Downing Street says Government would end up in "no man's land" if it abandons NHS bill
"The hard-hitting message indicates that the coalition could be heading for a major clash next week on the NHS. This comes after the Liberal Democrat president said the health and social care bill should have been dropped or "massively changed" last year. In an intensification of the Lib Dems' campaign for wholesale changes to the government's health reforms, Tim Farron called for the removal of proposed new rules on competition in the NHS." - Guardian
William Hague announces Britain will recognise the Syrian opposition
Eric Joyce MP charged with three counts of assault
"Joyce, the MP for Falkirk, spent the night in Belgravia police station after he was arrested and removed from the Strangers' Bar on Wednesday evening. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We were called at approximately 10.50pm last night to reports of a disturbance at a bar within the House of Commons. A man aged in his 50s was arrested by officers on suspicion of assault." - Guardian
Eurozone crisis latest
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David Cameron's Somalia conference
Net migration to the UK stuck at 250,000 despite Cameron's tough talk on slashing numbers - Daily Mail
Andrew Lansley appears to reject the possibility of another Cabinet position
"Responding to speculation that he will be moved in a summer reshuffle, he makes clear that he wants no other job. "I'm not in politics in order to be up the greasy pole or anything like that. I think there is probably nothing more important than to give the NHS the kind of foundation it needs for the future."" - Evening Standard interview
William Hague presses for tougher sanctions against the Syrian regime
Labour suspends MP Eric Joyce over assault allegations
"The Labour MP Eric Joyce has been suspended from the party after allegations of an assault in a House of Commons bar. Joyce remains MP for Falkirk but cannot take the Labour whip in the Commons until the completion of a police investigation into the incident. Scotland Yard confirmed that officers detained a man in his 50s after being called to reports of an incident at a bar within the Palace of Westminster at around 10.50pm on Wednesday. He was taken into custody at a central London police station." - Guardian
Eurozone predicted to contract by 0.3% in 2012
"The European Commission has predicted that the eurozone economy will contract by 0.3% in 2012. In its previous forecast in November, it said that the economy would grow by 0.5%. "The unexpected stalling of the recovery in late 2011 is set to extend into the first two quarters of 2012," the Commission said." - BBC
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And finally... Sir George Young says he was "disappointed" that singer Adele's acceptance speech was cut short at the Brit Awards - BBC
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Reactions to PMQs
Theresa May to review UK extradition treaty with US
"Theresa May, the home secretary, will conduct a "proper, sober, thoughtful review" into Britain's extradition treaty with the US amid anger at a series of deportations, David Cameron has announced. The prime minister told MPs the home secretary would take account of the views of parliamentarians after he was asked about the case of Christopher Tappin. The retired company director from Kent is due to be flown to the US on Friday to face allegations of selling arms to Iran. Tappin, 65, admits shipping batteries that can be used in Hawk air defence missiles but says he thought they were for use in the car industry. He said he had no idea about their eventual destination."- Guardian
Last quarter 2011 party donations revealed
"The Conservatives received £3.2m in party donations in the last three months of 2011, according to figures from the Electoral Commission. Labour received £2.3m in donations, while the Lib Dems received £1.07m. UKIP got the most donations of the smaller parties, £151,000, more than twice that of the Scottish National Party on £50,964." - BBC
Cristina Kirchner told to leave Falkland Islanders alone, by Argentina's intellectuals - Daily Telegraph
Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin killed in Syria
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Strong borrowing figures put Osborne on track to beat deficit forecast
Clegg dismisses criticism of government work experience schemes
2012 London mayoral candidates debate for the first time
Liberal Democrats trail Ukip by 3 per cent in YouGov poll of Northern voters - Political Scrapbook
Michael Gove condemns "chilling atmosphere towards freedom of expression"
Europe news
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Andrew Lansley heckled on the way to David Cameron's health "summit"
Appointment of Les Ebdon as university admissions "tsar" criticised
Europe news
Theresa May to split up UK Border Agency - BBC
Police Commissioner elections
"Labour Uncut has learned that party officials have extended the deadline for applications for Labour candidates hoping to become Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). ... Perhaps the most closely fought contest will be in Merseyside where two former Labour ministers are set to go head-to-head. Jane Kennedy and Peter Kilfoyle... Other former Labour ministers who have announced their candidacies include Paddy Tipping, a former deputy leader of the house (Nottinghamshire) and former DWP minister James Plaskitt (Warwickshire)." - LabourUncut
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ALL SMILES AGAIN
Theresa May to travel to Jordan to resolve Abu Qatada issue
Economic news
More on Scotland
BMA fears introduction of new 111 health phone number is being rushed - Daily Mail
Britain is to supply £2 million-worth of aid to Syrian civilians - Independent
Ed Miliband vows to put NHS at heart of next election campaign
Rupert Murdoch backs staff and says Sun on Sunday 'to launch soon' - Sun
"By cancelling the suspensions of the arrested Sun journalists he will have quelled the rebellion in the ranks. And by pledging to launch the Sun on Sunday he will have given the staff a sense of a long-term commitment to the paper and his UK empire." - Roy Greenslade
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David Cameron's Scottish independence speech - and meeting with Salmond
David Cameron, on his meeting with Salmond:
"I believe that we need to put a straightforward and simple and fair and legal question to the Scottish people in good time, which is to ask the straightforward question: 'Do you want to stay in the United Kingdom' - and I hope that's what people will vote for - 'or do you want to leave the United Kingdom?' I think we need to get on with that … and on those issues I'm afraid we haven't made much progress, which is frustrating."
