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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) | |
| 11.26am: Nick Clegg is in Crewe announcing a £3m grant for Bentley Motors from the regional growth fund. The RGF is intended to draw in private sector investment and Clegg says it will safeguard 200 jobs and create another 500 jobs. | |
| Here's an extract from the news release. | |
| The [£3m of funding] will be used by the world-famous company, which has manufactured luxury cars since 1919, to fund an innovative new engine research and development project which will help the business expand into new overseas markets, including China. Over £20m of private investment has been secured for the project alongside £3m government funding. | |
| And here's a quote from Clegg. | |
| Today's announcement is just the tip of the iceberg for the North West. All in all 47 bids to the Regional Growth Fund have been approved. This will mean over 13,000 new and protected jobs across the region and over 41,000 supply chain jobs. | |
| 10.57am: The LBC mayoral debate seemed relatively tame from what I read on our live blog, but the debate in the lift afterwards between Boris Johnson (pictured) and Ken Livingstone was ferocious, according to my colleague Hélène Mulholland. This is what she has has posted on the blog. | 10.57am: The LBC mayoral debate seemed relatively tame from what I read on our live blog, but the debate in the lift afterwards between Boris Johnson (pictured) and Ken Livingstone was ferocious, according to my colleague Hélène Mulholland. This is what she has has posted on the blog. |
| We've learned that things did not go well in the lift after the hustings was over. Boris went nose to nose with Ken in a small lift and told Ken three times: "You're a fucking liar, you're a fucking liar, you're a fucking liar." Paddick and Jenny were also squeezed in, alongside James Rea, the LBC managing editor. Johnson's anger was due to claims made during the hustings by Livingstone about Johnson's tax arrangements, which the mayor flatly denies. He told me later that Ken's claims were "nonsense". Of course at that point we hadn't heard about the ding-dong in the lift. | |
| London Tonight's political correspondent Simon Harris has got more on Twitter. | London Tonight's political correspondent Simon Harris has got more on Twitter. |
| Sources say Johnson and Livingstone"nose to nose". Johnson 's face "red with rage" @londontonight | Sources say Johnson and Livingstone"nose to nose". Johnson 's face "red with rage" @londontonight |
| — Simon Harris (@simonharrisitv) April 3, 2012 | — Simon Harris (@simonharrisitv) April 3, 2012 |
| During the debate Livingstone said that Johnson had set up his own company called "Finland Station". Johnson said that he has never used a company to channel income, in the way that Livingstone has done. Johnson has just put out a news release accusing Livingstone of lying. Here's an extract. | During the debate Livingstone said that Johnson had set up his own company called "Finland Station". Johnson said that he has never used a company to channel income, in the way that Livingstone has done. Johnson has just put out a news release accusing Livingstone of lying. Here's an extract. |
My salary as Mayor is taxed as an employee of the GLA. In the same way as when I was an MP my salary was taxed as an employee. Any other income that I have received from outside endeavours has been received on a self-employed basis, to me as an individual (no company or other structure has been involved). No income earned by me has ever been paid to a "service" company, through which a person or person's freelance earnings can be channelled so that they pay corporation rather than income tax. | My salary as Mayor is taxed as an employee of the GLA. In the same way as when I was an MP my salary was taxed as an employee. Any other income that I have received from outside endeavours has been received on a self-employed basis, to me as an individual (no company or other structure has been involved). No income earned by me has ever been paid to a "service" company, through which a person or person's freelance earnings can be channelled so that they pay corporation rather than income tax. |
| To suggest otherwise is a complete and utter fabrication. | To suggest otherwise is a complete and utter fabrication. |
| Of course the real point is not about my tax arrangements. It is about the hypocrisy of a man who for years has railed against those who use special arrangements to reduce their tax and who has then been caught – bang to rights – doing the very same thing himself. | Of course the real point is not about my tax arrangements. It is about the hypocrisy of a man who for years has railed against those who use special arrangements to reduce their tax and who has then been caught – bang to rights – doing the very same thing himself. |
| 10.40am: For the record, here are the YouGov GB polling figures from last night. | 10.40am: For the record, here are the YouGov GB polling figures from last night. |
| Labour: 43% (up 1 from YouGov in the Sunday Times) Conservative: 33% (no change) Lib Dems: 8% (no change) | Labour: 43% (up 1 from YouGov in the Sunday Times) Conservative: 33% (no change) Lib Dems: 8% (no change) |
| Labour lead: 10 points. | Labour lead: 10 points. |
| Government approval: -43 | Government approval: -43 |
| At -43, the government's approval rating has hit a new low. On Sunday, when it hit -40 for the first time, that was also a record low. Last week it was in the mid -30s. You can see how quickly it has fallen on the YouGov tracker (pdf). At the moment it seems to be in freefall. | |
| 10.37am: Here's a blow to the Big Society. The Press Association have just snapped this. | 10.37am: Here's a blow to the Big Society. The Press Association have just snapped this. |
| Surrey County Council's plans for 10 libraries to be run by volunteers was ruled unlawful by the High Court today. | Surrey County Council's plans for 10 libraries to be run by volunteers was ruled unlawful by the High Court today. |
| 10.27am: Ken Livingstone has published a plan to tackle London's gang culture, involving mediation and early intervention. The full details are on his website. | 10.27am: Ken Livingstone has published a plan to tackle London's gang culture, involving mediation and early intervention. The full details are on his website. |
| 10.14am: Ed Davey (pictured), the energy secretary, has launched a competition today to encourage the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The full details are in the Department of Energy's news release. Davey says this is one of the best offers available to the industry in the world. | 10.14am: Ed Davey (pictured), the energy secretary, has launched a competition today to encourage the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The full details are in the Department of Energy's news release. Davey says this is one of the best offers available to the industry in the world. |
| What we are looking to achieve, in partnership with industry, is a new world-leading CCS industry, rather than just simply projects in isolation – an industry that can compete with other low-carbon sources to ensure security and diversity of our electricity supply, an industry that can make our energy intensive industries cleaner and an industry that can bring jobs and wealth to our shores. The CCS industry could be worth £6.5bn a year to the UK economy by late next decade as we export UK expertise and products. | What we are looking to achieve, in partnership with industry, is a new world-leading CCS industry, rather than just simply projects in isolation – an industry that can compete with other low-carbon sources to ensure security and diversity of our electricity supply, an industry that can make our energy intensive industries cleaner and an industry that can bring jobs and wealth to our shores. The CCS industry could be worth £6.5bn a year to the UK economy by late next decade as we export UK expertise and products. |
| This is a really exciting time for the fledgling CCS industry. Our offer is one of the best anywhere in the world. We have £1bn available to support the upfront costs of early projects along with a commitment to further funding through low carbon Contracts for Difference, we have £125m to support research and development including a new UK CCS Research Centre, and we have the long term incentives in place through our Electricity Market Reforms. | This is a really exciting time for the fledgling CCS industry. Our offer is one of the best anywhere in the world. We have £1bn available to support the upfront costs of early projects along with a commitment to further funding through low carbon Contracts for Difference, we have £125m to support research and development including a new UK CCS Research Centre, and we have the long term incentives in place through our Electricity Market Reforms. |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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 .. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |