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We must fight for Parliamentary independence

These days, the defence of ‘privilege’ tends to look distinctly old-fashioned and out-of-place. Read

View From The House: We must fight for parliamentary independence

These days, the defence of 'privilege'tends to look distinctly oldfashioned and out-of-place. Read

View from the house: Real obscenity would be dumbing down of BBC

Is my despair at the BBC's inadequate management and pathetic response to the appalling behaviour of Messrs Brand and Ross caused by my getting old and crusty, or am I but one of a huge number of ordinary people of all ages outraged by their so-called humour? Read

View from the House: Cancer patients are confronted with a tragic irony

Being diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer, is frightening. In these circumstances, patients and their families should be afforded the comfort of knowing they will receive the best treatment available. Read

View from the House: Now the crisis is personal

Collapsing banks and plummeting stock markets add up to a national economic crisis. Rightly we are all deeply worried about what this means. Read

View from the house: Cool over climate change

Global warming already appears to be having a negative impact on natural systems across the world, including ice-cap retreat, coral reef bleaching, the risk of extinction of numerous species, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. Read

View from the house: Old fashioned hard work key to recovery

The economic headlines over the last few weeks have been rather like a ride at Thorpe Park: crashing down one minute; soaring up the next. Read

View from the house: Don't point the finger of blame yet

When Parliament met again last week we faced a very different world from the one we knew when we started our summer break. Read

View from the house: Both airports need a new runway

FERVOVIAL (the owner of BAA and its airports) has bowed to the inevitable and put Gatwick up for sale. Read

View from the House: Removing barriers of prejudice

Mental health charity Mind estimates about one in three people will experience mental health problems every year in Britain. Read

View from the House: Economic cycle can never be eliminated

As the economic gloom deepens and the good times seem an ever-more-distant memory, what lessons emerge? Read

View from the house: Summer hit by war

Two reasons why I enjoy the privilege of being an MP are the vast variety of tasks that come your way and the unpredictably of what tomorrow will bring. Read

View from the house: Gold brightens gloom

Summer 2008 will surely be remembered as one of the greyest and gloomiest yet. Leaden skies, economic distress and news of Russian belligerence have cast a giant shadow over the season of sun. Read

View from the house: Overrun by GPs is a waste of money

Along with 30 other local people I attended a 'co-design' meeting with Surrey Primary Care Trust a few days ago. Read

View from the house: Startling drink issue

The light evenings, despite this summer's poor weather, bring to many communities a dread of rowdiness and crime fuelled by binge drinking. Read

View from the House: Deliver us from ...

I suspect that, whether or not Gordon Brown personally enjoys his summer holiday, he has been looking forward for some time to the long parliamentary summer break! Read

View from the House: Endangering the public's health

Local government as we know it began in the 19th century as a response to plagues and tens of thousands of people dying of cholera. Read

View from the house: A word of caution on preventing knife crime

Knives are part of life: in every household, knives are wielded by responsible cooks. Read

A wrong prescription for health service ills

If you have visited your doctor recently, the chances are you have been asked to oppose the proposal to set up a new GP practice at Ashford Hospital. The Government has ordered Read

The best hospitals should always be deep-cleaned

Do you know what it takes to 'deep clean' a hospital? I am not sure I do - but I am certain it is important given the public concern about patients getting infections during hospital care. Read

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