MPs vote against an above-inflation pay rise
From our UK edition
Now this is the right outcome. We've just got to hope that MPs are similarly conscientious when it comes voting on changes to the expenses system later.
Peter Hoskin
Thursday
Is Darling set to axe the fuel duty rise?
From our UK edition
Alistair Darling's interviewed in today's Standard and, in response to a question about vehicle excise duty, he says: "I think the bigger question for motorists, frankly, is the fuel duty ... That's something you pay every week, not once a year, and that is something that we in government are very focused upon." Which is - I think rightly - being read as a strong sign he'll axe the 2p rise in fuel duty planned for this October. I guess it would be U-turn No.1,347 for Darling, but it's a good U-turn nonetheless. At a time when huge swathes of the British public are struggling with the cost of living, there's a strong moral case against increasing the price of fuel. And it's a case that the Chancellor finally seems to have heard.
David Davis on Brown’s security strategy
From our UK edition
We uploaded the content from the latest issue of the magazine this morning. It includes an article by David Davis, which you can access here. In it, Davis argues against Brown's security strategy, and outlines why he's opposed to the Government's thinking on ID cards, 42-day detention and the use of CCTV, among other things. Here's the bottom line: "Mr Brown’s security strategy is the worst of all worlds — draconian, expensive and ineffective. This contortion of British security and liberty is the result of pervasive ministerial amateurism, driven by a desperate thirst for headlines. Policy-making for the news cycle cannot be properly assessed, checked and tested. That is why I am fighting this by-election.
Frugality, please
From our UK edition
Today's vote on MPs' pay and expenses is one in which I hope Gordon Brown gets his way. He's already frozen the pay rises of his ministerial colleagues. And now he's pushing for MPs to accept a 2.2 percent pay deal that's in line with what the rest of the public sector is getting. Trouble is, many MPs are keener on a 4.4 percent rise, and will vote accordingly. Many are also unhappy about the necessary – if not quite sufficient – changes to the expenses system which are being proposed. A victory for the 4.4-percenters and their greedy ilk would be disgraceful. After all the expenses scandals of recent months, the House needs to take drastic action to restore the public's faith in politicians and – even – politics in general. A 2.
Wednesday
The Gurkha ruling is shameful
From our UK edition
Over the past few weeks, three Gurkha veterans have been challenging the Government's imbalanced pension plan for Gurkhas - by which those who signed up for the army before July 1997, and retired after that date, are valued at between only 24 and 36 percent of British rates. Today, the High Court turned their challenge down. It's a shameful ruling. After all, these three veterans - and the group they represent - were just as prepared to sacrifice their lives for our country as any other soldier. By that alone, they have done more for the UK than most people ever will. And that's before we get onto the Gurkha's proud 200-year history, or the 13 Victoria crosses they've accrued in that time.
PMQs footage | 2 July 2008
From our UK edition
Thanks to the essential Politics Home, here's footage of the Cameron and Brown exchanges in today's PMQs. Expect Fraser's report shortly.
Hoon to Vaz: “I trust you’ll be rewarded”
From our UK edition
The Telegraph have scored a great scoop. It's a letter in which Geoff Hoon thanks the Labour MP Keith Vaz for his crucial U-turn over the recent terror bill - a U-turn which contributed to Brown's eventual victory. All fine, until Hoon gets onto Vaz being "appropriately rewarded"... "Dear Keith…Just a quick note to thank you for all your help during the period leading up to last Wednesday’s vote. I wanted you to know how much I appreciated all your help ... I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded! ... With thanks and best wishes, Geoff." I'm sure Downing St will be fuming that this made its way into the public realm, and that it was even written in the first place.
A gateway to success
From our UK edition
Stephen highlights Bill Gates' tips for success. Well worth a read.
Eight new laws a day under Brown
From our UK edition
This passage jumped out at me from Irwin Stelzer's excellent article in the Telegraph this morning: “[Gordon Brown] has had some 2,823 laws passed during his first year in office - eight per day and 64 per cent more than Lady Thatcher averaged - many aimed at regulating businesses and commercial transactions between private parties, such as the buyers and sellers of property. This at a time when it is crucial to reduce taxes on entrepreneurs and small businesses, and the red tape that makes it so difficult for small businesses to start and to survive.
Tuesday
SNP favourites to win in Glasgow East
From our UK edition
Ladbrokes have released their odds for the Glasgow East by-election. They've chalked the SNP up as favourites to win: SNP --- 8/13 Labour --- 6/5 Conservatives --- 100/1 Liberal Democrats --- 100/1 Remember, Labour currently hold the seat with a 13,500 majority - that's almost double the majority they enjoyed in Crewe and Nantwich before the Tories won there recently. Yet still the bookies - as well as Politics Home's panel of Westminster insiders - are predicting victory for Alex Salmond's nationalists. It's almost getting to the point at which no seat can be considered safe for Labour.
Mugabe to a British journalist: “You bloody idiots!”
From our UK edition
Here's footage of Robert Mugabe verbally attacking the ITN journalist Julian Manyon at the African Union summit:.
