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Cratus 23

Parliament returned one week ago and with it came a few challenging days for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. 

The focus on grooming gangs continued, following X owner Elon Musk accusing Starmer of grossly mishandling child sexual exploitation cases during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions. Although Starmer attempted to re-seize the narrative – calling out Musk’s “lies and misinformation” – this proved difficult, especially as the Conservatives took the opportunity to challenge the government. 

On Monday, Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch announced her party’s intention to propose an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, calling for a full national inquiry into the grooming scandal. While the vote was never going to pass (with Labour's overwhelming majority), it did, however, ensure the spotlight remained on the issue, drawing attention to MPs representing constituencies that had historically been the centre of grooming gangs. 

Alongside these external pressures, the Prime Minister faced difficulties within his party as City Minister, and long-time Starmer ally, Tulip Siddiq was forced to refer herself to the independent advisor on ministerial standards. This is due to concerns Siddiq broke the ministerial code by using properties linked to the government of Bangladesh, for which her aunt was ousted as prime minister in August. Although Siddiq continues to deny links to her aunt’s deposed government, this has not stopped internal speculation that she may soon be facing relegation to the backbenches.

Starmer will have been hoping Chancellor Rachel Reeves' trip to China would've taken attention from the Siddiq controversy, but this hasn't been the case. Reeves took business leaders to re-engage with the nation and find new ways to grow the UK economy. Reeves faced criticism for her timing as the sterling fell to its lowest level against the dollar in more than 12 months and long-term borrowing costs soared even higher. Although some - including former Conservative Chancellor Philip Hammond - argued in support of Reeves' trip, it comes at a time where the Chancellor has received backlash by both the Opposition and the public for her fiscal decisions.

Today, the government announced its AI Opportunities Action Plan, outlining how it will look to significantly invest in AI technology to allow it to be “mainlined into the veins” of the nation. With early responses to the announcement from tech giants such as Microsoft and OpenAI favourable, this could be the positive news story Starmer needs after a tricky last week. 

Across the pond, President-elect Donald Trump has avoided jail, fines or being put on probation for his conviction for falsifying business documents in relation to hush-money payments made to an adult film actress. Trump can still take office, and his presidential inauguration is due to take place in a week, but the 'unconditional discharge' ruling does mean the conviction will appear on his permanent record. In an unsurprising move, Trump has vowed he will 'appeal this hoax'. 

What’s on in Parliament

Monday 13th January  

House of Commons 

  • Oral Questions: Home Office  

  • Backbench Business: Hospice and Palliative Care  

  • Backbench Business: Impact of food and diet on obesity  

  • Westminster Hall: e-petition 661407 relating to children’s social media accounts 

House of Lords 

  • Oral Questions: Priority to those with well-founded human rights claims in the immigration system 

  • Oral Questions: Impact of the increase in National Insurance contributions on the charity sector 

  • Oral Questions: Long-term workforce plan for adult social care, similar to the NHS workforce plan 

Tuesday 14th January 

House of Commons 

  • Oral Questions: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office  

  • Westminster Hall: Railway services in the South West 

  • Westminster Hall: Impact of planned changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief on small businesses 

  • Westminster Hall: Future of coastguard search and rescue helicopter services 

  • Westminster Hall: Financial support for adoptive parents 

House of Lords 

  • Oral Questions: Provision of health services in prisons 

  • Oral Questions: Developing closer diplomatic relationships with countries in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of aid, trade, investment or cultural exchange 

  • Oral Questions: The impact of the rise in the yields on 30-year gilts and its effect on stirling 

Wednesday 15th January 

House of Commons 

  • Oral Questions: Northern Ireland Office  

  • Westminster Hall: Impact of endometriosis on women in the workplace 

  • Westminster Hall: Compensation for women affected by changes to the State Pension age 

  • Westminster Hall: UK submarine fleet 

House of Lords 

  • Oral Questions: Electoral Commission powers to prevent political parties, and associated promotional activities, from receiving funding from outside of the UK 

  • Oral Questions: Value to state school pupils of a creative education and visits to theatres, museums and galleries 

  • Oral Questions: Tackling court backlogs and reducing trial by jury 

Thursday 16th January 

House of Commons 

  • Oral Questions: Culture, Media and Sport  

  • Oral Questions: Church Commissioners and House of Commons Commission and Restoration and Renewal Client Board and Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission 

  • Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House 

  • Backbench Business: Performance of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency 

  • Adjournment: Future of UK air defence 

House of Lords 

  • Oral Questions: The cutting of undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea in November 2024 

  • Oral Questions: Risks posed by small online platforms 

  • Debate: Challenges to a rules-based international order, and their impact on global cohesion, stability and security 

  • Short Debate: Support for the healthcare system in Gaza 

  • Debate: Growing challenges of the effects of climate change on natural ecosystems and the role of nature conservation in combatting global warming 

Friday 17th January 

House of Commons 

Sitting day for Private Members' Bills

  • Private Members’ Bill: New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill: Second Reading 

  • Private Members’ Bill: Licensing Hours Extensions Bill: Second Reading 

  • Private Members’ Bill: Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill: Second Reading 

  • Private Members’ Bill: Fireworks Bill: Second Reading 

  • Private Members’ Bill: Pension (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill: Second Reading 

    House of Lords 

  • Legislation: Regulated and Other Activities (Mandatory Reporting of Child Sexual Abuse) Bill – second reading 

  • Legislation: Consumer Products (Control of Biocides) Bill – second reading 

  • Legislation: Universal Credit (Standard Allowance Entitlement of Care Leavers) Bill – second reading 

  • Legislation: Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill – committee stage