Recently in William Green Category

MPs expenses - what a mess

By William Green on Feb 4, 10 01:18 PM

WHAT a mess. A year after the expenses scandal first blew up, the stench lingers on.

It took newspaper journalists to shame Parliament into action, after years of doing nothing to deal with the expenses crisis.

Angry MPs first blasted the media for even daring to cover the story, but as public anger exploded, a major inquiry was launched.

Cabinet will discuss electoral reform tomorrow

By William Green on Feb 1, 10 09:13 PM

Nick Brown, North East Minister and Chief Whip, has confirmed electoral reform will be discussed at today's Cabinet.

"The Cabinet tomorrow will consider a proposal to legislative for a referendum on AV. It is a long established policy of the Labour party to make no changes to the Westminster voting system without asking the British people first.

"The change that is proposed is AV. This means you could rank the candidates you wanted to vote for in order."

Government orders info on would-be MPs

By William Green on Feb 1, 10 06:33 PM

Should this be something to worry about or note? The Government has got a public affairs agency - linked to a Labour minister - to compile information on Parliamentary candidates and which party may win which seats?

The documents prepared by Connect Public Affairs and released by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) make very interesting reading.

There are two run downs of Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs), the latest being from last April and November - and any link to the expenses scandal. It also suggests who will win the seat.

Now, is that something that a Government department should be worrying about?

What will we learn?

By William Green on Jan 29, 10 09:19 AM

So Tony Blair is before the Iraq War inquiry in 10 minutes. What will we learn?

Well unless the ex-PM has some sort of road to Damascus moment, it could boil down to the usual argument.

He thinks the war was just and legal, while others think the opposite. And whatever he says will not change that.

An apology for mistakes though would be nice though. How about a lack of planning post-conflict and equipment problems would be a start.

Will be tweeting through the day. Click here to go to my twitter feed.

Tories clear on RDAs - maybe not

By William Green on Jan 28, 10 05:10 PM

Further to my last blog, Ken Clarke has now pronounced on the future of Regional Development Agencies.

Or rather, he has muddied the water. I thought Michael Bates's rundown had provided some clarity - but now this has been cast into doubt.

Everyone thought the Tories wanted shot of them.

But Shadow Business Secretary Clarke said: "The only document we put out is not clear, not totally clear, and we are attempting to finalise it."

Tory plans to boost prosperity in regions

By William Green on Jan 27, 10 04:27 PM

Tory peer Michael Bates has given more details about his party's plans to boost regional prosperity if David Cameron wins power.

He said "big Government" had failed to cut the wealth gap with the South and left the region more dependent on public sector jobs.

Under Tory proposals, regional development agency One North East will become at least one "enterprise partnership" headed by council and business leaders.

"The most crucial need over the next 10 to 20 years in the North East is to embrace entrepreneurialism," said Lord Bates.

Might Mandelson fancy a punt?

By William Green on Jan 26, 10 02:32 PM

News in that another Labour MP is announcing he will quit at the next general election.

But interestingly, the decision by Tyne Bridge's David Clelland opens up a vacancy for the plum seat of Gateshead.

Obviously, there have been lots of rumours about Lord Mandelson fancying his chances with a return to the Commons - perhaps to take the crown.

And given we are now so near to the general election, national Labour chiefs now steer the process to find a new candidate.

Anyone voting Tory is a "turkey"

By William Green on Jan 25, 10 09:54 PM

Thinking of voting Tory at the general election. Well, one North East MP says don't in pretty clear terms.

"Those ordinary working families who contemplate voting Tory would be turkeys voting for Christmas," said Tyne Bridge's David Clelland. That was in December Parliamentary report.

But to underline his message, the Labour MP said it again in his January report on his website:

"Certainly, any local government or public sector worker who contemplates voting Tory would be a turkey voting for Christmas.

"We've got to get out and about now, spelling out the dangers but also highlighting
the opportunities that the recovery can bring to young and old alike.

Cameron yet to seal election deal

By William Green on Jan 23, 10 07:38 PM

New polls in tomorrow's News of the World and Sunday Mirrror make very interesting reading.

Tories will be five short of a Commons majority, according to Sunday Mirror/ComRes poll. Hung Parliament, it suggests.

And News of the World, says it will be 38 majority for Cameron.

So there is yet everything to play for, suggestion Cameron still has his work cut out.

But on top of that, if the result is tight there will be uncertainty about who wins. Many seats are not being counted until the day after...

The power of twitter

By William Green on Jan 21, 10 09:56 PM

I only joined twitter two days ago, but I am a convert now. It has an instant interaction that is superb.

That included Charle Whelan - Gordon Brown's old spin doctor - to tell me that Labour will win the election.

And now Foreign Secretary David Miliband has tweeted back to say:

"Government and Foreign and Commonwealth Office overseas counter-terrorism spend going up. Both higher this year than last and next year higher than this."

Click here to go to my twitter feed.

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