Parliament, politics and government

Telegraph

17-07-2025

Parliament
Parliament, but in this parliament (before a general election); parliamentary (the parliamentary Labour Party); House of Lords, the House of Commons, the Lords, the Commons, the Chamber. The Speaker, James Smith.
Acts are always capitalised, bills are not unless we are spelling out the name of the bill in full. Private Member's Bill.
Front bench (group of leaders), front-bench (adj), frontbencher, back benches, back-bench (adj), backbenchers. He took his seat on the front bench.
Party names for debates and lists: Conservative (C), Labour (Lab), Liberal Democrat (Lib Dem), Reform UK (R), Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru (PC or Welsh Nationalist), Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Ulster Unionist (UU), Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), United Ulster Unionist (UUU), National Front (NF), Communist Party (Comm), Socialist Workers' Party (SWP).
Tory is acceptable as a synonym for Conservative; Socialist is no longer acceptable as a synonym for Labour. Sects within parties are capped; the Tory Reform Group, the Militant Tendency, One Nation Tories, Momentum.
Ministers: Cabinet (upper case) positions are capped up (the Defence Secretary, the Education Secretary), while more junior briefs are not (the homelessness minister, the minister for water and flooding). A list of current Cabinet ministers can be found here.
The Government, but government spokesmen: the Opposition but opposition policies.
Parliamentary committees and sub-committees take lower case. The public accounts committee, the environmental audit committee, the Commons liaison committee etc, a select committee.
When writing about departments of state verify the correct title. There can be difficulties with prepositions, and titles often change at reshuffles. Note, for example, that it is the Department of Health, but the Department for Transport. A full list of government departments can be found here.
The old rule about capping general election only when we meant the current one, and lower-casing the words when we meant the last, the next, or any previous one, was confusing. Use lower case. Once a general election is called, MPs cease to be MPs - but ministers remain ministers. People standing for Parliament are candidates.
The Scottish Government, also referred to as the devolved administration. Members of the Scottish Government should be referred to as ministers rather than secretaries. From devolution in 1999 to 2007 it was known as the executive. The Scottish Parliament is at Holyrood and can be referred to as Holyrood. The First Minister is capped.
The Welsh Government, also referred to as the devolved administration. Members should be referred to as ministers, not secretaries. From devolution in 1999 until 2007 it was known as the Welsh Assembly Government. The Senedd (Welsh Parliament) is in Cardiff Bay and may be referred to as the Senedd in English. The term Welsh Assembly is now obsolete and should not be used. The First Minister is capped.
The Northern Ireland Executive, also referred to as the devolved administration. Members are ministers, not secretaries. The Northern Ireland Assembly sits at Stormont, which may be used as a shorthand term. The Executive and Assembly were established under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Power-sharing arrangements mean offices such as First Minister and Deputy First Minister (both capped) are held jointly. Avoid outdated terms such as 'Stormont government' or 'Ulster Assembly'.
'Mayor' is upper case for London and directly elected mayors; but lower case for local mayors
The European Union
The UK voted to leave the EU on June 23 2016. Brexit officially took place on Jan 31 2020. A transition period then ran until Dec 31 2020, at which point the UK left the single market and customs union.
The EU incorporates 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden
The EU does not include the European Court of Human Rights, which is part of a separate body, or the Council of Europe. Its key institutions are:
European Commission: The executive body. Do not abbreviate to EC. Proposes legislation, manages the EU budget, enforces EU law. Additionally, it represents the interests of the EU on the global stage. 'Brussels' is an acceptable synonym. It has a president, Ursula von der Leyen.
European Parliament: Directly elected by EU citizens, it shares legislative power with the Council and has a say in the EU budget. Rotates between sitting in Strasbourg and in Brussels. An MEP is a Member of the European Parliament. Do not say 'EU Parliament' and lower case p at subsequent mentions (unlike Parliament in Westminster).
European Council: Composed of the heads of state or government of the member states, it defines the overall political direction and priorities of the EU. Not to be confused with the Council of Ministers or the Council of Europe.
