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| Politics live blog: Monday 6 February 2012 | Politics live blog: Monday 6 February 2012 |
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| 12.37pm: Last night Downing Street put out words from David Cameron paying tribute to the Queen for the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Labour have now sent out Ed Miliband's tribute. | |
| For our country and our Commonwealth this is a day to pay tribute to the wise, tireless and trusted presence of our Queen. | |
| She has been a source of stability and security in a changing world during her 60 years on the throne providing guidance and comfort to all she meets. | |
| The Diamond Jubilee in June will be a chance to celebrate her reign. Today we should thank her for six decades of service. | |
| 11.50am: Here are the main points from the Number 10 lobby briefing. | |
| • Number 10 claimed that Justine Greening, the transport secretary, does not have the power to block individual bonuses at Network Rail. Greening will vote against the proposed bonus payments at Network Rail's annual general meeting on Friday, the prime minister's spokesman confirmed. He also confirmed that she had the power to appoint a special director to Network Rail's boad. But that director "would not have the authority to veto a particular pay award", the spokesman said. Asked why the government, which is encouraging "shareholder activism" as a means of curbing bonus payments, had not not displayed some activism of its own and appointed a special director, the spokesman said we needed to take that up with the Department for Transport. He gave the same answer when asked if the government was doing "all in its power" to stop the bonuses, and he was unable to clarify whether Greening had set the "framework" that is being used by Network Rail to determine its bonus payments. But he did say she would be announcing some proposals "to improve the governance" at Network Rail. | |
| • Number 10 said the decision by China and Russia to veto a UN security council resolution urging the Syrian president to step down was "incomprehensible and inexcusable". This was how the spokesman put it. | |
| Russia and China are protecting a regime that is killing thousands of people. We find their position both incomprehensible and inexcusable. By supporting that regime, they are strengthening it and allowing it to continue with that violence. | |
Britain wants to return to the UN with this issue, the spokesman said. "We hope that Russia and China will reconsider their position." Britain still wants to make progress on this, and William Hague will be saying more about it in his statement to the Commons this afternoon. • Downing Street defended Britain's decision to give aid to India. Asked about yesterday's story in the Sunday Telegraph about India saying it did not need the money, the spokesman said it was based on remarks that were a year old. Britain's aid programme was focused on the three poorest states in India. "We are doing that because a huge number of the poorest people in the world live in those states," he said | |
| • Number 10 rejected Ed Miliband's claim that scrapping the health bill could save 6,000 nursing jobs. Those figures were wrong, the spokesman said. | |
| • Number 10 refused to comment on reports that Barclays chief Bob Diamond is in line for a bonus of at least £8m. "I don't think it's right for me to get involved in commenting on lots of different individuals pay awards," the spokesman said. | |
| • Downing Street defended Heathrow's decision to cancel flights yesterday. The inquiry into the travel problems caused by the snow last year said that airports should decide earlier whether or not they were going to cancel flights so as to avoid large queues building up at terminals. Heathrow was following this recommendation at the weekend, the spokesman said. As a result, "we did not see these very large queues snaking out of airports". | |
| • Downing Street would not say how the government would vote in tomorrow's opposition day debate on bankers' bonuses. The spokesman said had not seen the text of the Labour motion. | |
| 11.47am: I'm just back from the lobby briefing. Number 10 are a bit wobbly on the issue of what the government can and cannot do to stop Network Rail executives sharing a £20m bonus pool. I'll post a summary in a moment. | 11.47am: I'm just back from the lobby briefing. Number 10 are a bit wobbly on the issue of what the government can and cannot do to stop Network Rail executives sharing a £20m bonus pool. I'll post a summary in a moment. |
| 10.47am: You can read all today's Guardian politics stories here. And all the politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here. | 10.47am: You can read all today's Guardian politics stories here. And all the politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here. |
