1.
House of Commons of the United Kingdom
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The House of Commons of the United Kingdom is the lower house of the countrys parliament. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster, officially, the full name of the house is, The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The House is a body consisting of 650 members known as Members of Parliament. Members are elected to represent constituencies by first-past-the-post and hold their seats until Parliament is dissolved, under the Parliament Act 1911, the Lords power to reject legislation was reduced to a delaying power. The Government is primarily responsible to the House of Commons and the prime minister stays in office only as long as he or she retains the support of a majority of its members. Although it does not formally elect the prime minister, the position of the parties in the House of Commons is of overriding importance, by convention, the prime minister is answerable to, and must maintain the support of, the House of Commons. Since 1963, by convention, the minister is always a member of the House of Commons. The Commons may indicate its lack of support for the Government by rejecting a motion of confidence or by passing a motion of no confidence, confidence and no confidence motions are sometimes phrased explicitly, for instance, That this House has no confidence in Her Majestys Government. Many other motions were considered confidence issues, even though not explicitly phrased as such, in particular, important bills that form a part of the Governments agenda were formerly considered matters of confidence, as is the annual Budget. Parliament normally sits for a term of five years. Subject to that limit, the minister could formerly choose the timing of the dissolution of parliament. By this second mechanism, the government of the United Kingdom can change without a general election. In such circumstances there may not even have been a party leadership election, as the new leader may be chosen by acclaim. A prime minister may resign if he or she is not defeated at the polls. In such a case, the premiership goes to whoever can command a majority in the House of Commons, in practice this is usually the new leader of the outgoing prime ministers party. Until 1965, the Conservative Party had no mechanism for electing a new leader, when Anthony Eden resigned as PM in 1957 without recommending a successor and it fell to the Queen to appoint Harold Macmillan as the new prime minister, after taking the advice of ministers. By convention, all ministers must be members of the House of Commons or of the House of Lords, a handful have been appointed who were outside Parliament, but in most cases they then entered Parliament either in a by-election or by receiving a peerage. Since 1902, all ministers have been members of the Commons
2.
Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
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The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, informally known as the Wales Office, is a United Kingdom government department. It replaced the former Welsh Office, which had responsibility for governing Wales prior to Welsh devolution in 1999. In the past it has been called Wales voice in Westminster, the Secretary of State for Wales has overall responsibility for the office but it is located administratively within the Ministry of Justice. The Attorney General for England and Wales therefore advises the United Kingdom Government on its law and his deputy is the Solicitor General for England and Wales. She was supported by her Labour predecessor Peter Hain, who declared that Wales still needs a voice around the Cabinet in Westminster
3.
Theresa May
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Theresa Mary May is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party, having served as both since July 2016. She has been the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead since 1997, may identifies as a one-nation conservative and has been characterised as a liberal conservative. She is the second female Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader after Margaret Thatcher, the daughter of a vicar, May grew up in Oxfordshire. From 1977 until 1983, she worked for the Bank of England, after unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the House of Commons in 1992 and 1994, she was elected as the MP for Maidenhead in the 1997 general election. She was also Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2002 to 2003, after the formation of a coalition government following the 2010 general election, May was appointed Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, giving up the latter role in 2012. Reappointed after the Conservative victory in the 2015 general election, she went on to become the longest-serving Home Secretary since James Chuter Ede over 60 years previously. She won the first and second ballot of Conservative MPs by a significant margin and was due to face a vote of Conservative Party members in a contest with Andrea Leadsom, leadsoms withdrawal from the election on 11 July led to Mays appointment as party leader the same day. She was appointed Prime Minister on 13 July, as Prime Minister, Mays focus has primarily been on withdrawing the UK from the European Union. Born on 1 October 1956 in Eastbourne, Sussex, May is the child of Zaidee Mary. Her father was a Church of England clergyman who was chaplain of an Eastbourne hospital and he later became vicar of Enstone with Heythrop and finally of St Marys at Wheatley, to the east of Oxford. Mays mother was a supporter of the Conservative Party. May was educated primarily in the sector but with a short spell at an independent Catholic school. She initially attended Heythrop Primary School, a school in Heythrop, followed by St. Julianas Convent School for Girls, a Roman Catholic independent school in Begbroke. At the age of 13, May won a place at the former Holton Park Girls Grammar School, during her time as a pupil, the Oxfordshire education system was reorganised and the school became the new Wheatley Park Comprehensive School. May then attended the University of Oxford where she read geography at St Hughs College, between 1977 and 1983 May worked at the Bank of England, and from 1985 to 1997 as a financial consultant and senior advisor in International Affairs at the Association for Payment Clearing Services. Both Mays parents died during this period, her father in a car accident in 1981, may served as a councillor for Durnsford ward on the London Borough of Merton from 1986 to 1994, where she was Chairman of Education and Deputy Group Leader and Housing Spokesman. May then stood at the 1994 Barking by-election, which was prompted by the death of Labour MP Jo Richardson. The seat had been held by Labour since it was created in 1945 and Labour candidate Margaret Hodge was expected to win easily
4.
