News
The government has asked all two-tier local government areas in England to produce unitary reorganisation plans. This talk will assess the initial proposals and indications of the Government’s thinking.
Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: Thursday 12 June 2025
Location: Online via Teams
Registration: On Act
Welcome to Parliament.
The new joiner induction sessions are available to book via the ACT portal. If you have a new joiner in your office, please share with them.
This session will welcome you to being part of the Parliamentary community and cover essential information from key House services that will help you to settle in and get off to a good start in your new role.
If you have not yet obtained your parliamentary network access and would like to book, please contact MMSST@parliament.uk
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Date: 12 June 2025
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1341
Total Politics Group is proud to announce the launch of the Lord Cormack Fellowship, a new paid, month-long editorial and political journalism fellowship with The House magazine, Parliament’s independent and cross-party publication.
The fellowship is named in honour of Lord Patrick Cormack, the late politician, author and journalist who co-founded The House. Generously supported by his family, the scheme reflects Lord Cormack’s deep-rooted values of editorial impartiality, cross-party collaboration, and respect for the institution of Parliament.
Over the course of the month, the fellow will receive hands-on experience in journalism, politics, and publishing, gaining exposure to all aspects of The House magazine’s editorial, creative and commercial operations. This includes structured modules in:
“We are delighted to launch this programme in memory of Lord Cormack, whose contribution to both Parliament and The House magazine was profound,” said Mark Wallace, CEO of Total Politics Group. “This fellowship represents our commitment to creating new opportunities for the next generation of journalists and nurturing aspiring talent in political media. I’m very much looking forward to seeing who applies and to working with the successful Fellow.”
Editor in Chief of The House magazine Alan White said “The House has a long track record in producing the great political journalists of tomorrow, and I’m very pleased that we have secured support to run this scheme for years to come. My thanks to the many individuals who have volunteered their time to help.”
Richard Cormack said: “Throughout his long parliamentary career my father, Lord Cormack, was a steadfast believer in equality of opportunity. I’m delighted to help the House magazine in providing a fellowship that will be accessible to all, and very grateful to the Royal Foundation of St Katharine for their generous support.”
The Lord Cormack Fellowship is open to individuals over the age of 18 and has been designed to be fully accessible. The selected fellow will be paid the London Living Wage, with accommodation provided by the Royal Foundation of St Katharine for those requiring it.
This initiative builds on The House magazine’s reputation as the essential platform at the heart of Westminster – providing trusted political reporting and a unique window into Parliament since its founding in 1976.
For more information about the fellowship and how to apply, visit: https://totalpoliticsgroup.bamboohr.com/careers/73?source=aWQ9OQ%3D%3D
House of Commons Library Talk
Session outline
The government is expected to set out its defence and foreign policy priorities before the NATO summit. This talk will highlight the key points and lookahead to the main topics of discussion for NATO at its summit on 24-26 June.
Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: 19 June 2025
Location: Online
Registration: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?f=3479
Please join ParliCARE for an in-person coffee catch-up, and to connect with others who care. Our in-person ‘coffee catch up’ gives Parliament’s current and future carers the chance to connect and build helpful support networks.
Time: 12:30 – 13:30
Date: Tuesday 10 June 2025
Location: Portcullis House Atrium – look for the ParliCARE banner
ParliCARE is a Workplace Equality Network (WEN) to promote inclusion and equality of opportunity across Parliament with the aim of raising awareness of and support for all staff and Members of both Houses of Parliament with caring challenges.
To learn more about ParliCARE, please see the intranet page here: https://parlinet.parliament.uk/working-here/workplace-equality-networks/parlicare/
Time: 11:30 – 14:00
Date: Tuesday 10 June 2025
Location: Portcullis House Hub
Directors from key House Administration teams that provide services to Members will be available to answer your questions, listen to your feedback, or if you just want to learn more about how their teams can support you in carrying out your parliamentary duties.
Meet:
Time: 11:30 – 14:00
Date: Tuesday 10 June
Location: Portcullis House Hub
Members and Members’ staff are invited to drop-in to monthly ‘Meet the Director’ sessions in the Portcullis House Hub.
Directors from key House Administration teams that provide services to Members will be available to answer your questions, listen to your feedback, or talk to you more about how their teams can support you in carrying out your parliamentary duties.
This month’s drop-in focuses on the House of Commons Library and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).
Meet:
Presented by the National Audit Office and the House of Commons Library.
Time: 10:30-11:30
Date: Thursday 5 June 2025
Location: Online via Teams
Over one in four women are estimated to be victims of sexual assault or attempted assault in their lifetime, and one in 12 women are victims of VAWG each year, although the actual number is likely to be much higher. The National Police Chiefs’ Council reported that, in 2022-23, 20% of all police-recorded crime was related to violence against women and girls. Violence against women and girls can have long-term impacts on victims, affecting them physically, mentally, socially and financially. The new government has committed to halve the prevalence of VAWG within a decade as part of its ‘mission’ to make streets safer. The Home Office will lead this mission and is developing a new VAWG strategy.
In this report, the NAO has examined the Home Office’s leadership of the 2021 “Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls” Strategy (the VAWG Strategy) and the 2022 “Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan” (the Domestic Abuse Plan), to identify lessons to support the delivery of the government’s ambition to halve violence against women and girls. This report looks at how successful the Home Office has been in leading an effective cross-government response to the issue in order to achieve this aim.
To register, please visit this page on the intranet: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=7608
Tonight at 6pm GMB is holding another football session!
All members are welcome to go to Lollard Street, Vauxhall, London, SE11 6PX for a kickabout.
After the game finishes, members are heading to a local pub!
If you would like to know more about events like this, or if you would like to join the GMB, email Izzie.blackburn@parliament.uk
The LWPSN is proud to be part of this year’s parliamentary Great Get Together. The GGT happens up and down the country to remember Jo Cox, to show her famous phrase “We have far more in common than that which divides us”.
It is a cross-party event with many organisations which advocate for all the things Jo cared about – gender equity, democracy, compassion in politics – coming to meet, and an exciting guest speaker line up.
For full details and RSVP, please see here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp-guides/groups-which-staff-can-join/representation/labour-womens-parliamentary-staff-network/lwpsn-whats-on/