Politics News
Labour hits back over Tory plans
Lord Mandelson has hit back after 23 captains of industry backed Tory plans to axe part of Labour’s planned National Insurance rise. The business secretary said the Tories could not make their sums add up without increasing VAT. The 23 bosses including Marks & Spencer’s and Next’s chiefs – said the 1% NI increase was... »
Undecided voters offered help to find party of choice
Voters unsure of who to support at the election are being offered help to make up their minds by a system of "opinion matching" pioneered in the Netherlands. Vote Match asks people to agree or disagree with certain propositions and rank them in order of importance. These are then compared with parties’ policy positions to... »
PM admits migration data ‘misuse’
Gordon Brown has been criticised by the UK’s statistics watchdog for misusing immigration figures. In a podcast on Friday, Mr Brown said net migration into the UK fell from 237,000 in 2007 to 163,000 in 2008 and provisionally 147,000 in 2009. The Tories accused him of selective use of figures but No 10 said... »
Allister criticises Robinson deal
TUV leader Jim Allister has said Peter and Iris Robinson have "questions to answer" after reports they bought a valuable piece of land for just £5. According to an investigation by BBC Newsline, the deal with a property developer enabled them to sell part of their back garden for nearly £460,000. They could now be... »
Lockerbie response ‘disjointed’
The UK government’s reaction to the release of the Lockerbie bomber last year has come in for stinging criticism from a committee of MPs. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was released by the Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on compassionate grounds. The Westminster Scottish Affairs committee said there was "close co-operation" between the two governments in the run-up... »
Widdecombe ‘relief’ at exit as MP
Ann Widdecombe has spoken of her "relief" at leaving Parliament at the election, saying MPs have been "vilified" due to the expenses scandal. In her final speech to Parliament, the Conservative MP said the institution had been subject to a "welter of public vituperation" in recent times. She said she hoped the election of a... »
Robinson bought ‘key land’ for £5
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, and his wife Iris, bought a valuable piece of land from a property developer for just £5. According to an investigation by the BBC’s Newsline programme, the land deal enabled the Robinsons to sell part of their back garden for nearly £460,000. They sold the land for £5 to... »
Blair praises Brown’s ‘boldness’
Tony Blair is to enter the pre-election fray when he addresses party supporters in his old constituency. The former prime minister will give a speech on Tuesday at the Trimdon Labour Club, the same venue where he announced he would step down as PM in 2007. Newspaper reports have suggested Mr Blair will make several... »
Transport fleet ‘not fit for war’
It could cost hundreds of millions of pounds to equip the RAF’s new transport aircraft to fly in war zones, the Ministry of Defence has been warned. A £10.5bn deal to provide new Airbus A330-200 aircraft is already running five-and-a-half years behind schedule, the National Audit Office said. It predicted further delays if the MoD... »
Cut road building say campaigners
Campaigners call for investment to go to “greener” projects as assembly government unveils transport plan. »
Tories to block NI tax increase
The Conservatives are to announce plans to block next year’s planned rise in National Insurance tax. »
Union dismisses Tory strike claim
Unite rejects David Cameron’s claim its members are on strike due to “weakness” in Gordon Brown’s handling of the BA row. »
‘No delay’ for school curriculum
The education secretary has rejected calls by secondary teachers to delay the introduction of the Curriculum for Excellence. Some unions have expressed concerns that their members will not be ready to introduce the new system in August. But Mike Russell said he will create specialist groups in subject areas to provide the right support. The... »
Can trust be restored to politics?