| As for the rest of the papers, here are some stories and articles that are particularly interesting. • Christopher Hope in the Daily Telegraph says 102 Tory MPs have signed a letter to the paper saying David Cameron should demand the return of more than 100 crime and policing laws from the EU. | As for the rest of the papers, here are some stories and articles that are particularly interesting. • Christopher Hope in the Daily Telegraph says 102 Tory MPs have signed a letter to the paper saying David Cameron should demand the return of more than 100 crime and policing laws from the EU. |
| In a letter to The Telegraph, 102 Tory MPs urge the Prime Minister to "opt out" of 130 EU laws over the next two years. They warn that if he fails to do so, the transfer of powers to Europe will become irreversible. | In a letter to The Telegraph, 102 Tory MPs urge the Prime Minister to "opt out" of 130 EU laws over the next two years. They warn that if he fails to do so, the transfer of powers to Europe will become irreversible. |
| The powers include the European Arrest Warrant, under which 200 British nationals have been surrendered to Continental prosecutors, and a requirement for DNA and fingerprints to be shared with European police forces. The letter has been signed by two former cabinet ministers, more than half the influential backbench 1922 Committee and several committee chairmen. | The powers include the European Arrest Warrant, under which 200 British nationals have been surrendered to Continental prosecutors, and a requirement for DNA and fingerprints to be shared with European police forces. The letter has been signed by two former cabinet ministers, more than half the influential backbench 1922 Committee and several committee chairmen. |
| The MPs organising the letter insist that it is intended to be a positive contribution to the debate on Europe, but it threatens a new confrontation between Mr Cameron and backbenchers, who are demanding further repatriation of powers after successfully lobbying him to veto a new EU treaty at a summit in Brussels in December. | The MPs organising the letter insist that it is intended to be a positive contribution to the debate on Europe, but it threatens a new confrontation between Mr Cameron and backbenchers, who are demanding further repatriation of powers after successfully lobbying him to veto a new EU treaty at a summit in Brussels in December. |
| • Andrew Grice in the Independent says Nick Clegg and Ed Davey will today reject calls from Tory MPs for subsidies to windfarms to be cut. | • Andrew Grice in the Independent says Nick Clegg and Ed Davey will today reject calls from Tory MPs for subsidies to windfarms to be cut. |
| Ed Davey, the Energy and Climate Secretary, will also make clear he is a firm supporter of "green energy" and will not bow to Tory pressure. The demand, in a letter to David Cameron, is seen as a test of Mr Davey's environmental credentials after he succeeded Chris Huhne, who quit on Friday. In a joint appearance today, Mr Clegg and Mr Davey will seek to reassure green groups that Mr Huhne's departure will not dilute the Coalition's commitment to their cause. Visiting a test site for green homes in Watford, the Deputy Prime Minister will say: "The choice for the UK is simple: wake up, or end up playing catch up. In today's world the savviest states understand that going for growth means going green. Low-carbon markets are the next frontier in the battle for global pre-eminence. | Ed Davey, the Energy and Climate Secretary, will also make clear he is a firm supporter of "green energy" and will not bow to Tory pressure. The demand, in a letter to David Cameron, is seen as a test of Mr Davey's environmental credentials after he succeeded Chris Huhne, who quit on Friday. In a joint appearance today, Mr Clegg and Mr Davey will seek to reassure green groups that Mr Huhne's departure will not dilute the Coalition's commitment to their cause. Visiting a test site for green homes in Watford, the Deputy Prime Minister will say: "The choice for the UK is simple: wake up, or end up playing catch up. In today's world the savviest states understand that going for growth means going green. Low-carbon markets are the next frontier in the battle for global pre-eminence. |
| Mr Davey will say: "There may have been a change at the helm, but there'll be no change in direction or ambition." | Mr Davey will say: "There may have been a change at the helm, but there'll be no change in direction or ambition." |
| • Oliver Wright in the Independent says an unprecedented number of senior civil servants are now leaving their posts. | • Oliver Wright in the Independent says an unprecedented number of senior civil servants are now leaving their posts. |
| The Government is dealing with an unprecedented churn of senior civil servants with a majority of ministers now in posts for longer periods than their permanent secretaries. Staff turnover rates in some departments are now as high as 30 per cent, according to an analysis by the respected think-tank the Institute for Government. | The Government is dealing with an unprecedented churn of senior civil servants with a majority of ministers now in posts for longer periods than their permanent secretaries. Staff turnover rates in some departments are now as high as 30 per cent, according to an analysis by the respected think-tank the Institute for Government. |
