Sign in

Will Meakin-Durrant

@wmeakindurrant.bsky.social
390 followers 462 following 303 posts

Parliamentary Reporter at the PA news agency 📌 House of Commons

PostsRepliesMedia
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne want "nothing - just a government that will fix Britain" in exchange for their donations.
@Nigel_Farage: Since 2010, the established parties have taken nearly £1 billion in donations, and handed out dozens of peerages in return. 

In their first year, Labour handed out £138 million of government contracts to their donors. The Tories are just as bad. 

You know what Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne want?

Nothing. Just a government that will fix Britain.

And that's what Reform UK will deliver.

I'm proud to have the support of some of Britain's most successful entrepreneurs.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The Lords debate is an opportunity to "stop these people from distorting the next election", says Labour's Stella Creasy, who proposed a Bill amendment to cap donors' spending. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Crypto-billionaires want ‘nothing’ in exchange for £72m donations, says Reform
The party received the gifts from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo in the space of 24 hours.
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
But the proposal could re-emerge in the Lords, after Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne made donations worth a combined £72 million to Reform UK this week.
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Despite efforts by some backbenchers in the House of Commons, the Representation of the People Bill does not feature a cap on donations from voters who live in the UK.
110
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
On tomorrow's House of Lords order paper - the Representation of the People Bill, including proposals to cap the amount that Brits abroad can donate to political parties at £100,000/year.
House of Lords Business for Monday September 14, including: Representation of the People Bill - second reading.
111
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The House of Commons business for tomorrow, when MPs are due to restart their debate on the assisted dying Bill
Business of the Day: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - second reading; Gaza (Independent Public Inquiry) Bill - second reading; Hospitality Services (Value Added Tax Exemption) Bill - second reading.Business of the Day (continued): Sporting and Physical Education Services (Value Added Tax Exemption) Bill - second reading; Meat (Information About Method of Killing) Bill - second reading; Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Payments Bill - second reading; European Convention on Human Rights (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill - second reading; Lobular Breast Cancer Bill - second reading; Controlled Drugs (Procedure for Specification) Bill - second reading; In-person Banking Services Bill - second reading; Home Cooling Bill - second reading.Business of the Day (continued): Northern Ireland Troubles (Criminal Investigations etc) Bill - second reading debate which began on September 4 to resume; Multi-storey Car Parks (Safety) Bill - second reading; Sale and Supply of Glue Traps (Prohibition) Bill - second reading.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Lib Dem local government spox @zoefranklinld.bsky.social has tabled a humble address motion, in a bid to lift the lid on the legal advice - which ministers would not usually publish. www.brightonandhovenews.org/2026/09/08/m...
brightonandhovenews.org
Ministers face pressure to publish legal advice which stalled councils plan
Ministers are facing pressure to publish the legal advice which halted the Government’s reorganisation of local councils. The Government this
001
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Ministers are facing pressure to publish the legal advice which derailed the Government’s reorganisation of local councils.
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Anneliese Midgley has moved the writ for a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, following the departure of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer from both No 10 and the House of Commons.
001
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Independent MP James McMurdock makes a quick exit from his seat before he can hear the answer to his own question, which earned him a telling off from Madam Deputy Speaker.
001
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Water levels on the Danube River, the second longest in Europe, have dropped so low because of drought that the hulks of dozens of World War II German battleships are emerging into view. (Associated Press) apnews.com/article/serb...
apnews.com
The Danube River's water is dropping so low that World War II ships are emerging
Water levels on the Danube River have dropped so low due to drought that World War II German battleships are emerging into view.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
AstraZeneca has held talks with US rival Bristol Myers Squibb over a merger which could create a drugs giant worth more than £300 billion, according to reports. (Press Association) www.standard.co.uk/business/bus...
standard.co.uk
AstraZeneca in talks over £300bn mega-merger with US rival – reports
The move would mark one of the industry’s largest ever deals and create the world’s fourth largest pharmaceutical company.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
A licence for the annual guga hunt on a remote island has been refused by a Scottish Government agency. (Press Association) www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Licence for annual guga hunt refused by Scotland’s nature agency
Young gannets – guga – are taken from open cliffs using a pole and noose, before being gutted, salted and preserved in brine.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
End-of-life care can be improved at the same time as legalising assisted dying, the MP behind the campaign to do so has insisted after Andy Burnham said he believes palliative care needs to be fixed first. (Press Association) www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Assisted dying Bill MP says new law and better end-of-life care both possible
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will return to Parliament for debate in September.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The House of Commons Library has modelled England's new local government boundaries, as the Government slashes the number of councils from 317 to a maximum of 173.
A map of English local authorities. Highlighted are the areas where local government reorganisation is taking place - Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire (reorganisation delayed), Hertfordshire, Devon, East Sussex, West Sussex (reorganisation delayed), Surrey, Kent, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire.
