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Budget debate dominates the agenda this week.

MPs will dig into the details of Rachel Reeves's spending plan every day from Monday to Wednesday. That means there's no time to debate any government bills.

Backbenchers have an opportunity to cut through.

Four MPs are bringing ten minute rule motions, a chance to present a bill to the House. If they're successful, their bill goes to second reading.

And the prime minister faces a new opponent at PMQs on Wednesday.

Fresh from being elected Tory leader on Saturday, Kemi Badenoch will be the one quizzing Keir Starmer. She's already been outspoken on Partygate, so it'll be interesting to see if she takes a similar approach at the dispatch box.

MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER

Roadworks (Regulation) Bill
Gives local highways authorities the power to turn down requests to dig up roads. Currently they can only refuse on safety grounds. Introduces stricter procedures to require highways authorities to prevent multiple sets of roadworks from taking place in the same area, to limit traffic disruption. Ten minute rule motion presented by Mark Francois. More information here.

Budget debate
Continuation of Budget debate.

TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Poly and Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances (Guidance) Bill
Requires the Drinking Water Inspectorate (an independent body that scrutinises the water industry) to issue guidance to water companies on poly and perfluorinated alkyl substances in drinking water, chemicals that can contaminate water sources and potentially harm health. Ten minute rule motion presented by Munira Wilson.

Budget debate
Continuation of Budget debate.

WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER

Child Criminal Exploitation (No. 2) Bill
Makes it an offence to attempt to recruit any under-18 into criminal activity, regardless of whether the child commits the crime. The aim is to stop children working in county lines drug dealing and carrying weapons for adults. Ten minute rule motion presented by Victoria Atkins. More information here.

Horticultural Peat (Prohibition of Sale) Bill
Bans the sale of horticultural peat by the end of 2025. Peatlands are the UK's biggest carbon store and play an important role in battling climate change. The retail sale of peat was banned in 2022. Ten minute rule motion presented by Sarah Dyke. More information here.

Budget debate
Conclusion of Budget debate.

THURSDAY 7 NOVEMBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER

No votes scheduled
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It's Budget week.

Rachel Reeves takes to the dispatch box on Wednesday for the new government's hotly awaited first fiscal event. Here's a list of what we might expect to hear from the chancellor.

Great British Energy takes another step towards becoming a reality on Tuesday.

MPs debate the bill at report stage and third reading. Lots of amendments have been tabled, including making it a priority to reduce energy bills by at least £300 and setting a goal of upholding human rights in energy supply chains. The speaker will decide which get debated.

And Tuesday also brings the first ten minute rule motion of this Parliament.

Alberto Costa will re-introduce a long-standing proposal on microplastics. He'll have ten minutes to present it, and if MPs don't vote it down the bill goes to second reading.

MONDAY 28 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER

Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill
Requires manufacturers to fit microplastic-catching filters to new domestic and commercial washing machines, among other things. Ten minute rule motion presented by Alberto Costa.

Great British Energy Bill – report stage and 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Establishes Great British Energy, a new, publicly-owned energy production company which will own, manage, and operate clean power projects. It will also help to get newer technologies such as carbon capture and hydrogen off the ground in order to make them commercially viable.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 30 OCTOBER

The Budget
The chancellor delivers her Budget, followed by debate.

THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER

Budget debate
Continued.

FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER

No votes scheduled

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Two more bills get their first debate this week.

On Monday MPs will discuss employment rights, and on Tuesday they cover plans to reclassify two organisations: the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

A couple of motions get moved on Wednesday.

One gives the Infected Blood Compensation Authority powers to pay compensation to people affected by the infected blood scandal. The other approves a new round of sanctions against senior Iranian military figures and organisations.

And Budget rumours continue to swirl.

This is the last week before Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes to the dispatch box to announce the government's spending plans.

MONDAY 21 OCTOBER

Employment Rights Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
The government's flagship workers’ rights bill. Makes workers eligible for sick pay from day one – currently they have to wait for three days. Bans zero hour contracts and ‘fire and rehire’, where workers are sacked and then re-employed on a worse contract. Protects workers from unfair dismissal from day one – currently this kicks in after two years. Requires employers to give a reason for refusing flexible working, among other things.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Changes the status of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross so the government can treat them like international bodies the UK is part of. This means the government can grant them certain privileges and immunities. Started in the Lords.
Draft bill / Commons Library briefing (PDF)

WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled
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MPs debate two new bills for the first time this week.

The first aims to improve the security of public events from the threat of terrorism, while the other finishes what Tony Blair started by removing the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

We should find out the private members' bills for this session on Wednesday.

Labour MPs won all of the slots in the ballot, and many among them were elected in July, so this should give us an idea of their policy priorities.

Wednesday is also an Opposition Day.

This time the Lib Dems have the chance to choose a topic for debate.

