1st Novermber 2010  

  Parliament would normally now be preparing for its new year, and awaiting the Queen’s Speech, with its programme of legislation for the year ahead. However, with a new government, and a Queen’s Speech as recently as May, this year Parliament simply carries on its work – and the parliamentary year will only end in November 2011.   Between now and the Christmas recess, which begins on 21st December, there is a lot of work to do. This week there are two more days of debates on the Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Bill, as well as debates on the Strategic Defence and Security Review and on the lessons to be learned from the Inquiry into “Bloody Sunday” in Northern Ireland. There are also debates on the post office network and on the spending review.   I won’t be able to get away from Westminster until Thursday night or Friday morning,...