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Nick Clegg launches Lib Dems' 2012 local election campaign: Politics live blog Nick Clegg launches Lib Dems' 2012 local election campaign: Politics live blog
(40 minutes later)
9.21am: As Jessica Shepherd reports in the Guardian today, Michael Gove, the education secretary, wants universities to take charge of setting A-levels. Christine Blower, the National Union of Teachers general secretary, told the Today programme that she was disappointed that Gove had not consulted the profession first. I've taken her quote from PoliticsHome.
I think Michael Gove is always looking for a golden past, isn't he. But what I would say about this is it's a little disappointing that he's written to Ofqual without having had this discussion with the profession, because the fact is he also says in his letter that A-levels have a lot to commend them, and he also says that students becoming undergraduates have become much better at communication, at presentation, and at team work and that what he's actually looking for is a lot more independent thinking, a lot more critical thinking, wider reading and ability to experiment.
Blower said she was not opposed to reforming A-levels. But she went on: "What we don't want is to have proposals put to us on a take-it-or-leave-it basis."
9.11am: The Lib Dems have released some extracts from the speech Nick Clegg will deliver at his local election launch later. Here's an extract.

This is the time to be proud to be a Liberal Democrat. We've always worked hard and delivered for people locally but for the first time in living memory, we are doing that nationally too ..
The Liberal Democrats are delivering for ordinary people in government. Over the next week, our policies will mean nearly 25m people will get a £130 tax cut on top of the £200 tax cut we gave them last year.
Schools will get over £1bn more through our Pupil Premium to help the most disadvantaged children and pensioners will see the biggest ever cash rise in the state pension of £5.30 a week.
My top priority is jobs and growth, in Stockport, Liberal Democrats are leading the way with the highest increase in the number of new business start-ups in the north west and the highest number of new 16-18 advanced and higher apprenticeships in Greater Manchester.
8.59am: There was a fascinating snippet from Mark Easton on the Today programme just now. Apparently at the Department for Communities they talk of TAFKARs - The Areas Formerly Known As Regions. That's because the coalition is so hostile to the (Labour and EU) notion of dividing the UK into regions. Tory geography tends to put more emphasis on towns, cities and shire counties.8.59am: There was a fascinating snippet from Mark Easton on the Today programme just now. Apparently at the Department for Communities they talk of TAFKARs - The Areas Formerly Known As Regions. That's because the coalition is so hostile to the (Labour and EU) notion of dividing the UK into regions. Tory geography tends to put more emphasis on towns, cities and shire counties.
8.50am: With parliament in recess, the political parties are now starting to focus on next month's local elections. Ed Miliband launched the Labour campaign yesterday, and Nick Clegg is launching the Lib Dem one this afternoon. In the Guardian today Tony Travers has an article explaining what's at stake.8.50am: With parliament in recess, the political parties are now starting to focus on next month's local elections. Ed Miliband launched the Labour campaign yesterday, and Nick Clegg is launching the Lib Dem one this afternoon. In the Guardian today Tony Travers has an article explaining what's at stake.
On 3 May, all three parties will be under pressure to elicit from voters a response that will be seen to outperform their present unpromising standing.On 3 May, all three parties will be under pressure to elicit from voters a response that will be seen to outperform their present unpromising standing.
The Conservatives badly need to steady nerves after their spate of unforced errors, Labour is recovering from its dreadful defeat in Bradford, and the Liberal Democrats will be fearful of another battering of the kind they got in last year's local elections.The Conservatives badly need to steady nerves after their spate of unforced errors, Labour is recovering from its dreadful defeat in Bradford, and the Liberal Democrats will be fearful of another battering of the kind they got in last year's local elections.
At stake is voting for a third of the council seats in each of the 36 English metropolitan districts; a third of seats in 16 unitary authorities (plus two, Hartlepool and Swindon where all seats are voting, due to boundary changes); and various proportions of the seats in 74 shire districts (63 by thirds, seven for half the seats, and four all-out).At stake is voting for a third of the council seats in each of the 36 English metropolitan districts; a third of seats in 16 unitary authorities (plus two, Hartlepool and Swindon where all seats are voting, due to boundary changes); and various proportions of the seats in 74 shire districts (63 by thirds, seven for half the seats, and four all-out).
I'll be covering the Lib Dem campaign in detail later.I'll be covering the Lib Dem campaign in detail later.
Otherwise, it's a patchy day. Here's the agenda.Otherwise, it's a patchy day. Here's the agenda.
9am: LBC hosts a London mayoral debate with Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone, Brian Paddick and Jenny Jones. My colleague Paul Owen is covering it on our London mayoral elections live blog.9am: LBC hosts a London mayoral debate with Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone, Brian Paddick and Jenny Jones. My colleague Paul Owen is covering it on our London mayoral elections live blog.
10am: Lucy Panton, the former News of the World crime editor, gives evidence to the Leveson inquiry.10am: Lucy Panton, the former News of the World crime editor, gives evidence to the Leveson inquiry.
Morning: David Cameron visits south west London today to publicise the government's new right-to-buy scheme for social housing. As Nicholas Watt reports, tenants will qualify for discounts worth up to £75,000.Morning: David Cameron visits south west London today to publicise the government's new right-to-buy scheme for social housing. As Nicholas Watt reports, tenants will qualify for discounts worth up to £75,000.
11am: Nick Clegg visits the Bentley factory in Crewe to announce that it has secured £3m from the regional growth fund.11am: Nick Clegg visits the Bentley factory in Crewe to announce that it has secured £3m from the regional growth fund.
3pm: Clegg launches the Lib Dem local election campaign at a meeting with apprentices in Stockport.3pm: Clegg launches the Lib Dem local election campaign at a meeting with apprentices in Stockport.
At some point today Stephen Twigg, the shadow education secretary, is addressing the Association of Teachers and Lecturers conference in Manchester. He is going to say that it is a "national scandal" that poorer pupils are lagging up to a year behind their richer classmates in their schooling.At some point today Stephen Twigg, the shadow education secretary, is addressing the Association of Teachers and Lecturers conference in Manchester. He is going to say that it is a "national scandal" that poorer pupils are lagging up to a year behind their richer classmates in their schooling.
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 in the afternoon.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 in the afternoon.
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.