| The situation is particularly acute at the very top of the civil service and within Downing Street, with an extraordinary turnover of officials over the last 16 months. The institute warns that, at a time when the Government is attempting to make significant public-sector savings, the loss of institutional knowledge could adversely affect the running of departments. | The situation is particularly acute at the very top of the civil service and within Downing Street, with an extraordinary turnover of officials over the last 16 months. The institute warns that, at a time when the Government is attempting to make significant public-sector savings, the loss of institutional knowledge could adversely affect the running of departments. |
• Anushka Asthana in the Times (paywall) says Emma Harrison, the government's "family champion", has criticised the welfare cap as a "populist" policy that could harm some vulnerable individuals. | • Anushka Asthana in the Times (paywall) says Emma Harrison, the government's "family champion", has criticised the welfare cap as a "populist" policy that could harm some vulnerable individuals. |
| Emma Harrison said that she was particularly fearful for couples she knew who were full-time carers for two or three disabled children. | Emma Harrison said that she was particularly fearful for couples she knew who were full-time carers for two or three disabled children. |
| "I'm just a little worried by the extremely vulnerable families who could be caught by a populist movement," she said. "We live in this amazing country. It's a civilised country and let's not harm the most vulnerable people." Ms Harrison was appointed as the Prime Minister's "family champion" after the riots last summer. She is charged with turning around the lives of 120,000 troubled British families. She has a track record in welfare-to-work programmes, having founded A4e, which helps people to get jobs. | "I'm just a little worried by the extremely vulnerable families who could be caught by a populist movement," she said. "We live in this amazing country. It's a civilised country and let's not harm the most vulnerable people." Ms Harrison was appointed as the Prime Minister's "family champion" after the riots last summer. She is charged with turning around the lives of 120,000 troubled British families. She has a track record in welfare-to-work programmes, having founded A4e, which helps people to get jobs. |
| • Caroline McGuire and Stuart Pink in the Sun say Daniel Radcliffe, the Harry Potter star, has switched allegiance from the Lib Dems to Labour. | • Caroline McGuire and Stuart Pink in the Sun say Daniel Radcliffe, the Harry Potter star, has switched allegiance from the Lib Dems to Labour. |
| The actor, 22, was a vocal supporter of the Lib Dem leader in the run-up to the last General Election. | The actor, 22, was a vocal supporter of the Lib Dem leader in the run-up to the last General Election. |
| But he thinks backing him has become "unviable" since Mr Clegg became Deputy Prime Minister in the Coalition. | But he thinks backing him has become "unviable" since Mr Clegg became Deputy Prime Minister in the Coalition. |
| Daniel said: "Nick Clegg has become a whipping boy. | Daniel said: "Nick Clegg has become a whipping boy. |
| "He has been totally used by the Tories. Anything they don't want badly reflected on them, they reflect on to him. | "He has been totally used by the Tories. Anything they don't want badly reflected on them, they reflect on to him. |
| • Boris Johnson in his Daily Telegraph column imagines what would have happened if Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder, had been British. | • Boris Johnson in his Daily Telegraph column imagines what would have happened if Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder, had been British. |
Let us imagine a British Zuckerberg. He and his fellow billionaires would be the object not just of envy, but of resentment. There would be debates in Parliament, instigated by Ed Miliband, about the scale of his prospective wealth, and whether it was tolerable in a fair society. Wherever he lived, the British Zuckerberg would be tracked down by anti-capitalist protesters, and even now, in all likelihood, the pop-up tents would be appearing on his lawn. His new-found wealth, in short, would not be the subject of simple amazement. It would provoke amazement and a fair degree of rage; and that – to put it mildly – is not a climate that is conducive to wealth creation. | Let us imagine a British Zuckerberg. He and his fellow billionaires would be the object not just of envy, but of resentment. There would be debates in Parliament, instigated by Ed Miliband, about the scale of his prospective wealth, and whether it was tolerable in a fair society. Wherever he lived, the British Zuckerberg would be tracked down by anti-capitalist protesters, and even now, in all likelihood, the pop-up tents would be appearing on his lawn. His new-found wealth, in short, would not be the subject of simple amazement. It would provoke amazement and a fair degree of rage; and that – to put it mildly – is not a climate that is conducive to wealth creation. |
