Uk politics

Wednesday

Isabel Hardman

Food bank use is up again: how can ministers respond?

Today's figures from the Trussell Trust on food bank use were good fodder for Labour at PMQs. But the message from the charity, which I profiled for the Spectator a few months ago, is that there needs to be a proper parliamentary inquiry into food poverty, which sounds eminently more sensible than people shouting at each other about complacency. Chief executive Chris Mould said this morning: 'We said in April that the increasing numbers of people turning to foodbanks should be a wake-up call to the nation, but there has been no policy response and the situation is getting worse. The level of food poverty in the UK is not acceptable. It’s scandalous and it is causing deep distress to thousands of people.

Isabel Hardman

The energy price freeze is becoming the new 50p tax

David Cameron clearly didn't think he'd had a good PMQs by the time he'd finished with Ed Miliband. There was something irritable and tired about the Prime Minister as he took questions from backbenchers, and that weariness was compounded by the sight of Dennis Skinner limbering to his feet to deliver a long, angry and moving question about the work capability assessment. Dennis Skinner is the last thing you want floating to the top when your PMQs performance has been below par. And it was below par. I understand that Cameron was given a very detailed briefing indeed today on energy prices because it was highly likely that Ed Miliband was going to come back for round two. As James says, the session is settling into a pattern.

Isabel Hardman

A plot to harm ministers has harmed the plotters more

Presumably one of the motivations behind the decision of Police Federation members to try to discredit Andrew Mitchell was an attempt to discredit the government's wider reforms of and cuts to the police service, which the union representing the force was at the time engaged in a bitter battle with ministers over. But oddly enough, the plotters' misdemeanours appear to have found them out, with calls now for reform of police disciplinary procedures. On Today, former Home Secretary Jack Straw said the Federation had shown a 'poverty of leadership': '[They] had the idea that if they embroidered the truth - and I put that mildly - then they could get the scalp of a Conservative Cabinet minister of an administration with whom they were in conflict at the time.

Tuesday

Isabel Hardman

New Number 10 policy board announced

After last week's reshuffle and the gap left by Jesse Norman's departure from the policy board, Number 10 has announced a number of promotions which increase the board's size -  and its brainpower. Alun Cairns, Andrea Leadsom, Priti Patel, Chris Skidmore and Nadhim Zahawi have all been promoted, which is interesting as all of them bar Skidmore are rebels to a greater or lesser extent. So it's a sign that the Tory leadership wants to forget past troubles and use all the best brains to forge 2015 policy. But it's also useful to have independently-minded MPs joining the group anyway, as the last thing the board tasked with developing flagship policies needs is a group of obedient MPs without any ability to think freely.

Sebastian Payne

Who’s who in tomorrow’s Deputy Speaker elections

I will fight for the rights of ordinary backbenchers! I make people admire this mother of all Parliaments once again! I am friendly with a sense of humour! I am professional! Each of the speeches given by the candidates for Deputy Speaker at hustings this afternoon consisted of this guff. As one candidate Gary Streeter said, this election is fought by ‘seven candidates, seven friends’. So, who is standing and who will MPs vote for? Eleanor Laing (33 per cent chance of winning) was keen to extol her passion for Parliament, stressing the need to make the Palace of Westminster open to the public, yet ensuring it remains a place of hard work.

Isabel Hardman

Theresa May’s apology to Andrew Mitchell

Giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee this afternoon, Theresa May said it would be 'appropriate' for the West Mercia chief constable to apologise to Andrew Mitchell over the way the 'Plebgate' allegations were handled. She was being questioned on the Independent Police Complaints Commission's report, published this morning, which found that there was an 'issue of honesty and integrity' which went above 'merely naive or poor professional judgment' on the part of three Police Federation officers who gave an account of a meeting with Mitchell following the 'plebgate' allegations that contradicted the claims of the former chief whip.

