Newslinks for Sunday 2nd June 2013
4pm Peter Smith on Comment: Two books, one conclusion. Immigration has been and is too high
2.45pm WATCH: Nadine Dorries MP - IPSA should never have been brought in
2pm Tory Diary: The wit and wisdom of Boris Johnson
Tory Diary: UKIP at record high with Opinium. (But is their method a good one?)
Charles Hendry MP on Comment: Why we shouldn't put a decarbonisation target in the Energy Bill this week
A morning of scandal is led by a report of a love affair at 10 Downing Street…
“David Cameron has held crisis talks at Downing Street after being told of allegations of a sensational love affair which has potentially significant political implications for him. For legal reasons, The Mail on Sunday cannot disclose the identities of the people involved or any details of the relationship – even its duration – other than that they are middle-aged figures. The affair has now concluded. But this newspaper can report that when aides told Mr Cameron the identities of the alleged lovers he was ‘stunned’, and, according to sources, ‘immediately realised the importance of the story’.” – Mail on Sunday
- Cameron forgot passport. Police dashed back to Downing Street. Ibiza visit saved - Sun on Sunday
- Nigel Evans faces fourth sexual assault claim - Mail on Sunday
…while three peers are drawn in to the cash for access affair…
“Three were secretly filmed by reporters
revealing their willingness to flout rules banning them from using their power
and influence in parliament for paying clients. Lord Cunningham, Lord Mackenzie
of Framwellgate and Lord Laird offered to become paid advocates for a firm
pushing for new laws to benefit its business” – The
Sunday Times (£)
…and Patrick Mercer could face police questioning…
“Scotland Yard could launch an investigation into potential breaches of the 2010 Bribery Act by Tory MP Patrick Mercer. The Observer understands that at least one MP is preparing a complaint that could spark a Met probe into whether Mercer has broken the law, amid allegations that he tabled parliamentary questions on behalf of a lobbying firm paying him thousands of pounds …if police were to launch an inquiry, it would raise questions about whether Mercer could remain in office until the next election” - Observer
…but Downing Street hopes Newark MP will be seen as an isolated case
“No 10 is quietly bracing itself for a by-election brought about
by Mercer’s resignation as an MP… It is essential for Downing Street that
Mercer can be credibly presented as a rogue operator, rather than one of many
MPs trading their parliamentary services for cash. The PM’s allies insist that
his case is singular and regrettable…Anything else would be a disaster for
Cameron and the Conservatives.” - Matthew d’Ancona, Sunday
Telegraph
- Too many MPs are wrapped in the tentacles of the lobbyists – Andrew Rawnsley, Observer
- Is Boris Johnson fit to be PM? Andrew Gimson versus Sonia Purnell – Independent on Sunday
- Nigel Evans faces fourth sexual abuse claim – Mail on Sunday
- Mercer “humbled but resilient” – Sunday Express
> Yesterday:
- ToryDiary: MPs who signed up for Fiji group named - also three peers in "cash for access" sting
- MPsETC: It's time for privatisation of the "All Party Parliamentary groups"
- Paul Goodman on ToryDiary: Patrick Mercer, Jews - and battle at Anzio
- ToryDiary: "We will bring forward early legislation to introduce a power of recall". Three years later, where is it?
Miller plans to offer parents guide to boosting girls' ambitions
"Ministers are planning to produce information packs for the parents
of daughters to help them to bring up "aspirational" young women. The
packs will offer advice on how to guide daughters through subject and
career choices, amid concerns that many people feel they lack key
parenting skills at such crucial times." - Observer
Conservative Grassroots urges Lords to reject same-sex marriage when they debate it on Monday and Tuesday
“Bob Woollard, the chairman of Conservative Grassroots, said: ‘The Prime Minister believes that enabling same-sex couples to get married will strengthen — not weaken — family ties. In fact, all the evidence from countries that have introduced this legislation over the last 10 years shows that marriage is further devalued in the eyes of all and the tie between marriage and bringing up of children is seriously weakened’” – Sunday Telegraph
- Archbishop of Canterbury to speak in Lords debate - Sunday Times (£)
Francis Maude accuses civil servants of a “bias to inertia”
“Maude will argue that a two-tier civil service exists, made up of motivated, hard-working officials who are being held back by those who are ‘inefficient’ and guilty of ‘risk aversion’. His speech to Policy Exchange, a Tory think tank, will be interpreted as a thinly veiled criticism of permanent secretaries who are opposed to modernising working practices in Whitehall. ‘There are areas where the civil service is not operating at the top of its game,’ Maude is expected to say. ‘There is too often a bias to inertia. People are not encouraged to try new things’ – Sunday Times (£)
- Government departments waste £8 billion a year – Sun on Sunday
- Grayling: only high earners will be denied legal aid – Sunday Telegraph
- A & E crisis leads to surge in cancelled ops - Observer
Have Clegg and Alexander targeted money at LibDem constituencies?