The smoking ban: one year on
From our UK edition
So, it’s one year since the ban on smoking in public indoor places was introduced across England. If the latest figures from Cancer Research UK are anything to go by, it’s certainly having the desired effect. Some 400,000 people have quit smoking at the start of the ban, and an estimated 40,000 lives will be saved over the coming decade. It’s particularly difficult to argue against the second of those statistics. And – as I’m still making my mind up about the ban, one year on – I’m not going to try. But this article in today’s Telegraph does a good job of outlining who’s lost out – over 50 pubs now close each month, whilst 60 bingo halls have shut down over the past 15 months.
Brown faces another 10p tax rebellion
From our UK edition
Oh dear. It looks like Brown and Darling could be facing yet another rebellion over the abolition of the 10p tax band. Last night, No.10 confirmed that there'll be no compensation for those 1.1 million people who are still worse off as a result of Brown's Great Tax Con. And, as a result, certain Labour MPs are pushing to defeat the Finance Bill as it passes through the Commons today. Perhaps we should be grateful that the Government won't be adding to the £2.7 billion of extra public borrowing that the existing compensation package has already required. But that's scant reward for those 1.1million taxpayers. Especially as they're worse-off because of one of the most disgraceful episodes of political grandstanding in recent Parliamentary history.
Monday
The beginning of the end for eco-towns?
From our UK edition
It's hard not to applaud those who marched on Parliament today to protest the Government's eco-town policy. Whatever their motivations, they've got quite a case. As I've blogged before, there are several reasons to think that these towns will be neither good for the environment nor helpful for first-time buyers. Which completely defeats their purpose. The protest could even mark the beginning of end for this risky – and expensive – social experiment. The Tories have today withdrawn their support from it – meaning eco-towns are unlikely to survive the next election. As it stands, Brown may not even have time to put the foundations in place.
And now Davis responds…
From our UK edition
Here's the text of David Davis' response to Gordon Brown's letter: Dear Gordon, Thank you for your letter of 26 June. This is the second time you have responded to me directly, since my resignation from the House of Commons in protest at your relentless assault on British liberty. First, you gave a speech on 17 June at the IPPR, a favoured Labour think-tank, hardly an environment that allows for the vigorous and open debate we so sorely need. Now, you insist that any questions I wish to ask on this vital national issue be raised within the narrow confines of Prime Ministers Questions, where you have developed the novel practice of asking - rather than answering- the questions.
Gordon Brown writes to David Davis
From our UK edition
Benedict Brogan has a copy of a letter sent by Brown to David Davis. It challenges David Cameron over his relative silence on civil liberty issues. Here's the text: Dear David As you know, Prime Ministers are available once a week at Question Time to debate all the issues of the day, and I was disappointed that you chose to step down as a Member of Parliament in advance of Question Time on Wednesday, 11 June rather than coming to the House to debate with me the issues around the use of CCTV and DNA evidence, and the measures we have taken to protect our national security. Nevertheless, the leader of your party has the opportunity each week to ask six questions on those issues that caused you to leave his Shadow Cabinet.
And the winner is… | 30 June 2008
From our UK edition
Congratulations to 'Patrick, London' for making the best contribution to last week's CoffeeHousers' Wall, and for winning a bottle of champagne in the process. Patrick both kickstarted and contributed to a debate on energy policy that I recommend you take the time to read - some great insights from TGF UKIP, Elizabeth and Puncheon, among others. Patrick: if you'd like to claim your bubbly, you can fire me an e-mail on phoskin @ spectator.co.uk, with your address details. Or leave a comment on this post, with the same info (we won't publish it).
CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 30 June – 6 July
From our UK edition
Welcome to the second CoffeeHousers' Wall. For those who missed it first time around, CoffeeHousers' Wall is a new feature on Spectator.co.uk. Every Monday, we’ll put up a ‘wall’ post and – provided your writing isn’t libelous, crammed with swearing, or offensive to common decency – you’ll be able to say whatever you like in the comments section. There is no topic, so there’s no need to stay ‘on topic’ – which means you’ll be able to debate with each other more freely and extensively. There’s also no constraint on the length of what you write – so, in effect, you can become Coffee House bloggers.
Brown poisons Labour’s health reform message
From our UK edition
It's the week of the 60th Anniversary of the NHS. And, to mark the occasion, the Government is today releasing the final report in Lord Darzi's review of the health service. It's set to be reform-minded and geared towards ending the “postcode lottery”. Early signs, though, suggest Brown's reputation has poisoned the operation from the outset. A YouGov poll for the Telegraph finds that only 23 percent of voters think Labour will improve the NHS over the next ten years. That contrasts with 31 percent who think the Tories will. The poll also records an important public shift away from spending towards value and reform. Only 24 percent of respondents think that the NHS needs more money, compared with 59 percent in 1998.
Sunday
The rape of democracy
From our UK edition
Now this is unsurprising: Robert Mugabe is being sworn in as Zimbabwe's president for another five years, after winning the recent "run-off" election by a landslide. I guess this is his warped idea of democratic legitimacy. But when he's blocked earlier outcomes, subdued all political opposition and threatened voters with extreme violence, it's obviously nothing of the sort. It would almost be farcical, were it not for the further suffering to which this "result" condemns Zimbabwe's people. It can only be hoped that the international community responds accordingly, starting at the African Union summit in Egypt tomorrow. Expect more on this from our correspondent in Zimbabwe, Maurice Gerard.