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Vince Cable's university access "tsar" row continues
Greek crisis
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Latest unemployment figures released
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Sir Mervyn King says the economy will "zigzag" in 2012
Senior Lib Dems warn against war in Iran
"Few noticed at the time, but the Lib Dems were the only one of the three main parties to explicitly oppose war with Iran in their 2010 manifesto. "[W]e oppose military action against Iran and believe those calling for such action undermine the growing reform movement in Iran," read a passage on page 68. Yet, in apparent breach of this pledge, Clegg told the House Magazine earlier this month that "you don't in a situation like this take any options off the table". - The New Statesman quotes senior Lib Dems warning against war with Iran, and disagreeing with their leader.
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Moody's give Britain negative credit rating outlook
ConservativeHome coverage:
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Blog reactions:
Falling inflation figures
Baroness Warsi's "militant secularism" speech
In brief:
THREE BIG EXAMPLES TODAY OF WHERE LIB DEMS ARE CALLING THE COALITION TUNE
(1) The U-turn on tax breaks for married couples shows the Lib Dems are still throwing their scanty weight around - Nick Wood
(2) Appointment of Les Ebdon as universities access tsar: "Vince Cable has been given the green light to give a top job to an academic who champions "Mickey Mouse" courses - after Downing Street admitted they won't block it. The move will anger MPs, who have blasted the Business Secretary's decision to make Professor Les Ebdon a university watchdog." - From The Sun's Kevin Schofield
(3) And Abu Qatada: "Clegg’s party, while proclaiming its devotion to civil liberties, has ended up in the paradoxical position of protecting a Muslim zealot who despises everything about western freedom, whether it be democracy or gay rights. In the name of tolerance, the Lib Dems are promoting the most savage form of intolerance." - Leo McKinstry
MORE ON ABU QATADA RELEASE
Downing Street insists it is still looking at possibility of deporting Abu Qatada - Telegraph
But, warns Ben Brogan, has Cameron raised expectations but overpromised?
"Sixty of Britian’s best cops will have to watch terror chief Abu Qatada when he is freed from jail today – at a cost of £10,000 a week to the taxpayer. The eye watering price for the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling is revealed by London Mayor Boris Johnson, who also heaped more pressure on the PM to overrule it and send the cleric straight back to Jordan." - The Sun's Tom Newton-Dunn
TORY MPS REACT...
Scottish independence referendum
NHS Bill
Clegg backs Lansley: "Andrew Lansley is the architect of the NHS bill. He cares passionately about the NHS. He's the right man for the job and he must see it through" - Quoted by the BBC
Cameron and Clegg order review of public sector bonuses - ConHome video
"Cabinet ministers have been ordered to carry out a review of bonus structures in their departments and associated quangos as David Cameron seeks to prevent further public anger over “excessive” rewards in the public sector. Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, and Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, have written to all government departments asking them to examine their bonus structures." - FT (£)
Labour has 12% lead over Labour in London but Boris has 2% lead over Ken - UK Polling Report
- New Statesman graph
Harry Phibbs: "Factors which may have shifted support to Boris in the last month include the cut in the Council Tax precept, diminishing trust in Livingstone's pledge to cut fares and offence at Livingstone's remark about the Conservatives being "riddled" with gays."
Guido thinks Boris' big lead among older voters means he's more likely to get out the vote.
Full poll at the London Evening Standard. The newspapers leader-writers comment: "Mr Livingstone leads his rival on three out of four critical issues. But remarkably, fewer than half of those surveyed, 44 per cent, believe that Ken Livingstone would deliver on his campaign promises."
The Economist on expensive London.
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