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186 days ago
Conservative leader David Cameron (Image © PA) What’s happening? Conservative leader David Cameron has promised a radical reform of the political system to restore public faith in British democracy in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal. Writing in the Guardian, he declared he would trim back the powers of the prime minister and government and give MPs more influence over legislation. Cameron’s proposals to decentralise power would prompt the biggest change in the way Britain is governed in the modern era. What are people saying? “I believe the central objective of the new politics we need should be a massive, sweeping, radical redistribution of power,” Cameron wrote. “From the state to citizens; from the government to parliament; from Whitehall to communities. From the EU to Britain; from judges to the people; from bureaucracy to democracy. Through decentralisation, transparency and accountability we must take power away from the political elite and hand it ...191 days ago
(Joanna Lumley with Gurkha VC veterans Lachhiman Gurong (left) and Tul Bahador Pun/Image © John Stillwell/PA) What’s happening? Gurkhas have been granted the right to live in Britain in a dramatic u-turn by the government. About 36,000 Nepalese soldiers who left the British Army brigade before 1997 had previously been refused citizenship. Ministers were forced to rethink following the government’s humiliating defeat in the Commons last month. Veterans will now be given the same settlement rights as Commonwealth soldiers who fought on behalf of the UK. What are people saying? In a statement to the Commons at 12:15pm today, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said all Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and served more than four years would be able to bring their spouses and children with them to Britain. There will be no time limit on the policy and resources will be made available to the UK Borders Agency. "I'm delighted we have now been able to agree ...193 days ago
(Image © PA) What’s happening? Michael Martin has resigned as Speaker of the House of Commons over the MPs’ expenses scandal – the most high-profile victim of the crisis and the first speaker to be forced from office in more than 300 years. Twenty-three MPs signed a motion calling for him to step down for his role in trying to keep parliamentary expenses secret. When campaigners first tried to uncover details under the freedom of information act, the Commons Commission – of which Martin was chair – fought the case in the high court. It eventually lost and agreed to publish details later this year. When the Daily Telegraph published leaked claims, however, Martin drew further criticism by calling for a police investigation. What are people saying? Addressing the House of Commons at 2:30pm today, Martin spoke only briefly to confirm he would stand down on June 21 “in order that unity can be maintained” in the House. After the announcement, Tory ...219 days ago
MSN Money's post-Budget poll shows voters were unimpressed Yesterday’s Budget won’t save the Labour government at the next general election, political analysts say. Pollsters on both sides of the aisle gave dire predictions, ranging from manageable defeat to humiliating defeat, for the party after yesterday’s bad-news Budget. If Labour can’t convince voters it has a grip on the recession in the coming months, the analysts say, it risks being “completely wiped out” at the polls. Andrew Cooper, founder and strategic director of polling firm Populus, is a leading interpreter of political opinion. I asked him whether Chancellor Alistair Darling’s plans could help the government survive. “The short answer is no,” he said. “Voters are profoundly sceptical and won’t be swayed by what he has said. They’ll want to wait and see what happens.” ‘They give one and take two’ is a phrase he frequently hears in focus groups. “Although it sounds as though people are ...