010
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Animal rescue centres are “fit to bursting” with hedgehogs and foxes suffering from heatstroke during one of the hottest summers on record, the RSPCA said. (Press Association) www.standard.co.uk/news/environ...
standard.co.uk
Wildlife centres ‘fit to bursting’ with hedgehogs amid scorching weather
Gardeners are being urged to create shaded spaces for wildlife struggling to keep cool during the scorching weather as another heatwave looms.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The publisher of Harry Potter and bestsellers by Sarah J Maas has revealed it is set for a payout from a record 1.5 billion dollar (£1.1 billion) settlement of a copyright class action in America against AI firm Anthropic. (Press Association) www.independent.co.uk/tech/bloomsb...
independent.co.uk
Bloomsbury set for payout from £1.1 billion Anthropic US copyright settlement
The settlement is said to be the largest known copyright payout in US history.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Defence shares increased in value in London on Tuesday after the former defence secretary was appointed as Britain’s new Chancellor. (Press Association) www.independent.co.uk/news/busines...
independent.co.uk
Defence shares climb on investment hopes after new Chancellor named
Babcock was the top riser on the FTSE 100, with shares up 7.8%, while BAE Systems lifted by 3.25% and Qinetiq moved 4% higher.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Thames Water’s lenders have revealed they are looking at offering a “golden share” to the Government as part of a revised rescue deal to stave off nationalisation of the stricken supplier. (Press Association) www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/nationa...
oxfordmail.co.uk
Thames Water lenders consider offering ‘golden share’ to avert nationalisation
London & Valley Water said ‘material improvements’ are being made on its previous £10 billion proposal to appease government concerns over…
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
AI minister, attending Cabinet - Kanishka Narayan Intergovernmental relations and European relations minister, attending Cabinet - Hamish Falconer Housing minister, attending Cabinet - Matthew Pennycook
001
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Women and Equalities Minister, as a full member of the Cabinet - Bridget Phillipson Attorney General, attending Cabinet - Ellie Reeves Chief Secretary to the Treasury, attending Cabinet - Emma Reynolds
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Chief Whip - Anneliese Midgley Commons Leader - Sir Alan Campbell Lords Leader - Baroness Smith of Basildon
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Northern Ireland Secretary - Sir Chris Bryant Scotland Secretary - Douglas Alexander Wales Secretary - Stephen Kinnock
110
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary - Dame Angela Eagle Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary - Miatta Fahnbulleh Transport Secretary - Heidi Alexander
110
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Secretary - Jonathan Reynolds Education Secretary - Lucy Powell Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary - Lisa Nandy Defence Secretary - Wes Streeting
210
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
First Secretary of State/Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - Louise Haigh Justice Secretary/Lord Chancellor - Alex Norris Health and Social Care Secretary - Yvette Cooper Work and Pensions Secretary - Pat McFadden Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary - Angela Rayner
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
State of play on Tuesday morning, as Andy Burnham continues to appoint ministers across Government: Chancellor of the Exchequer - John Healey Foreign Secretary - Ed Miliband Home Secretary - Shabana Mahmood
200
Reposted by Will Meakin-Durrant
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
It's on! The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026 has been laid before Parliament to ease licensing restrictions until 5am when England take on Mexico in the Round of 16.
The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026
001
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Andrew Ranger tells me: "This is exactly what I intended when I introduced the legislation: allowing people to come together, support our brilliant local pubs, and giving the hospitality industry the flexibility it needs to benefit from major national occasions."
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
"I fully support the decision to ensure that fans can watch the game with a pint in hand in one of our many fantastic pubs," says Andrew Ranger, the Wrexham MP who steered the Act through the Commons from the back benches.
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Relaxing the licensing rules used to involve an extra step - a vote in Parliament. But earlier this year, the Licensing Hours Extensions Act 2026 was approved, so the Government can let pubs open longer without waiting for MPs' say-so.
111
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
It's on! The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026 has been laid before Parliament to ease licensing restrictions until 5am when England take on Mexico in the Round of 16.
The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026The Licensing Act 2003 (FIFA World Cup Licensing Hours) (Amendment) Order 2026
001
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
"This unnecessarily shields what should be a perfectly normal, accountable part of our constitution," Sian Berry says. www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family...
telegraph.co.uk
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
The royal family isn't a public authority for the purposes of Freedom of Information - and the organisations which are can refuse to disclose their "communications with the sovereign” and related people.
110
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Summer solstice at 1.678° E - at Southwold in Suffolk, one of the first places in the British Isles to see sunrise.
A yellow line marks the edge of the promenade, parallel to the shore all the way to Southwold Pier. Beach huts painted in pastel colours line the cliff.Swimmers in the North Sea as dawn breaks - the Summer Solstice. Crimson water reflects the pink sky behind Southwold Pier’s pillars.Southwold Pier silhouetted against a rising sun.
032
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
- Giving adult perpetrators of group-based child sexual abuse a whole life sentence, as a starting point - Changing the way planning permissions are granted for solar energy projects on farmland - Criminalising certain acts involving child-like sex dolls
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
