Archive for News
Ed Balls denies that he denied there was a structural deficit
(Actually, it’s worse than that, for in addition Ed Balls’s claim that it’s only with hindsight that it’s clear there was a structural deficit doesn’t really stand up to scrutiny either.)
Labour MP caught on microphone urging heckling of Tory minister
One of the reasons the behaviour of MPs in the House of Commons is often so appalling, baying and insulting in a way that if done by a school child in a classroom would have MPs lining up to demand tough action to restore decency to British life, is that the place is very small. [...]
Thoughts turn to the 2015 general election TV debates
The Guardian reports: Some senior cabinet members want to limit the number of TV debates in the next election campaign to just one, but they are likely to face a counter-offer from Channel 4 that there should be four debates: two during the campaign itself and two in the months before the election, due to [...]
MPs and expenses: return to an unwelcome past
Oh dear: MPs are trying to block publication of material which could show they are renting their taxpayer-funded homes to each other, it is claimed. Expenses watchdog The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is considering an Freedom of Information request to release the details. But Commons Speaker John Bercow said publication would be a “security [...]
Information Commissioner sounds warning over Draft Communications Data Bill
An important intervention today in the debate over the Draft Communications Data Bill. The Information Commissioner has issued a strongly-worded warning about its impact if implemented: Plans to monitor all Britons’ online activity risk uncovering “incompetent criminals and accidental anarchists” rather than serious offenders, the information commissioner has warned… Christopher Graham said the “really scary [...]
Nick Clegg blocks Tory bid to opt out of European policing measures
More on the story here.
* Mark Pack has written 101 Ways To Win An Election and produces a monthly newsletter about the Liberal Democrats.
Conservatives campaign plans: lots of leaflets, limited number of Lib Dem seats
During the week I blogged about how it looked like the Conservatives would be throwing their national kitchen sink at only around 10 Liberal Democrat held constituencies. That compares to 35 seats won by the Lib Dems in 2010 in which the Conservatives finished second, and would mean quite a few Liberal Democrats MPs not [...]
How not to do an interview: Grant Shapps demonstrates
1. Running away from Michael Crick rarely works. 2. Running away from Michael Crick whilst he has a camera crew in tow even more rarely works. 3. Running away from Michael Crick into the wrong room and then having to turn around and walk back past the camera even more rarely works. 4. Running away [...]
News snippets from the Conservative conference: tax, Europe, migration and more
Trouble ahead on tax as Osborne opposes a mansion tax: We are not going to have a mansion tax, or a new tax that is a percentage value of people’s properties. Before you rush to spot the loophole in that – what about adding extra higher bands to Council Tax? – he opposed that too. [...]
