Times Guide to the House of Commons

I bought my first "Times Guide..." in 1975 in Hull, where the price of the October 1974 Guide had been reduced. I've been hooked ever since - and have even acquired some pre-1974 guides. As well as including biographical details of MPs - Election results are given in detail (with calculations done to provide information about swing and majorities. There is an analysis section (what a joy for nerds like me!) and written articles about the previous parliament and the election itself.

My biggest disappointment was that after the 1997 Guide (in other words for 2001 when I was first a candidate), they dropped the biographical details of defeated candidates!

My copy is on its way - for further details visit the website.

Whatever happened to serious & sober party political broadcasts?

Bid Protests

The GAO [The US Government Accountability Office] provides a forum for bidders and offerors seeking federal government contracts who believe that contracts have been, or are about to be, awarded in violation of the laws and regulations that govern contracting with the federal government. A bidder or offeror can file a bid protest with GAO, and GAO issues a decision on whether the federal agency has complied with statutes and regulations controlling government procurement.

CRS has produced a report about the background and procedures for these bid protests. It is available here.


A CRS report on the GAO itself can be accessed here.

Private Members Bills - Elections and the Constitution

Bills to amend the way elections and referenda are held - and other constitutional issues are popular amongst those MPs who topped the ballot this year. First Readings (a pure formality) have been held for some - though the bills themselves might not be printed until much nearer the date of the Second Reading. Press on the name of the Bill - and you will be directed to the Parliamentary page about that Bill.

Elector Registration Bill
Electoral Law (Amendment) Bill
Referendums Bill

Legislation (Territorial Extent) Bill

Untied Kingdom Parliamentary Sovereignty Bill
European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) Bill
European Union (Audit of Benefits and Costs of UK Membership) Bill
European Union Membership (Referendum) Bill


Public Bodies (Disposal of Assets) Bill
 
Taxation Freedom Day Bill

Capitol in danger (and not from the British!)

Politico reports

"Key parts of the antiquated U.S. Capitol campus are literally crumbling, desperately in need of more than $200 million in repairs.

Water is leaking through pin holes in the Statue of Freedom. Lead-based paint chips are flaking off the Rotunda walls and collecting on the tour route to the Capitol dome, putting visitors at risk. Last summer, a U.S. Capitol Police officer was injured when he was struck by a falling ceiling tile in the Cannon House Office Building. And in the garage of the Rayburn House Office Building, parts of the parking deck require a full concrete-slab replacement — and without it, vehicles could be damaged, according to previously unreleased committee testimony. ......

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/39256.html#ixzz0sQX22otr