MONDAY 14 OCTOBER

Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Requires venues where large groups gather to implement protective measures against terrorist attacks. The level of protection required depends on the size of the venue and nature of the event. Known as Martyn's law after Manchester Arena attack victim Martyn Hett, whose mother has campaigned for stronger security measures at venues.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER

House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Removes the last remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords. Follows on from the House of Lords Act 1999, which capped the number of hereditary peers at 92.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

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Hello fellow UK Green Party members,

About 20 members from around the UK want to establish a Greens for a Republic group to rival the Labour for a Republic group.

We have written to the Green Party secretary about setting up this group and are waiting for a reply.

In the meantime, we have a WhatsApp group. Please message me if you are interested in joining.

While Republic UK is focused on protest, our focus would be on the political side including reform of our hereditary principles guidance.

In Solidarity, Danni

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Parliament is back.

Conference season is over and MPs are knuckling down from now until Christmas.

Renters' rights are on the agenda this week.

The government is building on the previous administration's Renters (Reform) Bill to introduce legislation that gives tenants much stronger powers.

And Tuesday is an Opposition Day.

The Tories will have a chance to set the agenda, though their motion hasn’t been announced yet. Politico reports Sunak won’t choose to talk about the Chagos Islands handover to avoid getting drawn into his party’s leadership contest, where it’s been a hot issue.

MONDAY 7 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

TUESDAY 8 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER

Renters' Rights Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part)
Scraps 'no fault' evictions. Limits rent increases to no more than once per year and requires landlords to give two months' notice. Bans landlords from renting for more than the advertised asking price. Stops landlords from reasonably refusing tenants from having a pet. Makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants who receive benefits or are disabled, among other things. Builds on the Renters (Reform) Bill that was introduced by the last government but didn't make it through Parliament before the general election.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

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It's a brief return to Parliament for MPs after summer recess.

But they'll only be back for two weeks before they break again for conference season.

Great British Energy is debated for the first time.

MPs will vote on the government's plan to create a public clean energy company, which has its second reading on Thursday.

And two other bills are fast-tracked through Parliament.

Plans to nationalise the railways and get more analysis of big spending decisions from the Office for Budget Responsibility are debated on Tuesday and Wednesday.

MONDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

No votes scheduled

TUESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER

Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill – committee of the whole House, report stage, 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland
Brings rail contracts into public ownership when they expire or if private operators fall short of their obligations. Effectively the first step towards re-nationalising the railways, but avoids ending existing contracts early which would mean paying compensation to operators.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER

Budget Responsibility Bill – committee of the whole House, report stage, 3rd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Requires the government to request a forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) before making major fiscal announcements, such as budgets and autumn statements. Seeks to avoid a situation like the 2022 'mini budget', where the then-chancellor didn't ask the OBR to scrutinise permanent tax changes that spooked financial markets.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

THURSDAY 5 SEPTEMBER

Great British Energy Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Rstablishes Great British Energy, a new, publicly-owned energy production company which will own, manage, and operate clean power projects. It will also help to get newer technologies such as carbon capture and hydrogen off the ground in order to make them commercially viable.
Draft bill (PDF)

FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER

No votes scheduled

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In last month's general election, an underreported result was the encouraging movement toward the Green Party in Northern Ireland, following a series of disappointing election results. The party ran more candidates than ever, compared to just three at the last Westminster election. Overall, they increased their share of the vote by 0.9%. Here's hoping the good fortune for the Greens continues into local and Assembly elections in 2027!

https://preview.redd.it/2gszbmbggfid1.jpg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84c227f502bfdf43db42375f86b4f893e274b29f

i just want to thank everyone here, especially with everything going on in the country. Thank you for caring about your fellow person, thank you for caring about your planet, thank you for taking. notice in the things happening around us. It is a great deal being on the right side of history. Thank you - a fellow green, Sushi :)

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What a few months it's been.

The last time I posted, it was May and Rishi Sunak was still in Number 10. Now Keir Starmer is prime minister, Labour has laid out its plans in the King's Speech, and the first of those bills are being debated this week.

We're straight into it, with two major bills.

The first kicks off the long-term project of renationalising the railways by making sure expiring operator contracts go into public ownership rather than being re-awarded to a private company.

The second forces the government to have its big spending decisions independently assessed, a level of scrutiny that chancellors have sometimes avoided in the past.

MPs leave for summer recess on Wednesday.

They were called back to Parliament for a bit after the election to get things going, but now they'll take a break in earnest and return in September.

MONDAY 29 JULY

Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland
Brings rail contracts into public ownership when they expire or if private operators fall short of their obligations. Effectively the first step towards re-nationalising the railways, but avoids ending existing contracts early which would mean paying compensation to operators.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

TUESDAY 30 JULY

Budget Responsibility Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
Requires the government to request a forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility before making major fiscal announcements, such as budgets and autumn statements. Seeks to avoid a situation like the 2022 'mini budget', where the then-chancellor didn't ask the OBR to scrutinise permanent tax changes that spooked financial markets.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 31 JULY

No votes scheduled

THURSDAY 1 AUGUST

No votes scheduled

FRIDAY 2 AUGUST

No votes scheduled

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