House Of Comments's Posts

In the week of St George’s Day, Nick tries to find out what England and English is. He talks to Sunder Katwala (Director of British Future), Caroline Kent (feminist columnist for the Telegraph) and Julian Baggini (philosopher and author of “Welcome to Everytown”). Sunder is interviewed at the beginning, Caroline at around 14 minutes, and Julian from 26 minutes 20 seconds.

Mark is joined by Labour PPC Jessica Asato and Lib Dem commentator Mark Pack to discuss the fallout from the Maria Miller resignation, power and harassment in politics and they address the question: "What are the Lib Dems for?".

Emma discusses the European question with the Centre Right pro European Dirk Hazell of the European People's Party and Left winger Max Shanly of Young Labour.

Emma and Mark discuss the first EU In/Out debate between Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage focusing on the domestic ramifications and also the latest climate change report and how it's likely to affect politics.

Mark is joined by Labour PPC Uma Kumaran and Max Wind-Cowie an associate at the think-tank Demos to discuss the budget including pensions and inevitably bingo, student loans and whether there is nepotism in parliament.

This week Nick is joined by three MEP candidates to talk about whether to have an In/Out EU referendum and to try to pin down what the purpose of the EU Parliamentary is. Annesley Abercorn (Conservative), Ivana Bartoletti (Labour), and Paul Oakley (Ukip) discuss.

Emma Burnell is joined by Isabel Hardman of the Spectator and Helen Lewis of the New Statesman to discuss the Lib Dem spring conference, immigration and the situation in the Ukraine.

Mark is joined by Emma and Nick as well as former House of Comments co-host from way back Stuart Sharpe and our first ever guest from back in 2009, LBC presenter Iain Dale to celebrate our 100th episode. Topics discussed this week are the Harriet Harman and Jack Dromey NCCL/PIE story, Labour's special conference (which Emma spoke at) and the move to One Member One Vote and also whether the Conservatives and Labour would be wise to rule out potential coalition in 2015 as a manifesto commitment.

This week Nick talks to Rafif Jouejati (Syrian Opposition Coalition) about the Geneva peace talks and the future of Syria, James Delingpole (Executive Editor – Breitbart London) about free speech and the launch of Breitbart’s new London website, and Peter Franklin (Editor – Deep End, Conservative Home) about why right-wingers need to stop talking about how much income tax the richest pay.

Mark is joined by Lib Dem PPC for Guildford Kelly-Marie Blundell and Former Labour PPC and councillor Paul Blanchard to discuss the latest political fallout from the floods, the recent petition urging the government to review drugs policy and they ask whether voter recall is now dead for this parliament. Spoiler alert - it is.

What can and should be done about flooding? Would the Tories be happy to see Scotland go? And just what is their problem with women? Emma is joined by Mark Wallace of Conservative Home and Hopi Sen.

This week regulars hosts Emma Burnell, Nick Denys and Mark Thompson come together to discuss the Tories and the EU, Labour and the Unions, the split between Laws and Gove and smoking in cars.

This week Nick speaks to Christian May about the Ukrainian protests and Donna Edmunds, editor of Ukip Daily, about the political news and Ukip’s growing pains. Subjects covered include, raising the upper tax limit to 50p, Ukip’s appeal, Syrian refugees, and the treatment of women in politics.

Mark is joined by Labour activist and council candidate Claire Spencer and Ruth Porter of the centre-right think tank Policy Exchange to discuss Ed Miliband's banking reforms, Osborne's £7 minimum wage intervention, cash incentives to councils for fracking and the continuing fallout from the Lord Rennard case.

Emma is joined by Lib Dem Charlotte Henry of Total Politics, David Skelton, Director of Reform and justice campaigner Ellie Cumbo to discuss the Lib Lab Love in, Minimum wage and the fall out from the Mark Duggan Inquest

Mark, Emma and Nick discuss the newly released revelations about the miners' strike, the debate around Romanian and Bulgarian immigration, the recent floods and the politics of the Environment Agency and flood defences funding, the latest Lord Ashcroft "Mega Poll" and they make their political predictions for the coming year.

Emma interviews disability activist Sue Marsh about her campaigning including use of social media and the difficulty of getting the mainstream media interested in the subject

Mark and Emma are joined by Conservative member and political podcaster Rupert Myers to discuss food banks, IDS criticising The Trussell Trust, why Simon Hughes has decided to join the government and who his replacement as Lib Dem deputy leader might be and finally have we seen the end of Tigger as Conservative Party Chair?

Emma is back! Recovering well from her recent operation Emma talks to Mark about the recently floated "two child benefit and no more" policy from a close Cameron advisor, the gender pay gap rising and the BBC's policy on promotion and non-promotion of charities.

Mark is joined by LabourList's Mark Ferguson and freelance journalist and Lib Dem activist Charlotte Henry to discuss Nelson Mandela's legacy, the aftermath of the Autumn Statement and whether MPs deserve an 11% pay rise.