View from the House: Royal Mail needs shake-up

WE VALUE the proud heritage of the Royal Mail, but preserving and enhancing the organisation requires a long overdue shake-up.Read

View from the House: Stop punishing the Russians

AS LEADER of a team of nine Conservative MPs and two Lords in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I work closely with members of Russia's parliament.Read

Open selection will good for local democracy

Since my decision to stand down at the next election given the changing role of Parliament, I have received many kind and generous remarks from local people - often from those whom I have helped over the years. Read

View from the House: Politicians are fighting a war of words

THE modern media has made it more difficult for politicians to wage war. Read

View from the House: Time to reform our exam system?

The last couple of weeks will have been a crucial time for many young people who were anxiously waiting for their exam results. Read

View from the House: Combat stress is all too real

Whilst we all seek the too few glimpses of summer sunshine, our news is still full of troublesome reports from Afghanistan. Read

David Wilshire MP

View from the House: Africa visit was an eye opener

Fifteen years ago 800,000 Africans were hacked to death with machetes in just 100 days. Read

Parliamentary recess has echoes of 1939

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View from the House: Help hospitals to help us

ARE you one of the 600 who have signed up to join the proposed new Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals Foundation Trust? I am! Our support will help the existing hospitals trust as they try to persuade the Government to approve their application to become a foundation trust.Read

Let's have justice for victims and backing for troops

The memories of long hot July days are often treasured, but for some the memory of a July day in 2005 is one of trauma and pain. July 7 2005 - the day when terrorists bombed London and innocent lives were taken away. For some who survived, a life of distress was about to start with ever-lasting injuries.Read

We're near to overcoming the great barrier grief

NEXT week, BAA will submit its application for the Airtrack scheme under the Transport and Works Act. The goal of a link from Waterloo to Heathrow, with easy access from Woking and the South West and from the Great Western mainline, comes a step closer.Read

Full-time politicians; good for Stalin, bad for democracy

BY THE time this reaches readers, another rule change for MPs will be in operation.Read

Big issues being overshadowed by MPs' expenses

The expenses saga rolls on and with new stories highlighted each day. Newspapers are competing for new angles in circulation wars. Public reaction of anger is more than understandable.Read

Message to the PM: 'For God's sake, go'

The message to Gordon Brown’s Government from the voters of Runnymede & Weybridge on June 4 was loud and clear: “for God’s sake, go”.Read

View From The House: Second home is crucial

THE recent coverage given to my expenses claims leave me little choice but to comment. I am saddened and embarrased by what has happened nationally and locally. The British public are rightly very angry.Read

Esher and Walton MP Ian Taylor

MPs who abused the rules should fall on their swords

A View From the House by Ian Taylor, Conservative MP for Esher and WaltonRead

A View from the House: We are all tarred and responsible for hopeless system

If a week is a long time in politics, the last three have seemed like an eternity.Read

'Expenses crisis could be catastrophic for democracy'

Failing to write about the expenses crisis engulfing parliament would reinforce the perception that MPs don’t understand the seriousness of what is happening whilst doing so could add fuel to the fire. This then is my attempt to address the issue without making matters worse.Read

View from the House: Scientists lead the way in combating swine flu

EVERY household has received a government leaflet explaining 'swine flu' and how to react. So far the potential global pandemic seems to be under relative control, with few deaths.Read

View from the House: Banishing pointless targets will protect vital services

THE Budget set out the scale of the problems facing Britain's public finances. A £175bn gap between what the Government spends and what it takes in tax receipts.Read