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A look behind the scenes at Westminster with Peter Riddell.

Peter Riddell of The Times looks behind the scenes in Westminster.

There is a strange atmosphere in the House of Commons these days as everyone awaits the announcment of the general election.

There will be a budget on March 24th but what kind of budget will it be, coming as it does just before an election? Lord Lamont, who, as chancellor in John Major's government, produced a budget in similar circumstances in 1992, joins Robert Chote of the Institute of Fiscal Studies to speculate on the budget to come.

If, as current opinion polls suggest, the election does not produce a working majority for one party, what happens next? Robert Hazell of the Constitution Unit at University College, London and the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Wallace, who has been part of past coalitions in the Scottish parliament, discuss the procedures for hung parliaments and coalitions.

Also in the programme:

For the record number of MPs entering the new parliament, what changes, if any, will they find?
And former cabinet minister Patricia Hewitt gives her thoughts on leaving the House of Commons after 13 years.

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30 minutes

Last on

Sat 13 Mar 2010 11:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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06/03/2010

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See all episodes from The Week in Westminster

Chapters

  • The pre-election Budget

    With a Budget due on 24th March, former Chancellor Lord Lamont and Robert Chote of the Institute for Fiscal Studies discuss pre-election Budgets.

    Duration: 07:11

  • Hung Parliaments

    Peter Riddell discusses what might happen if there is a hung parliament with Jim, now Lord Wallace of the Liberal Democrats and Professor Robert Hazell of the Constitution Unit at UCL.

    Duration: 06:23

  • Parliamentary reform

    Labour’s Tony Wright, Conservative Andrew Tyrie and Liberal Democrat Lord Tyler look at recent reforms on expenses, the independence of select committees and the control of Commons business.

    Duration: 07:33

  • Leaving the House

    145 MPs are standing down at the general election and there is a sense of change in the air at Westminster. Peter asks Patricia Hewitt, an MP since 1997, for her thoughts on leaving the House.

    Duration: 05:57

Broadcast

  • Sat 13 Mar 2010 11:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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