- Banning marriage and sexual activity between first cousins - A crackdown on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (Slapps) - A proposal to require country of origin marking on ceramics products - New fireworks rules
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
The 20 private members’ bills at the top of the queue for a debate, including: - A return of the assisted dying Bill. MPs voted it through with a majority of 23 at third reading in the last session, but peers in the House of Lords ran out of time to conclude their debates.
Presentation of Bills
Infants, Parents and Carers (Sir Desmond Swayne)
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) (Lauren Edwards)
Heritage Public Houses (Mike Wood)
Homes and Planning (Andrew George)Presentation of Bills
First Cousins (Prohibited Relationships) (Luke Evans)
Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (Sir John Whittingdale)
Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (Amendment) (Jessica Toale)
Emergency and Life-saving Skills (Schools) (Neil Shastri-Hurst)
Ceramics (Country of Origin Marking) (Gareth Snell)
Northern Ireland Troubles (Criminal Investigations etc) (Lincoln Jopp)
Fireworks (Patricia Ferguson)Presentation of Bills
Group-based Child Sexual Offences (Mandatory Life Sentences) (Robert Jenrick)
Automated Online Software (Access and Transparency) (Damian Hinds)
Relationships and Sex Education (Further Education Sector) (Alistair Strathern)
Cancer (Reporting and Strategy) (Clive Jones)
Planning (Solar Power Generation) (Victoria Atkins)
Child-like Sexual Abuse Dolls (Offences) (Munira Wilson)Presentation of Bills
Coastal Communities (Health) (Steff Aquarone)
Hospice Funding (Paul Foster)
Work Experience (Schools) (David Pinto-Duschinsky)
110
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
"It is not my intention that the Parliament acts should apply to this Bill," Lauren Edwards says in a statement. This means if MPs back it, peers would debate the Bill again, after they ran out of time to reach a conclusion in the last parliamentary session.
A statement by Lauren Edwards on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - also known as the assisted dying Bill. The full text is online: https://laurenedwards.uk/terminally-ill-adults-bill-statement-from-lauren-edwards-mp/
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Labour MP Lauren Edwards, who came second in this session's private members' bills ballot, has said she is reintroducing the assisted dying Bill to Parliament. It will be formally presented to the House of Commons on Wednesday.
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
If comprehensive coverage from the poolside is only provided free-to-air during the Olympics, "that's four years in between showing swimming - one of our biggest participation sports and a sport that saves lives", Baroness Davies of Devonport said.
A newspaper article - Plymouth Herald on Saturday June 6, 2026 - "Televising swim events can help 'inspire nation'"
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
After several water-related deaths during the recent hot spell, Baroness Sharron Davies of Devonport says "it's important to inspire people to want to swim".
200
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
"I’ll be really clear, the question now is not whether we do something, we are going to act – I’m absolutely clear that this needs to be something where there’s a game-changer," Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/gove... (with Mathilde Grandjean)
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Government online safety plan announcement in ‘weeks, not months’, parents told
The bereaved parents of children whose deaths were linked to social media have been told during a meeting with the Prime Minister that measures should be announced in a matter of “weeks, not months”.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Rule changes for children on social media will be unveiled in a matter of "weeks, not months", bereaved parents have been told.
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
The Government's consultation is open until 11.59pm tonight, so the figures are likely to climb www.gov.uk/government/c...
gov.uk
Growing up in the online world: a national consultation
We are consulting on further measures to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change. This includes potential age restrictions on social media and other services such as ga...
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
The Government has gathered more than 80,000 responses to its consultation on social media harms affecting children, according to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology figures I've seen - Parents: 42,410 Young people: 13,890 Total: 81,283
100
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Sizzling Saturday was replaced by scorching Sunday this weekend as the UK saw its hottest May day for at least 79 years.
A woman holds a tray of orange and yellow flowers as she browses a market stall brimming with mostly green plants.A trader under a blue canvas weighs olives and puts a lid on the pot.Two people walk through a green field of barley. In the background, a large church with a steeple - St Mary’s, Saffron Walden.
010
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Ballot for Bills at 9am - Twenty MPs from this list will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have their own private members' bills debated.
Members entering the Ballot for Bills - numbers have been assigned to each MP who entered the draw. The winners will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have a Bill of their choosing debated.Members entering the Ballot for Bills - numbers have been assigned to each MP who entered the draw. The winners will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have a Bill of their choosing debated.Members entering the Ballot for Bills - numbers have been assigned to each MP who entered the draw. The winners will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have a Bill of their choosing debated.Members entering the Ballot for Bills - numbers have been assigned to each MP who entered the draw. The winners will secure a spot at the front of the queue to have a Bill of their choosing debated.
010
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The Makerfield by-election will take place on June 18, Wigan Council has confirmed.
A Notice of Election - UK Parliamentary Election for the Borough Constituency of Makerfield - confirming the election, if contested, will take place on June 18.
000
Will Meakin-Durrant @wmeakindurrant.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Sir Keir Starmer said he had been "negotiating serious trade deals" during his time in No 10. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
standard.co.uk
Starmer apologises for ‘slip of the tongue’ in announcing deal with North Korea
The Prime Minister told MPs he ‘inadvertently said we did a trade deal with North Korea rather than South Korea’.
000