Do you trust politicians Do you have faith in them to be true to their word With little over a week to go until the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, is expected to call a general election, and a little over a month until it’s likely to be held, the Politics Show Wales has put the... »
Worcester woman
By Chris MasonPolitical Reporter, BBC Radio 5 Live, in Worcester The sound of birdsong and toddlers. The sight of a modest but well-tended front garden. Welcome to the election frontline. Priory Road in Worcester. Do you remember Worcester Woman She was the voter some pollsters claimed was crucial to Tony Blair’s election victory in 1997. She... »
Salmond branded ‘Tories’ doorman’
Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray has used his party’s conference in Glasgow to dismiss first minister Alex Salmond as "David Cameron’s doorman". Mr Gray accused the SNP of wanting to help see in a UK Conservative government after the next election. He told delegates that Labour would protect public services and jobs, and fight crime... »
On the cards
AnalysisBy Robin BrantPolitical correspondent, BBC News PM unveils key election pledges Saying you will do something isn’t good enough. Especially not in this post-expenses scandal world where trust in some politicians has all but disintegrated. Labour thinks you need to write it down and carry it around in your pocket. So the pledge card is back. It... »
PM unveils key election pledges
Gordon Brown has vowed to offer Britain more "fairness" and "control" as he unveils his five key election pledges. He told the Guardian he aimed to secure the economy, make it high-tech, raise living standards, protect services, and strengthen community fairness. The prime minister, who pledged to keep Alistair Darling on as Chancellor if Labour... »
PM reveals key election pledges
Gordon Brown has vowed to offer Britain more "fairness" and "control" as he unveils his five key election pledges. He told the Guardian he aimed to secure the economy, make it high-tech, raise living standards, protect services, and strengthen community fairness. The prime minister, who pledged to keep Alistair Darling on as Chancellor if Labour... »
Testing times
Mike Baker looks at Tory calls for examination cuts »
Miliband urges more nuclear cuts
An agreement between the US and Russia for large cuts nuclear weapons must lead to further reductions, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said. The treaty reduces the number of warheads allowed on each side by about a third, from from 2,200 to 1,550. Mr Miliband said the UK was committed to a world without nuclear... »
Tories outline ‘pensioner pledge’
Conservative leader David Cameron has made a personal "pledge" to pensioners, promising to protect the winter fuel allowance and free bus passes. Speaking ahead of a webchat with Saga magazine, he also repeated a pledge to link pensions and earnings. In his Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling also said Labour would not cut the winter fuel... »
‘No reason’ for rail strike – PM
Gordon Brown has called for more dialogue between Network Rail and unions to prevent the first national strike for 16 years. The RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association are planning four days of action from 6 April in a row over jobs and working practices. Downing Street said the PM hoped discussions at the... »
Circuses facing wild animal ban
Wild animals are set to be banned from circuses after a consultation found overwhelming concern by the public. Ministers said they were "minded" to bar animals like lions and tigers from big tops in England and campaigners hope the rest of the UK will follow. More than 90% of the 10,576 respondents said they wanted... »
Concern over Zimbabwe’s children
UK aid to Zimbabwe is reaching the poor and vulnerable but the plight of children in the country remains a serious concern, MPs have said. The International Development Committee spent four days in the country. Its report says limited progress has been made since the power-sharing government took office in 2009 with schools and hospitals... »
Labour cuts ‘tougher than 1980s’
Alistair Darling has conceded that if Labour is re-elected public spending cuts will be "tougher and deeper" than those implemented by Margaret Thatcher. Asked in a BBC interview to spell out how far-reaching future cuts could be, Mr Darling did not reject a comparison with measures taken in the early 1980s. The Tories have said... »
EU says "ugly" fruit can stay on UK supermarket shelves
An attempt to reinstate a European Union-wide ban on wonky and discoloured fruit and vegetables has failed. A group of Euro-MPs tried to bring back "uniform standardisation parameters", forbidding the sale of straight bananas and curly cucumbers among other items. But the proposal was defeated in the European Parliament, amid arguments that it would increase... »
Darling defends departmental cuts
Alistair Darling has defended plans to make £11bn of savings across government in the face of opposition claims that they amount to "fantasy cuts". Departments, ranging from health to defence, will have to make large three-year savings to help cut the deficit. The chancellor denied Labour had just woken up to the need for action,... »
ã1m extra to fight domestic abuse
An extra £1m is being made available to tackle all forms of violence against women in Wales, under a new strategy to be unveiled by the assembly government. Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant said £4.4m now would be spent this year targeting abuse from rape to domestic abuse and "honour" violence. Welsh Women’s Aid said... »
Review all terror laws, say MPs
All counter-terrorism laws passed since 11 September 2001 should be reviewed to see if they are still necessary, says a committee of MPs and peers. They questioned whether ministers could legitimately argue, eight years on, that a "public emergency threatening the life of the nation" remained. And they said the government’s "narrow" definition of what... »
At-a-glance: Budget key points
Here are the key points of Chancellor Alistair Darling’s 2010 Budget, the last one before the general election. FUEL, CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL AND FUEL DUTIES 3p fuel duty rise to be phased in between April and January 2011 Duty on cider to rise by 10% above inflation from Sunday Wine, beer and spirit duty up... »
Police transfer over final hurdle
Moves to transfer policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland have cleared their final hurdle in the Lords. Peers approved three parliamentary orders that will enable the creation of a Department for Justice for Northern Ireland on 12 April. Northern Ireland Assembly members have already backed the transfer. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, for the Government,... »