The Council of Ministers represents the governments of the member states and creates EU law through negotiation with the European Parliament.
US politics
United States: use at first mention. US acceptable thereafter (no full stops). Avoid using America to describe the country. American is the preferred adjective unless there is risk of confusion with other countries in the Americas.
President Donald Trump: then Mr Trump. Use 'President Trump' only in quoted material or formal titles (e.g. 'President Trump said…' in a direct quote). Avoid 'the president' with a lower-case p unless context makes clear it refers to the current officeholder.
Former presidents: Joe Biden, the former US president, then Mr Biden 'President Biden' only in direct quotes or formal titles.
Vice-President JD Vance, then Mr Vance.
The administration: lower case unless part of a proper noun (e.g. the Trump administration, the Bush administration).
Parties and political identity
Republican Party: at first mention. GOP (short for Grand Old Party) acceptable in headlines or in second reference when clear from context. Do not use 'the GOP' as a subject without prior clarification.
Democratic Party: never 'Democrat Party'. The adjective is 'Democratic', not 'Democrat'.
Democrats, Republicans: both capitalised.
Right-wing, left-wing: hyphenated. Avoid in straight reporting – use only in analysis, commentary or when quoting.
Moderate, progressive, conservative, liberal: lower case unless in a formal title or quoting a self-description.
Institutions and roles
Congress, congressional: Capitalise when referring to the US Senate and House of Representatives together. The adjective is lower case, in the same way as we would do here for Parliament, parliamentary. See Names and titles for an explanation of style rules on foreign leaders and politicians.
House of Representatives: cap up. Use Representative John Smith at first mention, then Mr Smith.
Senate: cap up. Senator Jane Doe, then Ms Doe.
Avoid 'congressman' or 'congresswoman' unless quoting or unavoidable for clarity. Prefer 'Representative'.
Speaker of the House: title is capitalised; e.g. Speaker Mike Johnson, then Mr Johnson.
The Capitol: capitalised when referring to the US Capitol building.
Capitol Hill: capitalised; acceptable shorthand for Congress and its inner workings.
The White House: capitalised when referring to the executive office or presidential administration.
Supreme Court: cap up. Justices are Justice Sonia Sotomayor, then Ms Sotomayor.
Chief Justice John Roberts, then Mr Roberts. Avoid 'Judge' for Supreme Court justices.
Elections and voting
Election Day: c ap up.
Midterms: shorthand for midterm elections; no hyphen.
Primaries: acceptable in general copy; refer to presidential primaries at first mention if clarity is needed.
Super Tuesday: cap up. The day in early March when many states hold primary elections.
Caucus, primary: lower case unless part of a named event (e.g. Iowa caucus, New Hampshire primary).
Presidential race, presidential election: lower case.
Electoral College: cap up. Use 'won the Electoral College' or 'lost the popular vote'.
Popular vote: lower case.
Swing state, battleground state, red state, blue state: lower case. Avoid in straight news copy unless quoting or widely understood. Prefer 'Republican-leaning' or 'Democratic-leaning' where appropriate.
Government structure
Federal government: lower case.
States' rights: plural possessive, lower case.
State governor: e.g. Governor Gavin Newsom, then Mr Newsom.
Do not use 'Gov.' except in headlines or when space-constrained (e.g. tables or graphics).
Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State: cap up when attached to a name; otherwise lower case (e.g. 'the attorney general of Texas').
Judicial and legal terms
US Supreme Court, federal court, district court, appeals court: 'court' lower case unless part of full title.
Roe v Wade, Brown v Board of Education: italicise case names.
Amendments to the Constitution: e.g. First Amendment, Second Amendment.
Gun rights, abortion rights, civil liberties, due process, executive order: all lower case.
Impeachment: lower case. Use specific language: 'Donald Trump was impeached twice but acquitted both times.'
Indictment, arraignment, plea deal: all lower case unless part of a formal title.
Media and political language
The Beltway: cap up. Shorthand for the Washington political establishment or mindset.
Red state, blue state: shorthand for Republican-leaning or Democratic-leaning states; acceptable in analysis or features.
Base, grassroots, establishment, lobbyist, PAC (political action committee), super PAC: acceptable but explain if used in unfamiliar context.
Filibuster, gerrymandering, whistleblower, special counsel, classified documents, deep state: acceptable but should be explained or clarified unless context makes clear.
Fox News, CNN, MSNBC: cap up. Avoid opinion-based characterisations ('right-wing Fox News', 'liberal MSNBC') unless quoting or in analysis.