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| Politics live blog: Thursday 10 May 2012 | Politics live blog: Thursday 10 May 2012 |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 10.30am: 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. • Kiran Stacey and George Parker in the Financial Times (subscription) say Number 10 are blaming Liam Fox for the Ministry of Defence's decision to order the wrong fighter plane for Britain's new aircraft carriers. | |
| A person within Downing Street said: "The carrier variant option was put on the table [by the MoD] late in the day and only quickly discussed. Maybe some more thinking should have been done. It was presented to us as 'This needs to happen' but without work being done to look at the risk of delays and overspending." | |
| Another official close to the 2010 defence review said Mr Fox had become convinced in opposition that Labour had chosen the wrong version of the F35 jet. | |
| The official said Mr Fox had underestimated the cost of the option – he thought it would be £500m not £2bn – and thought there would be a short delay rather than the seven years needed to make changes to the carriers. | |
| • Sue Cameron in the Daily Telegraph says civil service advice, like the NHS risk register, should be published. | |
| The real objection to making public the Civil Service's advice to ministers, according to the economist Sir Samuel Brittan, is that "it might reveal how banal and obvious the advice has been". Ouch! If that wasn't enough to make secretive ministers and mandarins wince, Sir Samuel was even more forthright. "We need to dump the doctrine of the confidentiality of advice given to ministers by officials," he said, and quoted Rudyard Kipling: "Power without responsibility has been the privilege of the harlot throughout the ages: and self-serving talk of 'telling truth to power' should not disguise this." | |
| Kipling's dictum, borrowed by his cousin Stanley Baldwin, was meant as a jibe against an over-powerful media. It is not often you see top civil servants likened to a bunch of tarts. Yet Sir Samuel has seen Whitehall up close. He was speaking at the launch of his latest book, Inside the Department of Economic Affairs. It is a diary that he kept – quite in breach of Civil Service rules – when he was an official in the Sixties. Ending the secrecy of civil service advice has been a theme of his writing ever since. Sadly, the forces of reaction are still doing all they can to resist openness. | |
| • The Financial Times in an editorial (subscription) says the government is suffering from "a growing perception of incompetence". | |
| The government as a whole is suffering from a growing perception of incompetence. Too many initiatives are launched, and too few delivered. An austerity government cannot fritter away scarce resources flip-flopping on military procurement, such as with the F35 fighter. Such U-turns are doubly unfortunate when Downing Street will later this year demand further cuts from spending departments. | |
| These problems with delivery stem partly from the failure to reform the civil service, where officials should be charged with making sure policy is translated into action. A few more grey hairs among the special advisers would do no harm. But above all, Mr Cameron desperately needs a proper political operation in Downing Street, with clear lines of command and control. | |
| While changes are needed, the coalition should not look for salvation in a new legislative programme. The modesty of yesterday's Queen's Speech is no bad thing. The government needs to focus on delivering the programme set out in its agreement. This must be accompanied by a renewed focus on growth. The test of all new legislative proposals should be whether they encourage investment and job creation. | |
| • The Daily Mail picture desk have been identifying animals that look like politicians. | |
| 10.10am: And here's our live blog of the Leveson inquiry. Viscount Rothermere, owner of the Daily Mail, is giving evidence now. Andy Coulson will be appearing this afternoon. | |
| 10.09am: The Press Assocation has just snapped this. | |
| Thousands of London bus workers are to vote on strikes in a row over pay during the Olympics, the Unite union said today. | |
| 10.07am: Here's our live blog about today's public sector strike. | |
| 9.55am: For the record, here are the YouGov GB polling figures from last night. Labour: 44% (no change since Tuesday night) Conservatives: 31% (no change) Lib Dems: 9% (up 1) Ukip: 8% (no change) | 9.55am: For the record, here are the YouGov GB polling figures from last night. Labour: 44% (no change since Tuesday night) Conservatives: 31% (no change) Lib Dems: 9% (up 1) Ukip: 8% (no change) |
| Labour lead: 13 points | Labour lead: 13 points |
| Government approval: -39 | Government approval: -39 |
