MPs vote against an above-inflation pay rise
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?
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
David Davis on Brown's security strategy
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
Frugality, please
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
Wednesday
The Gurkha ruling is shameful
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,
PMQs footage | 2 July 2008
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"
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
A gateway to success
Stephen highlights Bill Gates’ tips for success. Well worth a read.
Eight new laws a day under Brown
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,
Tuesday
SNP favourites to win in Glasgow East
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.
Mugabe to a British journalist: "You bloody idiots!"
Here’s footage of Robert Mugabe verbally attacking the ITN journalist Julian Manyon at the African Union summit:
The smoking ban: one year on
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
Brown faces another 10p tax rebellion
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
Monday
The beginning of the end for eco-towns?
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.
And now Davis responds...
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
Gordon Brown writes to David Davis
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
And the winner is... | 30 June 2008
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
CoffeeHousers' Wall, 30 June - 6 July
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
Brown poisons Labour's health reform message
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
Sunday
The rape of democracy
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