Secretary of State for Wales
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Her Majestys Principal Secretary of State for Wales is the principal minister of Her Majestys Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Wales. They are a member of the cabinet and the head of the Wales Office, the current Secretary of State for Wales is Alun Cairns, following Stephen Crabbs appointment as Work and Pensions Secretary. In the first half of the 20th century, a number of politicians had supported the creation of the post of Secretary of State for Wales as a step towards Home Rule for Wales. A post of Minister of Welsh Affairs was created in 1951 under the Home Secretary and was upgraded to Minister of State level in 1954. The Labour Party proposed the creation of a Welsh Office run by a Secretary of State for Wales in their manifesto for the 1959 general election, when they came to power in 1964 this was soon put into effect. The post of Secretary of State for Wales came into existence on 17 October 1964, the position entailed responsibility for Wales, and expenditure on certain public services was delegated from Westminster. During the 1980s and 1990s, as the number of Conservative MPs for Welsh constituencies dwindled almost to zero, nicholas Edwards, MP for Pembrokeshire, held the post for eight years. On his departure, the government ceased to look within Wales for the Secretary of State, john Redwood in particular caused embarrassment when he publicly demonstrated his inability to sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the Welsh national anthem, at a conference. The introduction of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government, on 1 July 1999 the majority of the functions of the Welsh Office transferred to the new assembly. The Welsh Office was disbanded, but the post of Secretary of State for Wales was retained, colour key Conservative National Liberal Labour 1 Formerly MP for Pembrokeshire, but represented an English constituency while in office. 2 Formerly MP for Conway, but represented an English constituency while in office,3 Redwood resigned to stand in the 1995 Conservative leadership election. During the election, Hunt acted as Secretary of State,4 Resigned following a moment of madness on Clapham Common. 5 Following Government of Wales Act 1998, held office as inaugural First Secretary for Wales from 12 May 1999
5.
Alun Cairns
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Alun Hugh Cairns PC MP is a Welsh Conservative Party politician, who has been Secretary of State for Wales since 19 March 2016. Brought up in Clydach near Swansea, he attended Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe, at the time of his election to the Welsh Assembly, was completing a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wales, Newport, specialising in corporate location and inward investment. Cairns worked for Lloyds Banking Group as a Business Development Consultant before being elected to the National Assembly, Cairns stood for Parliament in Gower in 1997 and was the Conservative Partys candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan at the 2005 general election. He was re-selected as Parliamentary candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan in July 2007, first elected to the assembly as AM for South Wales West in 1999, he was re-elected in 2003 and 2007 and served as the partys spokesman on economic development and transport for eight years. In the Third Assembly he held the education and lifelong learning portfolio, on 11 July 2007 he became the Shadow Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills in the National Assembly for Wales. Cairns has also been an opponent of the Scarweather Sands offshore wind farm development near Porthcawl. On 14 June 2008 he resigned from his Shadow Cabinet position after making remarks on BBC Radio Cymru. He was re-appointed to the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Local Government on 22 October 2008 after completion of a party investigation. In September 2008, Cairns admitted that he asked for a National Assembly rule to be clarified to determine whether he could claim expenses for a home in Cardiff. While taking part in BBC Radio Cymrus weekly radio show, Dau or Bae, on 13 June 2008, Cairns was asked to apologise on air for referring to Italians as greasy wops and he subsequently resigned from his post in the Shadow Cabinet. On 14 June 2008 Cairns was suspended as the candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan while the party carried out an investigation. Cairns was reinstated as the candidate and to the Shadow Cabinet on 22 October 2008 upon completion of the investigation. Cairns was elected as the MP for the Vale of Glamorgan in May 2010 and he was re-elected at the 2015 general election with an increased majority of 6,880. He became Secretary of State for Wales on 19 March 2016, replacing Stephen Crabb who became Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Cairns supported a Remain vote in the UK EU referendum of 2016
6.
