Blog
Lib Dem nuclear re-think ahead of NATO
by Tom Rollins / 18 May 2012 13:39
David Cameron is in Chicago ahead of this weekend’s NATO summit, busy meeting Francois Hollande and other world leaders to jolly well sort out the eurozone.
Meanwhile the Lib Dems are trying to capitalise on the summit’s golden opportunity to bring home a traditional Liberal bugbear: the Trident missile system.
Writing in the Financial Times (£) yesterday, Menzies Campbell called for a re-think on nuclear policy, in particular scrapping the “Moscow
People’s Pledge expands campaign to Cheadle, Hazel Grove and Manchester Withington
by Chris Bruni-Lowe / 18 May 2012 11:39
It’s an exciting day for the People’s Pledge today. Following on from the successful result in Thurrock this past April, we are announcing our next set of local EU referendum votes, all of which will be held on the same day and spanning three conjoining constituencies – an escalation which will see the polling of roughly 130,000 voters. The seats that have been selected are Cheadle, Hazel Grove and Manchester Withington, all
The government has forgotten about those in the middle
by Francesca Preece / 18 May 2012 08:09
A generation ago Margaret Thatcher introduced a scheme that changed millions of people’s lives, allowing ordinary people living in council accommodation the chance to buy their own rented homes at an affordable price.
Fast forward to today and so many families are better off for this policy. So much so that David Cameron has tried to resurrect the scheme in the twenty-first century and tap in to the residual feelgood factor.
It
The agenda
18 May 2012 07:52
What's happening
Today David Cameron announces new support for parents to help them 'do the best for their children', including a new digital service for parents-to-be
Today George Osborne speaks at the annual conference of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Today Barack Obama and Francois Hollande are due to meet on the sidelines of the G8 summit
9.00 Iain Duncan Smith delivers a keynote address on early intervention
Landmark council housing in Hounslow won’t buck the trend
by Tom Rollins / 17 May 2012 15:12
A new council-built development in Hounslow will provide 19 new homes, with 80% of them offering 3-bed properties to rent. Good news for Hounslow. But otherwise the housing situation is bleak.
The second Housing Report published today by the National Housing Federation, Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing warns that the government is not doing nearly enough.
The number of new homes in England is up by six per cent
Northern Ireland Attorney General drops prosecution against Biteback Publishing and Peter Hain
17 May 2012 14:56
After the decision today of the Northern Ireland Attorney General to drop his pending prosecution of the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter Hain MP and the Managing Director of Biteback Publishing Iain Dale, they said in a joint statement:
'This is a victory for freedom of speech. In September we will be publishing the paperback edition of Outside In without changing in any way the section that gave offence to
Danny Alexander on Leveson and Miriam Clegg
by Amber Elliott / 17 May 2012 14:44
Danny Alexander surprised the press gallery this afternoon by informing assembled journalists that he had more than "red hair" in common with former News International boss Rebekah Brooks.
"I have also had problems with text messages from a senior member of the government," he revealed.
"But mine come from the DPM rather than the PM.
"The first few months of our time in office, I thought we were getting really stressed
Cameron not for turning on the economy
by Tom Rollins / 17 May 2012 10:38
European politicians are apparently bracing for when – not if – the Greeks leave the euro.
It was up to the prime minister to re-draw the lines of debate on the economy, after alluding to the “make up…or breakup” position of the eurozone in yesterday’s PMQs.
Speaking in Manchester this morning, Mr Cameron said: “Either Europe has a committed, stable, successful eurozone with an effective firewall, well
The agenda
17 May 2012 08:22
What's happening
Today Theresa May attends a meeting of the informal G6 group of interior ministers from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and the UK
Today Employment and labour ministers from G20 countries meet in Mexico ahead of next month's summit
Today Diane Abbott gives a keynote speech at Policy Exchange calling for a ‘family-led health revolution’
10.15 David Cameron gives a speech about the economy in Manchester
10.30
1922 committee election results
by Amber Elliott / 16 May 2012 19:45
Secretary positions:
Karen Bradley
Nick de Bois
Executive positions:
Steve Baker
Guto Bebb
George Eustice
Graham Evans
Robert Halfon
George Hollingbery
Bernard Jenkin
Simon Kirby
Penny Mordaunt
Sheryll Murray
Priti Patel
Heather Wheeler
Conservatives elected to the backbench business committee:
David Amess
Bob Blackman
Jane Ellison
Marcus Jones
Secret courts could become another Cameron grievance
by Tom Rollins / 16 May 2012 15:46
David Cameron must take pains not to add to his list of grievances after David Davis set out his opposition to government proposals to introduce secret courts into British justice.
While Davis is defending a key principle in our legal system, there may be more here than meets the eye. Let’s not forget, the Haltemprice and Howden MP is also a former contender for the top job in the Conservative Party.
A
PMQs: the 'European neighbours' problem
by Amber Elliott / 16 May 2012 13:17
"Europe needs a proper growth plan, which this prime minister has failed to argue for," said Ed Miliband at PMQs today.
It is a tricky one for David Cameron to come back to, you see. The prime minister, of course, has a role to play in the eurozone crisis. But with a new French president and worsening situations in Spain and Greece, it's all a bit, well, up in the air.
It
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Quote of the Day
What you call austerity is what I might call efficiency.