| I'm off to the Number 10 lobby briefing now. I'll post again after 11.30am. | I'm off to the Number 10 lobby briefing now. I'll post again after 11.30am. |
| 10.36am: William Hague is going to answer an urgent question on the violence in Syria at 3.30pm, according to Sky. | 10.36am: William Hague is going to answer an urgent question on the violence in Syria at 3.30pm, according to Sky. |
| 10.20am: Today's Leveson inquiry hearings should be good. Sue Akers, the Scotland Yard deputy assistant commissioner in charge of the phone hacking inquiry, has just started giving evidene, and Paul Dacre, the Daily Mail editor, will be giving evidence this afternoon. There is full coverage on our live blog. | 10.20am: Today's Leveson inquiry hearings should be good. Sue Akers, the Scotland Yard deputy assistant commissioner in charge of the phone hacking inquiry, has just started giving evidene, and Paul Dacre, the Daily Mail editor, will be giving evidence this afternoon. There is full coverage on our live blog. |
| 9.58am: Thurrock is going to get a referendum on whether or not there should be a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union. Last month the People's Pledge, the group campaigning for an in/out poll, announced that they would be having postal ballots in individual constituencies and today they've revealed that they are going to start in Thurrock, on Thursday 5 April. Every adult in the constituency will get a ballot paper through the post. It's just a vote on whether or not there should be a referendum and, since people tend to answer yes to questions like that and since no one is likely to campaign against, the result it easy to predict. But the organisers think that if they get more than 75% voting yes, on a turnout of 20% or more, that will count as a success and that pressure for a nationwide referendum will increase. | 9.58am: Thurrock is going to get a referendum on whether or not there should be a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union. Last month the People's Pledge, the group campaigning for an in/out poll, announced that they would be having postal ballots in individual constituencies and today they've revealed that they are going to start in Thurrock, on Thursday 5 April. Every adult in the constituency will get a ballot paper through the post. It's just a vote on whether or not there should be a referendum and, since people tend to answer yes to questions like that and since no one is likely to campaign against, the result it easy to predict. But the organisers think that if they get more than 75% voting yes, on a turnout of 20% or more, that will count as a success and that pressure for a nationwide referendum will increase. |
| 9.19am: Kenneth Clarke, the justice secretary, is today publishing plans to give divorced and separated fathers stronger rights to see their children. Here's what the Press Association have filed about the changes. | 9.19am: Kenneth Clarke, the justice secretary, is today publishing plans to give divorced and separated fathers stronger rights to see their children. Here's what the Press Association have filed about the changes. |
Proposals to give stronger rights for divorced and separated fathers to see their children will be published by Justice Secretary Ken Clarke today. Grandparents are also expected to see their influence boosted in the wake of a split as part of reforms of the family justice system. The key change in the process is the introduction of rules making clearer that it is vital youngsters enjoyed "an ongoing relationship with both parents". Ministers have signalled that they will not offer the guarantee of equal access demanded by some fathers' rights groups but want to ensure no loving parent is "pushed out". The change forms part of the government's response to a review led by former Whitehall mandarin David Norgrove - but is directly at odds with one of his main findings. Norgrove voiced his "regret" last week that a legal right would be included despite his report warning it could cause "confusion, misinterpretation and false expectations". Similar changes in Australia led to delays in resolving custody disputes, he cautioned. In a bid to prevent custody cases reaching the courts in the first place, the overnment will promise an extra £10 million for mediation services. But where parents do end up going to law, it will examine ways to amend legislation to ensure no parent is excluded unless they pose a safety or welfare risk. A working group is expected to be formed to examine potential changes to the Children's Act 1989 to embed the new rights. | Proposals to give stronger rights for divorced and separated fathers to see their children will be published by Justice Secretary Ken Clarke today. Grandparents are also expected to see their influence boosted in the wake of a split as part of reforms of the family justice system. The key change in the process is the introduction of rules making clearer that it is vital youngsters enjoyed "an