Stuart Andrew
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Stuart James Andrew is a Welsh Conservative politician. His is the Member of Parliament for the Pudsey constituency in West Yorkshire and he grew up in the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, and later attended Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge. After leaving school he worked as a fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation, before being elected to parliament he led the fundraising team for Martin House Hospice. Andrew stood as a Conservative candidate in the 1997 Parliamentary election in Wrexham, subsequent to this Andrew joined the Labour Party, leaving the Conservatives citing issues with the direction of the party. Upon losing his seat, he rejoined the Conservative Party. He served as a Leeds City Council Councillor from 2003–2010, initially representing the Aireborough ward and he was elected as Member of Parliament for Pudsey in the general election on 6 May 2010. In October 2010, it was reported that Andrew joined the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. On 22 February 2012 Andrew was headbutted and punched in a House of Commons bar during a disturbance created by Scottish Labour MP Eric Joyce, but the Pudsey MP tweeted the next day that, Im OK. In 2012, Andrew brought forward a bill that would create a new power for Governors to Destroy or otherwise dispose of any unauthorised property found within a prison or an escort vehicle. The bill was supported both by the Coalition and also the Labour Party with Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Sadiq Khan saying he backed the bill, at the 2015 general election, the Pudsey seat was considered to be one of the most marginal in the country. However, Andrew retained the seat through increasing his majority to 4501 and he now serves as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Patrick McLoughlin, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chairman of the Conservative Party. Andrew is a patron of LGBTory, Andrew was appointed Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, with particular responsibility for cities, on 23 September 2016. Andrew supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum
7.
Chief Whip
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In British politics, the Chief Whip of the governing party in the House of Commons is usually also appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, a Cabinet position. The Government Chief Whip has a residence at 12 Downing Street. However, the Chief Whips office is located at 9 Downing Street. The Chief Whip can wield great power over their partys MPs, including cabinet ministers, margaret Thatcher was famed for using her Chief Whip as a cabinet enforcer. An exception was Andrew Mitchell, the Government Chief Whip in 2012, Whips in the House of Commons do not speak in debates. The Government Chief Whip is assisted by the Deputy Chief Whip, other Whips, the whips are not fully active in either of these departments, though do undertake a number of responsibilities. Assistant Whips, and Whips of opposition parties, generally do not receive such appointments, the whips, although superficially dictatorial, do act as communicators between the backbenchers and the party leadership. Ultimately if backbenchers are unhappy with the position they can threaten to revolt during a vote. This letter informs them of the schedule for the days ahead, the actual direction of their vote is communicated to them in the chamber by hand signals during the division when the time comes. The consequences of defying the party whip depend on the circumstances, theoretically at least, expulsion from the party is an automatic consequence of defying a three-line whip. Other such offences include betraying party loyalties, in 2011 Aidan Burley and his outspoken views caused expulsion from the party, losing the whip, he was de-selected for the 2015 General Election. In practice they remained Conservative MPs supporting the government on issues, Sir Bill Cash, John Redwood. Yet despite the whip, individuals are entitled to according to their own beliefs. There are some cases in which the whip is removed because an issue is a matter of conscience and these include adoption, religion and equal opportunities. The impact of a whip being imposed on a matter of conscience can be damaging for a party leader, one such case was that of Iain Duncan-Smith, who imposed a three-line whip against the adoption of children by unmarried couples. Several Conservative MPs voted against the party line, and Duncan-Smiths authority was weakened. Whips can often be brutal to backbenchers to secure their vote, a good whip will know secrets and incriminating information about Members of Parliament. A whip should know major figures in an MPs local constituency party, There have been cases where sick Members of Parliament were wheeled into the House from far afield to vote for the government on a crucial vote
8.
Julian Smith (politician)
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Julian Richard Smith is the Conservative Member of Parliament for the constituency of Skipton and Ripon. He was elected at the election of 2010 with 27,685 votes. Smith was born in the city of Stirling in the Central Belt of Scotland on 30 August 1971. Smith was elected as MP for Skipton and Ripon in 2010 with a majority of 9,950, Smith was subsequently Parliamentary Private Secretary to Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for International Development, from 2012 to May 2015. After the 2015 General Election Smith was appointed an Assistant Government Whip in David Camerons Second Ministry. Following the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum on 23 June, Smith was one of six MPs who led the Parliamentary leadership campaign on behalf of the then Home Secretary, Theresa May. May became Prime Minister on 13 July 2016 and four days later Smith was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, in October 2013 The Guardian alleged that Smith may have breached national security by posting an image of him alongside military personnel on his website. Smith argued the newspaper should be investigated as it had endangered British security personnel by publishing leaked information, Smith was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum. Official website Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 2010–present Voting record at Public Whip Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
