - and put on a register - when they apply for passports. (more...)

• 18 October 2005 - Labour survives ID card rebellion (BBC)

  Charles Clarke said the bill would not remove civil liberties but give people more control over their identities. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 9 January 2008 - The nuclear debate (BBC)

  Use this guide to explore the issues including waste, cost and energy alternatives. (more...)

• 9 September 2002 - Loan for troubled energy giant (Daily Mail)

  The Government stepped in with a £410 million support package for crisis-hit nuclear group British Energy (more...)

• 17 January 2006 - Nuclear energy 'too uneconomic' (BBC)

  LibDem environment spokesman said any expansion would divert essential funding from renewable sources, such as water and wind farms. (more...)

• 18 January 2006 - Tory adviser says nuclear power should be last resort (The Guardian)

  David Cameron's environmental policy adviser has warned the Conservative party against an unthinking embrace of nuclear power. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 22 February 2006 - Reform bill could 'sweep away parliamentary debate' (The Guardian)

  "The government could rewrite almost any act and, in some cases, enact new laws that at present only parliament can make." (more...)

• Wikipedia: Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (Wikipedia)

  "I give the House clear undertakings that the orders will not be used to implement highly controversial reforms." (more...)

• 4 May 2007 - Government amends law change bill (BBC News)

  The bill was welcomed by the CBI, whose deputy director said it would bring crucial benefits for UK businesses. (more...)

• 8 June 2007 - Ministers slammed on red tape law (BBC News)

  "Ministers failed to recognise the constitutional impact of the plans." (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 - Protests near Parliament (Wikipedia)

  The Act is controversial primarily for the restriction of the right to demonstrate within an exclusion zone of up to one kilometre from any point in Parliament Square. (more...)

• 29 July 2005 - Anti-war protester wins High Court battle (Daily Mail)

  Anti-war protester Brian Haw today won his High Court battle against new laws threatening to end his 24-hour vigil outside Parliament, which has now gone on for four years. (more...)

• 7 August 2005 - Arrests at Parliament protest ban (BBC)

  Six people have been arrested as about 100 campaigners staged a protest in Parliament Square against the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act. (more...)

• 12 October 2006 - So many causes, so little time (The Guardian)

  Unless you have permission, it's illegal to demonstrate near the Houses of Parliament. But that wasn't going to stop Mark Thomas, who set out to make a record number of protests in one day. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 27 June 2003 - Blair warns of 'all or nothing' hunt vote (The Guardian)

  Tony Blair has delivered a blunt warning to Labour opponents of fox hunting that they risk losing a historic chance to outlaw the vast majority of hunts if they vote for an outright ban next week. (more...)

• 1 July 2003 - MPs support foxhunting ban (Daily Mail)

  Tony Blair suffered a humiliating setback last night when MPs voted decisively for an outright ban on foxhunting. (more...)

• 16 September 2004 - Invasion of the Commons (The Guardian)

  The protest failed to stop mainly Labour MPs forcing through a bill banning hunting. Mr Blair, a previous opponent of fox hunting, did not vote. (more...)

• 15 November 2004 - Q&A: Hunting Bill (BBC)

  The Parliament Act could only be invoked if the Lords voted to block the bill for a second time. (more...)

Some newspaper stories from the day...

• 28 January 2004 - Faltering rebellion that brought Blair to the brink (The Guardian)

  A day of drama, intrigue and betrayal saw the tuition fees rebellion fade, but not until the government had been taken to the brink of calamity. (more...)

• 20 March 2004 - Q&A: Tuition fees vote (BBC)

  Opponants complain of a two-tier system and students being priced out of higher education. (more...)

• 31 March 2004 - Rebels lose top-up fee protest (BBC)

  Education Secretary Charles Clarke said he believed the vote was "a vote for the future of higher education and this country". (more...)

• 1 July 2004 - MPs give final approval to top-up fees (The Guardian)

  The higher education bill, which contains the controversial provision for universities to charge up to £3,000 a year in fees, is now certain to gain Royal Assent this summer.. (more...)