ongoing relationship with both parents". Ministers have signalled that they will not offer the guarantee of equal access demanded by some fathers' rights groups but want to ensure no loving parent is "pushed out". The change forms part of the government's response to a review led by former Whitehall mandarin David Norgrove - but is directly at odds with one of his main findings. Norgrove voiced his "regret" last week that a legal right would be included despite his report warning it could cause "confusion, misinterpretation and false expectations". Similar changes in Australia led to delays in resolving custody disputes, he cautioned. In a bid to prevent custody cases reaching the courts in the first place, the overnment will promise an extra £10 million for mediation services. But where parents do end up going to law, it will examine ways to amend legislation to ensure no parent is excluded unless they pose a safety or welfare risk. A working group is expected to be formed to examine potential changes to the Children's Act 1989 to embed the new rights. |
| And here's how Clarke explained on the Today programme his decision to ignore the Norgrove recommendation about not enshrining the new rights in law. | And here's how Clarke explained on the Today programme his decision to ignore the Norgrove recommendation about not enshrining the new rights in law. |
| We are stating what I think is the view of most people which is that both parents have responsibilities and rights towards their children and the children are entitled to try and maintain contact with both parents if it's at all possible. But what we are doing is going to state that principle in the law, because there are far too many people who think it's not being applied - although I do think the courts do apply it and try to apply it in most cases. | We are stating what I think is the view of most people which is that both parents have responsibilities and rights towards their children and the children are entitled to try and maintain contact with both parents if it's at all possible. But what we are doing is going to state that principle in the law, because there are far too many people who think it's not being applied - although I do think the courts do apply it and try to apply it in most cases. |
| But we are also going to have to draft what we do to avoid all the undoubted dangers in Australia which caused David Norgrove and his colleagues to be hesitant. | But we are also going to have to draft what we do to avoid all the undoubted dangers in Australia which caused David Norgrove and his colleagues to be hesitant. |
| 8.57am: David Miliband's Commission on Youth Unemployment claims that youth unemployment will cost the Treasury £28bn over the next decade. Here's an extract from the report (pdf). | 8.57am: David Miliband's Commission on Youth Unemployment claims that youth unemployment will cost the Treasury £28bn over the next decade. Here's an extract from the report (pdf). |
| The human misery of youth unemployment is also a time-bomb under the nation's finances. We have done new research on the cash costs of youth unemployment. Even we were surprised. At its current rates, in 2012 youth unemployment will cost the exchequer £4.8 billion (more than the budget for further education for 16- to- 19-year-olds in England) and cost the economy £10.7 billion in lost output. But the costs are not just temporary. The scarring effects of youth unemployment at its current levels will ratchet up further future costs of £2.9 billion per year for the exchequer (equivalent to the entire annual budget for Jobcentre Plus) and £6.3 billion p.a. for the economy in lost output. The net present value of the cost to the Treasury, even looking only a decade ahead, is approximately £28 billion. | The human misery of youth unemployment is also a time-bomb under the nation's finances. We have done new research on the cash costs of youth unemployment. Even we were surprised. At its current rates, in 2012 youth unemployment will cost the exchequer £4.8 billion (more than the budget for further education for 16- to- 19-year-olds in England) and cost the economy £10.7 billion in lost output. But the costs are not just temporary. The scarring effects of youth unemployment at its current levels will ratchet up further future costs of £2.9 billion per year for the exchequer (equivalent to the entire annual budget for Jobcentre Plus) and £6.3 billion p.a. for the economy in lost output. The net present value of the cost to the Treasury, even looking only a decade ahead, is approximately £28 billion. |
The report also contains a powerful section saying that claims that immigration, the benefits system or the minimum wage are driving up youth unemployment are "largely red herrings". | The report also contains a powerful section saying that claims that immigration, the benefits system or the minimum wage are driving up youth unemployment are "largely red herrings". |