"According to claims made by a Coalition whistleblower, Deputy Prime
Minister Mr Clegg and his right-hand man, Chief Secretary to the
Treasury Danny Alexander, have used their influence over public spending
decisions to covertly boost the re-election chances of Lib Dem MPs. The
source also claimed that public subsidies to reduce water bills in the
South West were agreed by Chancellor George Osborne after pressure from
Mr Clegg’s officials." - Mail on Sunday
Labour for a referendum to launch this week
"In a sign of growing unease with his leadership, a group of Miliband's backbenchers have signed up to a new campaign, Labour for a Referendum, to be launched this week. They want to force Miliband to do a U-turn on his refusal to offer the British people an in-out referendum. Labour's policy is to only offer a vote to the public if there is a significant treaty change that transfers further sovereignty to the EU." - Observer
Second Woolwich suspect charged with murder
"Michael
Adebolajo, 28, has been charged with the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby who was
killed in front of horrified onlookers in Woolwich last month. Scotland Yard
said Adebolajo, of Romford, Essex, has also
been charged with the attempted murder of two police officers and possession of
a firearm. He has been remanded in custody and will
appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday." – Mail
on Sunday
- BNP clash with anti-fascists – Independent on Sunday
- Inside the dark world of the Woolwich Boys gang – Mail on Sunday
- Tony Blair says the ideology behind the Woolwich attack is profound and dangerous – Mail on Sunday
- White Muslim convert threatened to kill Prince Harry – Mail on Sunday
- Home Office legal blunder allows violent criminal to stay in Britain – Sunday Telegraph
Other comment 1) Lord Kalms says we must renegotiate our EU membership or leave...
“The European Union is no longer fit for purpose. Like Michael Gove and Philip Hammond, if there were a referendum held tomorrow I would vote to leave. But it isn’t up to me, or our more free-thinking Cabinet ministers, and nor should it be. The British people deserve a referendum on our continued relationship with Brussels and, the way the politics is going on this issue, we should get one…I was proud to serve as Treasurer of the Conservative Party, and I have been dismayed to watch as party members have been driven from the fold while we sidestep and skirt around the critical issue of Europe” – Sunday Telegraph
- UKIP attracts City donations – Sunday Telegraph
Other Comment 2) Liam Fox says the Tories can win in 2015...
“Politicians
have a temptation to talk too much about themselves…The Conservative Party
should break out of this luxury of self-indulgence and recognise the need to
stand up for those whose values we most admire and ensure the country is not
saddled with a Labour government. The economy is emerging from the financial
pit Labour left behind...Voters disaffected with the Coalition Government are
not defecting to the Labour Party under its current leadership, which should
give their union paymasters something to think about.” – Mail
on Sunday
Other Comment 3) Nick Boles wants British pupils to swear American-style oath of allegiance
“Nick Boles, a close friend of Prime Minister David Cameron and Education Secretary Michael Gove, said the changing face of Britain meant the common bonds that united previous generations had weakened after years of large-scale immigration. He said it was time to learn from America which has, since 1892, encouraged children to start the school day with a pledge upholding the values of patriotism, liberty and justice.” – Sunday Express
- Free Enterprise Group says: pay up for visas or leave - Sunday Times (£)
Andrew Gimson and Sonia Purnell: The arguments for and against putting Boris in Downing Street
- Foreign Office warns Britons to avoid protests in Turkey – Sunday Telegraph
- A & E urge in cancelled operations - Observer
- Queen made final decision for Coronation to be televised – Mail on Sunday
- 230,000 classroom assistants face axe – Sunday Times (£)
- Investment in green energy falls to seven year low - Independent on Sunday
- Granny “died of shame” over town hall repair bill – Sunday Express
- Oliver Letwin’s staff corrected his Wikipedia entry – Mail on Sunday
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