Guide Dogs event
John Whittingdale MP supported a campaign to tackle discrimination against guide dog owners at an event in Parliament organised by the charity Guide Dogs. John is pictured with June and her dog Shannon, and Robert and his dog, Tud, from Chelmsford. On Wednesday, 19 June, more than a hundred guide dog owners from across the […]
130th anniversary of the IPU
The Chair and Executive Committee of the BGIPU invited members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords to attend a diplomatic reception in Speaker’s House on 25 June 2019 to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Members of the Diplomatic Corps and key stakeholders in UK Parliament were also […]
Media Freedom
Globally, threats to journalists are the highest they have been in ten years and according to Freedom House, a mere 13% of the global population have access to a free press. As highlighted in a recent House of Lords Library Briefing, UNESCO says every day serves as a reminder that “in dozens of countries around […]
Ukraine
I understand that February is an emotional time for many in Ukraine. Just five years ago, many Ukrainian citizens gave their lives in their fight for freedom against the corrupt and authoritarian regime of Yanukovych. However, that victory which led to his ousting and flight to Russia also provided the opportunity for Vladimir Putin then […]
Draft Transfrontier Shipment of Radioactive Waste and spent fuel (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con) Share I reassure colleagues that I do not intend to detain the Committee for long. I just want to put on the record that for my first 12 years in this place I represented an operational nuclear power station at Bradwell-on-Sea. In the past 10 years, that power station […]
Telegraph Article on Brexit
This day, 28 years ago, I sat with Margaret Thatcher in 10 Downing Street as her Political Secretary, three days after Michael Heseltine had announced that he was challenging her for the Leadership of the Conservative Party. At that time, any MP could mount a challenge with just the support of a proposer and seconder. […]
Wildlife Trust Reception in Parliament
John Whittingdale, Member of Parliament for Maldon, met members of Essex Wildlife Trust at the reception given by The Wildlife Trusts in Parliament. The reception was given to celebrate the contribution of young people to the work of the Trust and to support the campaign for an ambitious Environment Bill to ensure nature’s recovery. John […]
Visit to Belarus
I was delighted to lead the first delegation from the British Group IPU to Belarus from 27th May to 1st June. Also on our delegation were Wayne David MP (Labour), Daniel Kawczynski MP (Conservative), Kerry McCarthy MP (Labour), Mark Menzies MP (Conservative) and Steve Pound MP (Labour). None of us had been to Belarus before […]
Pavement parking dangers with Guide Dogs
John Whittingdale MP visited a street scene set up in Parliament by the charity Guide Dogs to learn more about the challenges that people with sight loss face when walking the streets. At the event, the MP for Maldon dodged a pavement parked car, stumbled across a variety of street clutter, and visited a “shared […]
Article for the Telegraph on Leveson and the Data Protection Bill
Tomorrow, the House of Commons will debate the Data Protection Bill. This is a vital piece of legislation which is essential to ensuring that our laws are up to date and that we will be able to continue to exchange data with Europe once we leave the European Union. During its passage through the House […]