Isabel Hardman

Afriyie amendments continue to wait hopefully for supporters

Oh dear. Poor old Adam Afriyie. Just over a week ago he was boasting of a 'cross party' campaign behind his amendment to James Wharton's EU referendum bill. Now the updated list of signatures has been supported, and there hasn't exactly been a stampede of support. Last week, the amendments said this: Adam Afryie Keith Vaz Clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out ‘before 31 December 2017’ and insert ‘on 23 October 2014’. Adam Afryie Keith Vaz Clause 1, page 1, line 5, leave out subsection (3). And this week, the updated amendments look like this: Adam Afryie Clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out ‘before 31 December 2017’ and insert ‘on 23 October 2014’. Adam Afryie Clause 1, page 1, line 5, leave out subsection (3).

Isabel Hardman

EU red tape push will give Cameron cover for renegotiation

The government's business taskforce will give a presentation today to Cabinet on its report on slashing EU regulation. David Cameron has already indicated that he will support the 30 recommendations in the report, compiled by M&S chief executive Marc Bolland, Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire, ATG Access managing director Glenn Cooper, BTG chief executive Louise Makin, entrepreneur Dale Murray and Diageo boss Paul Walsh. European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has said that he will look to resolve complaints about legislation burdening companies, and Cameron sees this as an important way of showing that Britain can lead on making the case for reform in the European Union as a whole.

Monday

Sebastian Payne

Can we talk about immigration?

Is immigration still a taboo subject? The debate may have opened up for politicians but voters are still anxious about discussing it, as a new poll from Sky News demonstrates. 42 per cent stated they think the current debate about immigration is being unfairly ‘shut down’ by accusations of racism, compared to just 24 per cent who think it is sensible and healthy. 40 per cent also believe they can’t discuss immigration openly because they are worried they will be seen as a bigot. As Nigel Farage has frequently warned, Westminster appears to take a rather different view of immigration. In the last 12 months, all three party leaders have tried to highlight that Britain can have an open dialogue about immigration.

James Forsyth

Did the next coalition talks just start?

The Tory talk of backing an increase (£) in the personal tax allowance to £12,500 serves several purposes. First, it makes it easier for the Tories to champion raising the rate to £10,000 and it gives them a tax cuts that’s aimed at low and middle income earners. But it also draws a neat dividing line with Labour, which is not keen on this policy, ahead of any future coalition negotiation. Indeed, I understand that thinkers close to Miliband have urged Nick Clegg to drop his attachment to raising the income tax threshold and instead think about using the money for a big universal childcare offer. Danny Alexander has already been out trying to retain Lib Dem ownership of this policy.

Isabel Hardman

Boris Johnson: Visa plan is unclear

It is just two weeks since Boris Johnson came over all loyal at the Conservative party conference. The Mayor, it was reported, was putting his weight behind David Cameron because of the presence of Lynton Crosby and the apparent private offer of a safe seat. But it looks like he's back to being troublesome by immediately questioning the government's announcement that it will be relaxing visa rules for Chinese tourists. He told the World at One: 'Well, we'll have to see how this scheme actually works because the detail is a little bit unclear to us at the moment and I'm initially very, obviously very supportive and would hope that it will make sure that we are able to get large numbers of Chinese students, of tourists, people who are going to bring income to our city.

Isabel Hardman

No 10: PM has ‘sympathy’ with calls for partial lift of hunting ban

Number 10 didn't make any effort to shoot the fox hunting story that's doing the rounds at today's lobby briefing. Responding to calls from a cross-party group of MPs for a partial lifting of the hunting ban to allow farmers to use a full pack of dogs to flush out foxes, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said this morning that 'the Prime Minister has some sympathy with these concerns' around 'the impact is has on particular farming communities such as hill farmers'. He added that it was significant that these questions had been raised 'by MPs from across the house', saying: 'Given the cross party nature of concerns that have been raised in this area, I think this is something which the House may wish to address.

Isabel Hardman

The global race means swallowing pride every so often

George Osborne is in Beijing at the moment, drumming up support for Britain in the global race. Although that doesn't quite work because Britain is obviously racing China in this global race, but all the same, he wants China to run alongside Britain cheering it, rather than sledging as it steams ahead. And to be able to do that, this country apparently needs to swallow some of its pride about the sort of country that China is.

Sunday

James Forsyth

Prepare for the arrival of the super cops

Theresa May’s police reform agenda will take a big step forward tomorrow with the announcement that Police and Crime Commissioners will be able to appoint overseas officers as chief constables. As I say in the Mail on Sunday, this’ll mean that successful foreign police chiefs, such as Bill Bratton the former head of the New York and Los Angeles Police Departments, can come to Britain. If Police and Crime Commissioners take advantage of this change, the world’s most innovative police chiefs will put their skills to work in this country. This will drive up standards by bringing in the best practices from around the world.

