Latest news with #LewisAtkinson
ITV News
a day ago
- Health
- ITV News
Assisted Dying Bill passed: How did MPs from the North East and North Yorkshire vote?
MPs have voted in favour of the assisted dying bill which will legalise the right for terminally ill people in England and Wales to end their own life with medical assistance. On Friday MPs voted 314 to 291 in favour of the bill, backing the right for adults with less than six months to live to choose to end their own lives. 16 MPs in the North East and North Yorkshire region voted for the bill, 19 were against, while there was one did not vote. We have a breakdown of what our MPs voted for what in this historic vote. Which MPs voted in favour of the bill? Luke Akehurst - North Durham MP Lewis Atkinson - Sunderland Central MP Jonathan Brash - Hartlepool MP Sir Alan Campbell - Tynemouth MP Luke Charters - York Outer MP Mark Ferguson - Gateshead Central and Whickham MP Emma Foody - Cramlington and Killingworth MP Tom Gordon - Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Kevin Hollinrake - Thirsk and Malton MP Alison Hume - Scarborough and Whitby MP Keir Mather - Selby MP Rishi Sunak - Richmond and Northallerton MP Anna Turley - Redcar and Cleveland MP Joe Morris - Hexham MP Luke Myer - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Kate Osborne - Jarrow and Gateshead East MP Which MPs voted against the bill? Mary Kelly Foy - City of Durham MP Mary Glindon - Newcastle Upon Tyne East and Wallsend MP Ian Lavery - Blyth and Ashington MP Emma Lewell - South Shields MP Rachael Maskell - York Central MP Andy McDonald - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East MP Chris McDonald - Stockton North MP Lola McEvoy - Darlington MP Catherine McKinnell - Newcastle Upon Tyne North MP Grahame Morris - Easington MP Dame Chi Onwurah - Newcastle Upon Tyne Central and West MP Bridget Phillipson - Houghton and Sunderland South MP Sam Rushworth - Bishop Auckland MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke - Wetherby and Easingwold MP David Smith - North Northumberland MP Julian Smith - Skipton and Ripon MP Alan Strickland - Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor MP Liz Twist - Blaydon and Consett MP Matt Vickers - Stockton West MP Others: Sharon Hodgson - Washington and Gateshead South MP (no vote recorded, as she was not present). MPs began voting on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill, brought forward by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, just after 2pm as opposition and pro-change campaigners gathered outside Parliament. It came after a highly emotional debate in the Commons with MPs from across the political divide making impassioned arguments for and against. Friday's vote does not mean the bill immediately becomes law as it will now transfer to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. The Upper House can make amendments to the bill and pass it back to MPs but it is expected this process will happen fairly quickly as the final date they can currently consider a Private Members' bill in this parliamentary session is 11 July. There are several more stages of scrutiny in both chambers for the bill to go through before it heads to the King to receive royal assent and become law.
Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Spectator
They will say this was ‘parliament at its best'. And they will be lying
The portents this morning were grim. The Grim Leadreaper was doing her HR manager of Hades act, buzzing around with faux sincerity like a wasp that had discovered LGBT History Month. Jess Philips took a great huff on her vape in the lobby before walking into the chamber. Perhaps it was sulphur flavour. Inside the House of Commons the obviously sham last-minute 'switcher' Jack Abbott from the bill committee, as spineless a backbench toady as you ever did see, was there being all chummy with the unparalleled toad Jake Richards. Were they bonding perhaps over their new-found enthusiasm for death? It was Brokeback Mountain meets The Zone of Interest. Voting began on amendments. A glut of ambitious backbench MPs rejected a safeguard brought forward by a coalition of MPs as diverse as Dame Karen Bradley for the Tories, Jim Allister for the TUV and brave and doughty Labour MPs Rachel Maskell and Jonathan Davies. It was designed to stop people from killing themselves because they felt like a burden. Then Leadbeater herself spoke. 'It's not often that we get to debate morality issues in parliament', she said; just three days after parliament voted to decriminalise abortion up to birth via a sneakily tacked-on amendment and a few minutes of debate. The Leisure Centre operative turned supreme arbiter of life and death likes to talk about how she and her bill represent 'parliament at its best'. The irony being that anyone who truly believes this would fail any reasonable capacity test. The concerns of the key royal colleges of experts, who'd made repeated interventions in opposition to the bill, were shrugged off as 'different views'. Wera Hobhouse, the Lib Dem MP for Bath complained that some members of the public had suggested that the current crop of MPs were too stupid to discuss an issue of this magnitude. For all their