Journal Live - Blog Central

Tory MP: Reform "bonkers" House of Lords

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:44:08 +0000

AN unelected House of Lords is "bonkers", says Tory MP Guy Opperman.

The Hexham MP spoke out ahead of peers debating potential reforms this week.

Bring the House of Lords to Newcastle

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:51:36 +0000

What a

View of the House of Lords Chamber in the Palace of Westminster, London, looking from the galleries towards the Throne (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

n idea. Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, has backed in principle the idea of a reformed House of Lords moving to Tyneside.

Meanwhile, Parliament should move to the North, says the leader of Durham County Council. Simon Henig called for a radical shift of power out of London, declaring the Government's plans to overhaul the House of Lords were insufficient.

Ed Miliband says Jeremy Hunt should quit

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:48:32 +0000

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Jeremy Hunt should have been standing up for the interests of the British people. In fact, it now turns out he was standing up for the interests of the Murdochs.

"He should resign.

"He himself said that his duty was to be transparent, impartial and fair in the BSkyB takeover. But now we know that he was providing advice, guidance and privileged access to News Corporation. He was acting as a backchannel for the Murdochs.

"He cannot stay in his post. And if he refuses to resign, the Prime Minister must show some leadership and fire him."

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What Jeremy Hunt said on BSkyB last year...

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:26:12 +0000

This is an exchange in the House of Commons from January 20 last year:

Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab): When he expects to reach a decision on whether to refer to the Competition Commission the News Corporation bid for BSkyB.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt): I will take as much time as necessary to come to a considered decision on this very important issue.

Who will win battle over Newcastle mayor?

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:53:47 +0000

Could this give hope to supporters of those who want an elected mayor running Newcastle. That includes senior members of the Government.

Brian Moore, chairman of the yes campaign, said: "What we are seeing here is desperate politics by the no campaign trying to grab on to any lifeboat in a storm when they know the mandate that the leader of Newcastle City Council should have is through a ballot box.

"And it should be open to anyone in Newcastle and they should be elected by their peers, not by a group of self-interested councillors."

He told me that polling by the Newcastle First campaign group had found the no campaign was winning by 4%.

"We are behind. But there are 24% undecided still," said Mr Moore. "We still believe that we can win."

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Tory defection to UKIP

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:20:37 +0000

DAVID Cameron has been warned he faces a "flood" of defections to UKIP after a former Tory Parliamentary candidate switched parties.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage made the prediction as John Gough, who fought the Barrow and Furness seat in 2010, announced his decision to join UKIP.

He tried to win the seat after being narrowly beaten to be the candidate for the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Pressure for referendum on Lords reform rises

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 09:42:54 +0000

A former deputy of the Tories has added his voice to calls for a referendum on changes to the House of Lords.

Michael Bates, also a former minister, has joined Conservative MPS and Labour leader Ed Miliband in demanding a referendum on reform of the House of Lords.Labour peers also want Government proposals to overhaul the upper chamber to the people.

Killer blow for elected mayor of Newcastle?

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:10:21 +0000

TEN thousand letters will be landing on the doormats of union members in Newcastle urging them to vote against plans for an elected mayor.

Public sector union Unison is sending out the letters as it joins forces with other unions to campaign against a Boris Johnson-style mayor for the city.

Voters will have their say in a referendum on May 3 - with supporters saying an elected mayor would provide real leadership for the city, transforming its future.

Ed Balls on pasty tax vote & "flaky" chancellor

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:58:19 +0000

Ahead of a Commons vote on the pasty tax, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said: "These botched changes show how out of touch George Osborne is with ordinary families and businesses. We will be voting to force the Government to think again."

"The Government is putting a tax on pasties and other hot food without thinking through the consequences for businesses.

Will there be any Lib Dem MPs left in the North East?

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:23:47 +0000

There is a "real possibility" that the Liberal Democrats could lose all their MPs in the North East.

That's what Lib Dem Gateshead councillor Ron Beadle told me in the wake of a recent opinion poll raising the prospect of a near wipeout of the party at the next general election.

The party could lose all but seven of its 57 MPs at the 2015 general election, according to an opinion poll conducted in Lib Dem strongholds - based on redrawn boundaries.

Scotland "soft-soaped" says Labour MP

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:11:18 +0000

Scotland is sharing in a £190m boost thanks to money allocated to England to help its economy.

George Osborne announced last autumn an extra £1bn for the regional growth fund, which ministers created to boost private sector jobs in parts of England hit by public sector cuts.

But it has now emerged the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will share £190m of separate funding as a result of that decision.

Runners and riders for Labour nomination for key seat

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:07:27 +0000

THE battle within Labour to choose a candidate to try and win back Redcar from Liberal Democrat MP Ian Swales is hotting up.

Would-be MPs from across the country could join local activists in fighting to become Labour's candidate for a seat, which was until the last general election seen as a rock solid seat for Labour.

Three potential names have already emerged.

MPs' tax returns

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:02:26 +0000

A number of MPs I've been speaking to have signalled they'd be prepared to publish their tax returns. But they seriously doubt the value of such a move.

Gateshead MP Ian Mearns said: "People would be pretty bored with mine. It seems like a race to the bottom from my perspective.

"Let's actually have a debate in the first instance. But if people are massively interested, I would be prepared to. But I wouldn't promote it.

"But I think if for example ministers are going to benefit from tax changes, then that is in the public interest."

Who will win? Boris vs Ken...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:11:24 +0000

Who said they'd have bet on Boris winning in London?

Boris-johnson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It may raise an eyebrow, but a couple of Labour MPs metaphorically speaking.

"I would have put £1m on him to win the election," is what one said.

Another said: "My money would be on Boris winning."

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Transport strategy under spotlight

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:33:44 +0000

THE Government needs to do more to convince people that it has an "overarching" strategy on transport.

That's the finding of a "capability review" into the Department for Transport (DfT) covering 2011-12.

Here is an interesting part of the document:

"We could do more to highlight our overarching strategy, ensure that lessons are learned and improve partner and stakeholder engagement