In the main, the benefit system does not disincentivise young people from working. We did hear of cases where inflexibility in the way benefits and other support are provided, or fear surrounding how they might change, made it harder for young people to take on jobs or volunteering opportunities that would make them more employable. For instance, we heard of one case of young people in care receiving poor advice on the impact employment would have on their benefits, making them scared to apply for a job; and of another case of young people worried about the impact employment would have on their levels of housing benefit. But in the main it is clear that the benefit system does not disincentivise young people from working. Analysis undertaken for the Commission found that 81% of 16- to 17-year-olds not in employment, education or training claim no benefits at all, and the equivalent figure for 18- to 24-year-olds is 35%. Those young people who do claim benefits would be significantly better off in work, on average earning an extra £2,300 - £3,700 per year in employment. Equally, immigration does not appear to lead to youth unemployment. Academic research finds either no evidence that immigration results in rises in youth unemployment, or evidence that it causes a rise which could only explain a fraction of the rise in NEET [not in education, employment or training] levels in the UK between 2004 and 2008, whilst our examination of the rise in NEET levels after 2004 could find no positive link to immigration (indeed the rise in NEET levels was highest in some of the regions least affected by immigration). A further recent report by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) found no impact from migration on claimant unemployment. Similarly, research undertaken for the Commission found that the minimum wage appears not to have been a significant contributor to the rise in youth unemployment before 2008, with a big majority of employers paying young people above the minimum wage, and that majority staying relatively constant over the period in question. | In the main, the benefit system does not disincentivise young people from working. We did hear of cases where inflexibility in the way benefits and other support are provided, or fear surrounding how they might change, made it harder for young people to take on jobs or volunteering opportunities that would make them more employable. For instance, we heard of one case of young people in care receiving poor advice on the impact employment would have on their benefits, making them scared to apply for a job; and of another case of young people worried about the impact employment would have on their levels of housing benefit. But in the main it is clear that the benefit system does not disincentivise young people from working. Analysis undertaken for the Commission found that 81% of 16- to 17-year-olds not in employment, education or training claim no benefits at all, and the equivalent figure for 18- to 24-year-olds is 35%. Those young people who do claim benefits would be significantly better off in work, on average earning an extra £2,300 - £3,700 per year in employment. Equally, immigration does not appear to lead to youth unemployment. Academic research finds either no evidence that immigration results in rises in youth unemployment, or evidence that it causes a rise which could only explain a fraction of the rise in NEET [not in education, employment or training] levels in the UK between 2004 and 2008, whilst our examination of the rise in NEET levels after 2004 could find no positive link to immigration (indeed the rise in NEET levels was highest in some of the regions least affected by immigration). A further recent report by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) found no impact from migration on claimant unemployment. Similarly, research undertaken for the Commission found that the minimum wage appears not to have been a significant contributor to the rise in youth unemployment before 2008, with a big majority of employers paying young people above the minimum wage, and that majority staying relatively constant over the period in question. |
| The research (available in full in the appendix) found that the minimum wage could now start to have an influence on young people's employment prospects (which the Low Pay Commission will need to monitor, as they have done successfully so far), but that it cannot be blamed for the rise in youth unemployment to date. | The research (available in full in the appendix) found that the minimum wage could now start to have an influence on young people's employment prospects (which the Low Pay Commission will need to monitor, as they have done successfully so far), but that it cannot be blamed for the rise in youth unemployment to date. |
| 8.45am: David Miliband doesn't want to return to the shadow cabinet. He chaired a Commission on Youth Unemployment for ACEVO (the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) and, in an interview about it with BBC Breakfast earlier, he said that suggestions that he might return to the Labour front bench were "flattering" but that he lost the leadership election. | 8.45am: David Miliband doesn't want to return to the shadow cabinet. He chaired a Commission on Youth Unemployment for ACEVO (the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) and, in an interview about it with BBC Breakfast earlier, he said that suggestions that he might return to the Labour front bench were "flattering" but that he lost the leadership election. |