Isabel Hardman

The truth about Tristram Hunt’s ‘conversion’ on free schools

Much rejoicing in the ranks of education reformers today as just one sinner repents. Tristram Hunt has toldthe Mail On Sunday that Labour doesn't think free schools are just for 'yummy mummies' and that now his party does support free schools, but under the 'parent-led academies' banner. This is supposed to be a Damascene moment for Hunt, but really he's just explaining with greater clarity the stance his predecessor Stephen Twigg took in June. Here is the key line from the MoS: Will PLAs offer everything free schools have got? ‘Yes, but in an area of need, absolutely,’ Hunt enthuses. ‘The innovation, creativity, community engagement you see in the best free schools – great, let’s have more.

Saturday

Sebastian Payne

It’s perpetually grim up north — or is it?

Should the government simply give up on Middlesbrough, Burnley, Hartlepool and Hull? In a leader titled City slickers, The Economist argues that these towns are trapped in a spiral of decline and attempts to 'save' them are futile: 'Middlesbrough, Burnley, Hartlepool, Hull and many others were in trouble even before the financial crisis. These days their unemployment rates are roughly double the national average, and talented young people are draining away (see article). Their high streets are thick with betting shops and payday lenders, if they are not empty.' Their solution? Pay people to relocate to successful areas: 'Governments should not try to rescue failing towns. Instead, they should support the people who live in them.

Friday

Sebastian Payne

Len McCluskey: Miliband is brave and a genuine radical

Len McCluskey is doing Conservative HQ’s work for them. The emboldened Unite leader is welcoming the return of socialism under Red Ed. Last night at the annual Jimmy Reid lecture, McCluskey spoke passionately of Miliband’s bold new agenda: ‘Ed Miliband’s speech to the Labour conference was – some would say – the most genuinely radical we have heard from a Labour leader for nigh on 30 years.' He also welcomed the end of New Labour's ‘neo-liberal’ dogma (you know, the policies which resulted in three general election victories). In reference to Ed’s energy policy: ‘that is not just a break with the coalition’s policies, it also represents Labour turning its back on the neo-liberal dogmas which dominated the Blair-Brown years.

Alex Massie

If Ed Miliband is to become Prime Minister he needs more than gimmicks

Ed Miliband, everyone seems to agree, has had a good few weeks, even months. Everyone agrees on this even though Labour's position in the polls is not significantly better now than it was before the summer. The Labour leader, and again on this everyone seems to agree, has been setting the agenda. David Cameron has been forced to respond to whatever Miliband has been talking about. From Syria to the Daily Mail to the cost of living it's been the leader of the opposition who has seized the initiative. As a result, Miliband looks stronger; Cameron somewhat diminished. That, at least, is the conventional wisdom and, as is so often the case, the conventional wisdom is not wholly nonsense. It has certainly become more difficult to make stick the charge that Miliband is a hopeless wet fish.

Alex Massie

Why won’t the SNP embrace the shale gas revolution?

One of the odder elements of the current energy debate at present is that the political party that spends the most time talking about energy - that's the SNP by the way - is strangely reluctant to chase the opportunities afforded by the imminent shale gas revolution. It's a subject I consider in a column for The Scotsman today: Scotland’s oil resources are a vital national asset. Everyone, I think, knows this. If there were no remaining oil reserves waiting to be exploited in the North Sea, the economic case for independence would be severely weakened. Oil is a cushion and a comfort blanket.

James Forsyth

Royal Mail shares surge in early trading

Royal Mail shares are currently trading at 421p, 91p above its 330p opening price. This morning, the shares hit 456p before falling back slightly. This increase of more than a third in value and the fact that the share offer was so oversubscribed has led to lots of claims this morning that Royal Mail was undervalued. But it is worth remembering that when the government announced it was going to privatise Royal Mail, there was lots of chatter about how the government would struggle to get it away. It was argued that it was foolhardy to sell it into a strike by postal workers. On its current price, the Royal Mail will enter the FTSE 100.