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Via The House magazine, “We’ve got such profound, deep-rooted problems and we’re messing around scoring silly political points.”

I recently gave a frank interview to The House magazine. You can find it on PoliticsHome: He volunteered for the Centre for Social Justice and formed the Cobden [Centre], described as “an educational charity to promote social progress through honest money”, and within three years was elected as the MP for Wycombe. Parliament, he says, is an “extremely frustrating” place to work. “The whole system is set up to stop you achieving anything,” he argues. “The theatre of Parliament I [...]

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I won’t support Labour on fuel duty – or duck the issue of spending

Today, we’ll be debating an Opposition Day motion on fuel duty, which I want cut. It’s shocking that 60% of the pump price of petrol is tax. Nevertheless I won’t be supporting Labour. It’s one thing to be supported by Labour on a important constitutional point — Parliament’s control over our EU budget contribution, for example — but it is another to support them on an Opposition Day designed to injure the Government. In any case, fuel is 10p a [...]

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Bank on Dave – in Parliament tomorrow

Tomorrow in Parliament, I’m hosting a meeting with Dave Fishwick and MPs to discuss his struggle to start a local, responsible bank in touch with its savers and borrowers. The Channel 4 documentary is here and this Russia Today video gives an overview: The FSA have declined to attend but I’m hoping that MPs hearing from Dave will redouble efforts to persuade the Government to lower barriers to entry in banking. If you would like to ask your MP to [...]

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Was the EU budget ringfenced? No!

There is much fretting in the Commons today. Conservative MPs are torn between the demands of party discipline and their higher loyalty to constituents and the country. Many colleagues are  wrestling with their consciences. It’s because at 7pm we’ll be voting on whether to approve an increase in the EU Budget. Not for this year or next year, but for the next 7 years. This increase would be in line with inflation — some other countries are calling for a real terms increase! — but [...]

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Seeking election to the Treasury Select Committee

This week, following the promotion of Michael Fallon MP to BIS, I’m bidding for election by Conservative colleagues to the Treasury Select Committee. I’d like to scrutinise and help the Treasury as it charts a course to reduce the deficit and mend the public finances. I’d also like to continue to challenge the leaders of some of our other key economic institutions, like the Bank of England. As readers of this site will know, I offer strong market principles, familiarity with economic [...]

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Liberty, power and the Coalition

Just as the Coalition’s key measures on freedom come into force, in The Telegraph, Philip Johnston asks, Is the Coalition really giving us a freer society? We should all be feeling a little bit freer today. This month, key provisions of the Protection of Freedoms Act come into force; so now we can smoke in a pub, walk in the street without being followed by dozens of CCTV cameras, and not have our phones, emails and other communications tracked by GCHQ. [...]

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Protecting the green belt

My question yesterday as a supplementary to an oral question on green belt protection: Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con):Will my right hon. Friend take steps to diminish planning inspectors’ powers over those who are democratically elected? Mr Pickles: My hon. Friend must have come across some grumpy planning inspectors. By and large, they are there to introduce the national planning policy framework, and to ensure that decisions are made in accordance with it. Local democratically elected representatives have a duty to [...]

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EU motion of the day: Home Affairs Funds for 2014-20

It’s unintelligible bureaucratese of course. From the order paper for today:  9 HOME AFFAIRS FUNDS FOR 2014-20                                           [No debate] Damian Green James Brokenshire That this House takes note of European Union Documents No. 17289/11, relating to a draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Asylum and Migration Fund, No. 17287/11, relating to a draft Regulation of [...]

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The debate on Professional Standards in the Banking Industry

I can’t speak in the debate on professional standards in the banking industry today: I missed the opening speeches in order to help lead a conversation amongst colleagues on economic growth. As I listen to the debate from my office or in the Chamber, I realise my levels of optimism are highly dependent on who is speaking. On the one hand, I am discouraged by the sheer partisanship which has been reported in the speeches I missed. To understand the [...]

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The banking inquiry: judges apply the law, MPs make it

On BBC News 24 at 3pm today, I was asked about the debate over whether to have a Parliamentary or a judge-led inquiry into banking. I made the point that judges apply the law and MPs make it. (In relation to banking, we are far beyond matters of judge-made common law.) Whereas Leveson is primarily about the law as it is, any inquiry into banking must look at the institutional framework which has allowed ordinary and predictable self interest to [...]

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Steve Baker is MP for Wycombe. He was previously an RAF officer then a business software consultant. Find out more...

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