Darling to detail pre-poll Budget
Chancellor Alistair Darling is preparing to give his third budget, the last before the general election. He is expected to describe it as "a Budget to secure the recovery and invest in our industrial future". It is thought stamp duty on house sales of up to £250,000 will be scrapped and a planned rise in... »
UK expels Israeli in passport row
Britain is to expel an Israeli diplomat over the cloning of British passports linked to the hit-squad killing of a Hamas commander, the BBC has learned. Foreign Secretary David Miliband is due to make a statement to Parliament later. Israel has denied allegations that its agents were behind the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, in a... »
MP hopefuls urged to declare jobs
People standing as MPs at the general election are being urged to declare details of other jobs, property assets and their tax status. The government has issued guidelines for a voluntary "declaration of interests" for candidates, recommended by an independent review last year. It says it hopes candidates will declare interests "in as full and... »
Motorbike test changes criticised
Millions of pounds have been wasted on a government decision to close down local motorcycle test sites, a report from MPs has concluded. The Commons Transport Committee also said many learners now make long journeys on "fast and dangerous" roads to attend their nearest centre. The centres – set up after a Europe-wide motorcycle exam... »
Labour suspends former ministers
Three former cabinet ministers are to be suspended from the parliamentary Labour party after being recorded for a documentary on political lobbying. Stephen Byers, Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon will be suspended following reports in the Sunday Times and a Channel 4 Dispatches programme. All three deny any wrongdoing. Mr Byers has referred himself for... »
David Cameron says they hoped pictures of Samantha would never appear
Conservative leader David Cameron has admitted he had hoped photographs of his wife Samantha posing for a fashion shoot would never surface. Mr Cameron said he and Samantha were both "very surprised" to see the pictures, taken more than a decade ago, printed in the Mail on Sunday. "We were hoping they’d never appear, but... »
Byers will face lobbying inquiry
Opposition parties are to seek answers about claims by ex-transport secretary Stephen Byers that he secured secret deals with ministers for firms. Mr Byers was secretly filmed making the claims. Other former Labour ministers were filmed by an undercover reporter apparently offering influence for cash. Mr Byers, who admits "exaggeration", could be referred to the... »
Air pollution ‘early deaths link’
More could be done to prevent the early deaths of up to 50,000 people each year hastened by air pollution, MPs say. A Commons Environmental Audit Committee report said failure to reduce pollution had put "enormous" cost on the NHS and could cost millions in EU fines. It said the UK should be "ashamed" of... »
Cameron calls for MP lobby probe
Conservative leader David Cameron has called for a Commons inquiry into allegations former ministers tried to sell influence for cash. The three Labour MPs deny breaking any rules after they were secretly filmed talking to undercover reporters. Senior Labour figures condemned their alleged actions and announced a crackdown on lobbying would be included in the... »
Ministers attack ‘MPs for hire’
Labour has promised to introduce stricter rules for lobbyists in the light of claims that senior MPs had offered their services for money. Former cabinet ministers Stephen Byers and Patricia Hewitt denied any wrongdoing after they were secretly recorded for a Channel 4 documentary. Labour said the claims showed there was a need for more... »
Martha’s week
By Martha KearneyPresenter, BBC Radio 4’s World at One We had a real treat on the programme this week when the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy read her new poem about David Beckham. POET LAUREATE ACHILLESMyth’s river – where his mother dipped him, fished him, a slippery golden boy flowed on, his name on its lips. Without... »
SNP’s pledge on cuts protection
SNP leader Alex Salmond will tell his party’s conference in Aviemore that a hung parliament at Westminster would be "redolent with opportunity". Mr Salmond is also expected to disclose plans for a joint campaign with Plaid Cymru on issues they will seek progress on in the event of a hung parliament. For Scotland, that may... »
MPs attack FCO exchange rate move
The decision to stop protecting the Foreign Office (FCO) budget from exchange rate changes has risked its efficiency, MPs have said. The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee found a fall in sterling’s value led to cuts in embassies around the world. The FCO’s core purchasing power had fallen by 13% since the previous system was axed... »
SNP seek election ‘opportunities’
SNP leader Alex Salmond will tell his party’s conference in Aviemore that a hung parliament at Westminster would be "redolent with opportunity". Mr Salmond is also expected to disclose plans for a joint campaign with Plaid Cymru on issues they will seek progress on in the event of a hung parliament. For Scotland, that may... »
Cameron announces bank tax plan
Conservative leader David Cameron is expected to announce plans to tax banks – even if other countries decide against doing so. Mr Cameron will drop his condition that he would only introduce such a tax – which could raise billions of pounds – if other countries also did. But the Tories plan a much less... »
Election campaign to be captured by official artist
A photographer has been chosen as the nation’s official artist for the coming general election. Simon Roberts has been commissioned by the Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art to document campaigning activity in the run-up to polling day. Mr Roberts will be given special access to the campaign trail and his images will join... »
UKIP’s challenge
By Chris MasonPolitical Reporter, BBC Radio 5 Live, Milton Keynes "I don’t want to be rude, but…" It’s not the UK Independence Party motto, but it could be. "This is going to be the most boring, pointless, futile general election ever held in this country." The quip from the former UKIP leader, MEP Nigel Farage, brought... »
New expenses file passed to CPS
Scotland Yard has passed to prosecutors a new file of evidence against an unnamed parliamentarian suspected of abusing expenses. Police and prosecutors declined to confirm the identity of the politician who is the subject of the file. It is the seventh file to be completed and sent to prosecutors by detectives at the Met’s specialist... »