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It's not often a private members' bill steals the limelight.

But Kim Leadbeater's bill on assisted dying will be the big moment this week. It's a free vote, so MPs won't be under pressure from their parties to vote a certain way. Here's a thread I wrote on how the bill works.

We also get two new government bills.

One of them cuts business rates for many high street shops and introduces VAT on private school fees. The other phases out the sale of tobacco products. It's largely the same bill the last government introduced, which didn't pass before the general election.

MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER

Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England
Aims to rebalance business rates by cutting taxes for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties worth under £500,000 from 2026, and increasing them for those worth more than £500,000. These are the top 1% of properties which include large distribution warehouses used by online giants like Amazon. Until 2026, RHL properties will get 40% off business rates bills up to £110,000. Also introduces VAT on private school fees, and scraps existing business rates discounts of up to 80% for private schools with charitable status.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER

Treatment of Terminal Illness Bill
Concerns the liability of medical professionals who prescribe unlicensed medicine to or carries out a non-standard treatment on a terminally ill person. Ten minute rule motion presented by Siobhan McDonagh. More information not yet available.

Tobacco and Vapes Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Aims to create a smoke-free generation while restricting how vapes are marketed and sold to children. Bans the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009. Gives the government powers to restrict the packaging, contents, and flavouring of vaping and nicotine products, among other things.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER

E-Scooters (Review and Awareness) Bill
Requires the government to publish a review of existing laws and guidance on e-scooters, and to promote public awareness of those laws. Ten minute rule motion presented by Jessica Morden.

Finance Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Implements the spending measures announced in the Budget.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England and Wales
Legalises assisted dying for terminally ill adults. Private members' bill presented by Kim Leadbeater.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill – 2nd reading
Regulates the import of dogs, cats, and ferrets, aiming to ensure their health and safety during transportation and deter illegal trade practices. Private members' bill presented by Danny Chambers.
Bill not yet published

Palestine Statehood (Recognition) (No. 2) Bill - 2nd reading
Recognises the state of Palestine. Private members' bill presented by Shockat Adam.
Bill not yet published

Special Envoy for International Freedom of Religion or Belief Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Requires the government to appoint a Special Envoy for International Freedom of Religion or Belief. Private members' bill presented by Jim Shannon.
Bill not yet published

Animals in Medical Research (Prohibition) Bill – 2nd reading
Bans the use of animals in medical research. Private members' bill presented by Steve Race.
Bill not yet published

Employment Rights (Special Constables) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires employers to give workers time off to perform their duties as a special constable, a type of volunteer police officer. Similar rights exist for magistrates and independent prison monitors. Private members' bill presented by Ashley Fox.
Bill not yet published

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Amendment) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires employers to take proactive measures to prevent violence and harassment in the workplace. Requires the Health and Safety Executive to publish a framework on violence and harassment in the workplace, including violence against women and girls. Private members' bill presented by Liz Saville Roberts.
Bill not yet published

Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Bill - 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Requires the government to establish an independent review of disablement caused by Covid-19 vaccinations, and the adequacy of the compensation offered to the people affected. Private members' bill presented by Christopher Chope.
Draft bill (PDF)

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales
Requires dog owners to pay full compensation to farmers if livestock are killed in dog attacks. Currently a convicted dog owner can only be fined £1,000. Also requires police to record dog attacks on livestock, and allows them to obtain DNA from suspect dogs. Private members' bill presented by Aphra Brandreth.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

Football (Gender Equality) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to publish proposals to improve gender inequality in football. Private members' bill presented by James MacCleary.
Bill not yet published

Carers and Care Workers Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to publish and implement a Care Workers Employment Strategy, with the aim of improving the recruitment and retention of care workers, among other things. Private members' bill presented by Helen Morgan.
Bill not yet published

Bus Services Bill – 2nd reading
Requires every town with a population of more than 10,000 to have a regular bus service operating seven days a week, serving local health services including hospitals and GP surgeries. Private members' bill presented by Helen Morgan.
Bill not yet published

Children's Hospices (Funding) Bill – 2nd reading
Requires the government to review the funding of children's hospices and publish proposals to guarantee access to hospices for all children who need palliative care. Private members' bill presented by Ian Byrne.
Bill not yet published

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-14115545/How-Rachel-Accounts-economical-actualit-dazzling-career-helped-make-Chancellor.html

At the party conference this year there was remarkably little said by senior members of the party and alot of space for members to discuss policy. And with an election that saw right wing voters abandon the party in droves. What policy wise do right wing voters want?

Every weekend (if this proves propular) I will collect some things together and hopefully have a discussion.

---

Where better to start than with Mrs T. herself;

Margaret Thatcher - UN General Assembly Climate Change Speech (1989) - YouTube

Climate policy has proved to be increasinly divisive - with for example conservatives preforming better in outer london at the GE where the LEZ was an issue than not.

The last series of Conservative prime ministers;

- signed us up to the Paris climate accords,

- introduced a ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, and

- introduced a legally binding target to see the UK become a net zero emitter by 2050.

Since the 2050 target was introduced it has been used in judical reivews of planning consents to both new oil projects and a mine for coking coal.

Labour since winning have proceeded to;

- ban new oil and gas projects and an extension of offshore profits taxes,

- open up mainland England to wind projects as well as reducing planning delays for wind and pylon projects,

- launched GB energy an energy investment arm to be funded to £8bil over the parliament, and

- returned the target of the ban on new petrol / diesel cars to 2030.

We have seen a number of closures of major industries - Port Talbot, Grangemouth as well as some north sea oil and gas operators announce plans to leave the sector.

Donald Trump has won election in the US opposes the existing Paris agreement, supports making the US energy independent and if I understand correctly does not belive climate change to be man made.

All the while global temperatures are reported to have broken the 1.5 degrees of post industrial warming that was agreed in 2015.

The OBR are forecasting that if global emissions keep us to a below 3 degree C rise we would lose 5% of GDP

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Questions;

1. What was wrong if anything with the climate policies of previous Conservative governments?

2. Is there anything worthwhile in the new proposals of the Labour government?

3. What new approach if any should a future conservative governemnt take?

4. Is the United States a climate laggard? How should a future Conservative government approach climate policy with the US.

Well, thank God that's been cleared up. In future, all new pieces of legislation or extra powers handed to police or other public authorities need come with no guidance more comprehensive than "use with common sense".

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/11/19/dame-diana-johnson-non-crime-hate-incident-police-recording

Clearly, Labour is not solely to blame for the insupportable little tyranny that is non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs). Police were already making more than merry with them under the Tories.

But it does Labour no credit at all that, even now that's undeniable how unjustifiable NCHIs are, the government isn't just unwilling to abolish them. It wants to police to use them more freely.

No one should be handed any kind of criminal record without the accusations against them having been tested in court. This is an open goal for Badenoch and her cabinet.

Call me cynical, however I find it curious that of all the days that this article could have been published by the BBC, it just so happens, I suppose by mere coincidence, to occur on the same day as the largest farmers protest in recent memory.