| Ed needs the space to lead the Labour Party as he sees fit. I can help Labour at the grassroots. I am trying to make sure we are taking our message all over the country and not being in the shadow cabinet allows me to do that. I can minimise the amount of soap opera by not being in the shadow cabinet. | Ed needs the space to lead the Labour Party as he sees fit. I can help Labour at the grassroots. I am trying to make sure we are taking our message all over the country and not being in the shadow cabinet allows me to do that. I can minimise the amount of soap opera by not being in the shadow cabinet. |
| He also gave his brother a firm endorsement. | He also gave his brother a firm endorsement. |
| I think that the really important thing is that the country sees that the Labour party is renewing itself, which it is under Ed's leadership; that it's able to have real discussion about the future of the country; and that it addresses these big issues because an issue like youth unemployment is a sort of thing that brings all the of us into politics in the first place ... Ed has been elected to fight the next election. I think he's going to fight the next election with real courage and conviction and I think it's up to all of us to make sure he wins the next election and serves as prime minister. | I think that the really important thing is that the country sees that the Labour party is renewing itself, which it is under Ed's leadership; that it's able to have real discussion about the future of the country; and that it addresses these big issues because an issue like youth unemployment is a sort of thing that brings all the of us into politics in the first place ... Ed has been elected to fight the next election. I think he's going to fight the next election with real courage and conviction and I think it's up to all of us to make sure he wins the next election and serves as prime minister. |
| You can read a press notice about the Commission on Youth Unemployment report here (pdf) and the 128-page report itself here (pdf). I'll be taking a look at it later. | You can read a press notice about the Commission on Youth Unemployment report here (pdf) and the 128-page report itself here (pdf). I'll be taking a look at it later. |
| Otherwise, it's a patchy day. Here's the agenda | Otherwise, it's a patchy day. Here's the agenda |
| 8.45am: Ed Davey, the new energy secretary, is visiting an environmental consultancy with Nick Clegg. | 8.45am: Ed Davey, the new energy secretary, is visiting an environmental consultancy with Nick Clegg. |
| 10am: The Leveson inquiry resumes. Sue Akers, the Metropolitan police deputy assistant commissioner who is leading the phone hacking investigation, and Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre are giving evidence. | 10am: The Leveson inquiry resumes. Sue Akers, the Metropolitan police deputy assistant commissioner who is leading the phone hacking investigation, and Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre are giving evidence. |
| 10am: Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, is announcing an anti-fraud strategy at the fraud, error and debt conference. | 10am: Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, is announcing an anti-fraud strategy at the fraud, error and debt conference. |
| 10.45am: Ed Miliband visits a hospital to highlight his claim that dropping the health bill could save 6,000 nursing jobs. | 10.45am: Ed Miliband visits a hospital to highlight his claim that dropping the health bill could save 6,000 nursing jobs. |
| 2.15pm: Alex Hall, Jeremy Clarkson's ex-wife, gives evidence to the joint committee on privacy and injunctions. | 2.15pm: Alex Hall, Jeremy Clarkson's ex-wife, gives evidence to the joint committee on privacy and injunctions. |
| 2.30pm: Theresa May, the home secretary, answers questions in the Commons. | 2.30pm: Theresa May, the home secretary, answers questions in the Commons. |
| 3.15pm: Sir Bob Kerslake, the new head of the civil service, and Sir Nicholas Macpherson, permanent secretary at the Treasury, give evidence to the Commons public accounts committee about accountability. | 3.15pm: Sir Bob Kerslake, the new head of the civil service, and Sir Nicholas Macpherson, permanent secretary at the Treasury, give evidence to the Commons public accounts committee about accountability. |
| As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm and another at around 4pm. | As usual, I'll be covering all the breaking political news, as well as looking at the papers and bringing you the best politics from the web. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm and another at around 4pm. |
| If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. |
| And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. | And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. |