faults sometimes the General Public really do hit the nail on the head. Not only were many demonstrably too stupid to engage properly, some of them couldn't even be bothered to stay awake. Wearing a pair of dark glasses, Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt openly dozed through several speeches. Certain moments added to the general atmosphere of despair. Jake Richards rolled his eyes and performatively scoffed as Naz Shah explained the bill's failure to close the anorexia loophole. Labour MP Lewis Atkinson commended the work of the hospice movement in alleviating suffering at the end of life. His praise was treacly, sweet and insincere. Almost diabetes-inducing in its efforts – another disease which will no doubt qualify for state sanctioned death in due time. While scrutinising the bill on the committee, the same Lewis Atkinson also rejected conscience amendments that would have prevented hospices and care homes from being forced to provide assisted dying The walking embodiment of the banality of evil, Lib Dem MP Luke Taylor said that voting in favour was a good way to 'bookend the week'. That's the level of import MPs gave to this issue of life and death: bump off the weak to bookend your week. Many impassioned MPs never got to speak at all; Rosie Duffield left the chamber in disgust after trying to catch the Deputy Speaker's eye for several hours, with no success. There was some debate about whether the Prime Minister – a long term death enthusiast – would turn up to vote. In the end, he did. It was nice of Esther Rantzen to send her own personal proxy. Bump off the weak to bookend your week It's worth naming those Labour MPs who have gone above and beyond in their attempts to make their colleagues see sense. Those, like Rachael Maskell, who worked behind the scenes to try and put down amendments that would safeguard the vulnerable. Jess Asato, who made probably the best and most forensic speech of the debate. Diane Abbott who, despite obvious illness, rose to speak movingly about the risks of compulsion. And Adam Jogee, who left a dying relative's bedside to come and vote because the bill's 'compassionate' proposer refused to find him a supporter to pair with and so spend the last moments he had with a loved one. Do remember them: they have been principled exceptions to the otherwise disgraceful rule. Given we are now a culture which embraces and promotes death, perhaps a post-script on political deaths. When the inevitable national inquiry delves into the abuse and shortcomings of this law – which it will – the Labour backbenchers and Tory grandees who made this possible, these back-slapping middle-management Molochs will have their names etched in history as the people who brought this about. They will achieve a sort of immortality; just not as the progressive liberators they vainly imagine themselves to be. Secondly, while much has been written about the impending death of the Tory party, what seems to have gone unnoticed is the death of Labour as well. What once made claims to be the party of working people, a force in politics on the side of the needy and the vulnerable, has in just under a year become a death cult for comfortable progressives. The tragedy is that they will drag down the very people they purport to protect with them.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Government minister among Sunderland fans in Trafalgar Square ahead of play-off final
A senior government minister was spotted among Sunderland fans celebrating their side reaching Wembley on Friday night. Thousands of mackems who made the journey south on Friday (May 23) gathered in Trafalgar Square last night. Red smoke flares were set off under the watch of Nelson's column to chants of 'Que sera sera'. Click here for live coverage ahead of Sunderland's play-off final against Sheffield United this afternoon Among devoted fans donned in red and white one supporter turned up in his suit having made the slightly shorter trip along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square. The scene in Trafalgar Square on Friday (May 23) night. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, born in Houghton-le-Spring and a life-long Black Cats supporter, was spotted among the thousands of Wearsiders partying in the capital. He snapped a selfie with Sunderland Central MP Lewis Atkinson and SAFC Chief Business Officer David Bruce. (Image: LEWIS ATKINSON) Read next: PM defends new EU deal slammed as Brexit betrayal by North East fisherman Meet the viral Teesside scholar dubbed the UK's youngest bodybuilder Heartbroken man was found dead in County Durham woods weeks after sister's suicide lick here to join our WhatsApp community and get breaking news updates direct to your phone. Mr Reynolds, part of Sir Keir Starmer's front-bench team, has often been spotted in the stands among fans, including earlier this month as his beloved side beat Coventry away in the first leg of the play-offs. Sunderland face Sheffield United at 3.01pm today (May 24) in a bid to secure their Premier League return after eight years. Regis le Bris has said he won't let the prospect of a top flight return distract his side as he attempts to guide them back into the big time.
South Wales Guardian
14-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
MPs debate HMRC petition to increase income tax to £20k
In a debate in Westminster Hall tonight, MPs put forward passionate debates for and against the proposal, which was started by pensioner Alan David Frost, saying: "Raise the income tax personal allowance from £12570 to £20000. We think this would help low earners to get off benefits and allow pensioners a decent income. "We think it is abhorrent to tax pensioners on their State Pension when it is over the personal allowance. We also think raising the personal allowance would lift many low earners out of benefits and inject more cash into the economy creating growth." Signatures can still be added here. Lewis Atkinson is the Labour MP for Sunderland Central, introduced the petition, saying: "The reality is that average disposable incomes after tax fell from 2019-20 to 2023-24 an unprecedented and shocking situation in which people were left poorer at the end of the last Parliament than they were at the start of it. "That, I believe, is key context for today's debate, which has been triggered as a result of more than 250,000 citizens signing this petition about income tax personal allowances, for which I think also speaks to the wider and entirely understandable public frustration about living standard." He added: "In preparation for today's debate, I had the pleasure to talk with Mr. Alan Frost, who is in the gallery with us today, the creator of this petition. "Mr. Frost explained to me that he's recently retired, having worked his whole life, and he feels a sense of injustice that his state pension is considered as income for tax purposes, and that the tax threshold he faces are not increasing." MPs then debated the issue for almost an hour, including Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison , who said "I believe that increasing the personal increase allowance could ease the burden that many are facing." Fellow Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper MP added that the number of people who signed this petition as a "cry for help". Conservative MP James Wild gave a: "spoiler alert (as) I think they are going to be disappointed because we have all seen the government's response where it says there are no such plans." The debate was concluded by James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, who explained that due to fiscal responsibility, it is not possible to change the personal allowance in the current climate. He estimated it would cost £50bn to make the change, saying: "I recognize the substantial support for this petition, hard working people and pensioners who have worked hard all their lives want taxes to be as low as possible, and I understand that. "However, as we have set out today, we have inherited a mess from the previous government, and we have had to take tough choices to set us on a path to generating economic growth. "Raising the personal allowance to £20,000 would undermine the work the chancellor has done to restore fiscal responsibility and economic stability, and it would slash the funding available for vital public services. This government remains committed to keeping people's taxes as low as possible." The standard Personal Allowance is £12,570, which is the amount of income you do not have to pay tax on. It decreases if your income is over £100,000. For every £2 you earn over £100,000, you lose £1 of your tax-free Personal Allowance. This amount has been frozen since 2021. Recommended reading: The former Conservative Government froze the threshold until April 2028, rather than allowing it to rise with inflation and wage growth, meaning more people will go onto higher tax brackets. If you're married or in a civil partnership, you may be able to claim Marriage Allowance to reduce your partner's tax if your income is less than the standard Personal Allowance. If you do not claim Marriage Allowance and you or your partner were born before 6 April 1935, you may be able to claim Married Couple's Allowance.
South Wales Argus
12-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
MPs debate HMRC petition to increase income tax to £20k
In a debate in Westminster Hall tonight, MPs put forward passionate debates for and against the proposal, which was started by pensioner Alan David Frost, saying: "Raise the income tax personal allowance from £12570 to £20000. We think this would help low earners to get off benefits and allow pensioners a decent income. "We think it is abhorrent to tax pensioners on their State Pension when it is over the personal allowance. We also think raising the personal allowance would lift many low earners out of benefits and inject more cash into the economy creating growth." Signatures can still be added here. Lewis Atkinson is the Labour MP for Sunderland Central, introduced the petition, saying: "The reality is that average disposable incomes after tax fell from 2019-20 to 2023-24 an unprecedented and shocking situation in which people were left poorer at the end of the last Parliament than they were at the start of it. "That, I believe, is key context for today's debate, which has been triggered as a result of more than 250,000 citizens signing this petition about income tax personal allowances, for which I think also speaks to the wider and entirely understandable public frustration about living standard." He added: "In preparation for today's debate, I had the pleasure to talk with Mr. Alan Frost, who is in the gallery with us today, the creator of this petition. "Mr. Frost explained to me that he's recently retired, having worked his whole life, and he feels a sense of injustice that his state pension is considered as income for tax purposes, and that the tax threshold he faces are not increasing." MPs then debated the issue for almost an hour, including Liberal Democrat MP Tom Morrison , who said "I believe that increasing the personal increase allowance could ease the burden that many are facing." Fellow Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper MP added that the number of people who signed this petition as a "cry for help". Conservative MP James Wild gave a: "spoiler alert (as) I think they are going to be disappointed because we have all seen the government's response where it says there are no such plans." The debate was concluded by James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, who explained that due to fiscal responsibility, it is not possible to change the personal allowance in the current climate. He estimated it would cost £50bn to make the change, saying: "I recognize the substantial support for this petition, hard working people and pensioners who have worked hard all their lives want taxes to be as low as possible, and I understand that. "However, as we have set out today, we have inherited a mess from the previous government, and we have had to take tough choices to set us on a path to generating economic growth. "Raising the personal allowance to £20,000 would undermine the work the chancellor has done to restore fiscal responsibility and economic stability, and it would slash the funding available for vital public services. This government remains committed to keeping people's taxes as low as possible." What is the Personal Tax Allowance? The standard Personal Allowance is £12,570, which is the amount of income you do not have to pay tax on. It decreases if your income is over £100,000. For every £2 you earn over £100,000, you lose £1 of your tax-free Personal Allowance. This amount has been frozen since 2021. Recommended reading: The former Conservative Government froze the threshold until April 2028, rather than allowing it to rise with inflation and wage growth, meaning more people will go onto higher tax brackets. If you're married or in a civil partnership, you may be able to claim Marriage Allowance to reduce your partner's tax if your income is less than the standard Personal Allowance. If you do not claim Marriage Allowance and you or your partner were born before 6 April 1935, you may be able to claim Married Couple's Allowance.