| 9.47am: According to Paul Waugh, we're also getting a Commons statement from Andrew Lansley on his decision not to publish the risk register relating to the Health Act. That will come at around 12.30pm, after the business statement (10.30am) and the Hammond statement about fighter jets (around 11.30am). | 9.47am: According to Paul Waugh, we're also getting a Commons statement from Andrew Lansley on his decision not to publish the risk register relating to the Health Act. That will come at around 12.30pm, after the business statement (10.30am) and the Hammond statement about fighter jets (around 11.30am). |
| 9.30am: Alan Johnson, the Labour former home secretary, told Radio 5 Live this morning that he would have resigned if he had made the mistake that Theresa May did in relation to Abu Qatada and the deadline for his appeal to the European court of human rights. I've taken the quote from PoliticsHome. | 9.30am: Alan Johnson, the Labour former home secretary, told Radio 5 Live this morning that he would have resigned if he had made the mistake that Theresa May did in relation to Abu Qatada and the deadline for his appeal to the European court of human rights. I've taken the quote from PoliticsHome. |
On an issue like this, it is so difficult, I'd have resigned over it. For all kinds of reasons this is such an important issue that Theresa May was absolutely right to get this guy out of the country, but to mess up her dates is a horrendous mistake and it just looks like amateur hour in the government. | On an issue like this, it is so difficult, I'd have resigned over it. For all kinds of reasons this is such an important issue that Theresa May was absolutely right to get this guy out of the country, but to mess up her dates is a horrendous mistake and it just looks like amateur hour in the government. |
| 9.22am: Nick Herbert, the policing minister, was on Sky this morning talking about today's protest by police officers. (It's not a strike, because they are not allowed to go on strike. The officers marching have had to take time off to join the protest.) Herbert said he thought the protests were mainly about pensions, and that the government's pension cuts were justified. I've taken the quote from PoliticsHome. | 9.22am: Nick Herbert, the policing minister, was on Sky this morning talking about today's protest by police officers. (It's not a strike, because they are not allowed to go on strike. The officers marching have had to take time off to join the protest.) Herbert said he thought the protests were mainly about pensions, and that the government's pension cuts were justified. I've taken the quote from PoliticsHome. |
I think that many of those who are marching today are really marching about pay and conditions, and what I would point out is that these changes to pensions, which I believe are entirely justifiable, are applying across the public sector, as is the two year pay freeze, which is very important to help deal with the deficit. The fact is that actually people are now living longer - of course that's a good thing - but ten years longer than they would have been expected to in the 1970s. The costs of public sector pensions have gone up, just in the course of my lifetime, by a third, and most of that increase has actually fallen on the employer i.e. the British taxpayer. | I think that many of those who are marching today are really marching about pay and conditions, and what I would point out is that these changes to pensions, which I believe are entirely justifiable, are applying across the public sector, as is the two year pay freeze, which is very important to help deal with the deficit. The fact is that actually people are now living longer - of course that's a good thing - but ten years longer than they would have been expected to in the 1970s. The costs of public sector pensions have gone up, just in the course of my lifetime, by a third, and most of that increase has actually fallen on the employer i.e. the British taxpayer. |
| 9.00am: There's a nationwide public sector strike today - you can read our story about it here - and even MPs are affected. There are pickets outside the House of Commons and yesterday, at the start of the Queen's Speech debate, the Speaker, John Bercow, took the unusual step of telling MPs that some of the police officers who are here normally on a Thursday would be away. | 9.00am: There's a nationwide public sector strike today - you can read our story about it here - and even MPs are affected. There are pickets outside the House of Commons and yesterday, at the start of the Queen's Speech debate, the Speaker, John Bercow, took the unusual step of telling MPs that some of the police officers who are here normally on a Thursday would be away. |
| Please be vigilant and tell the Serjeant at Arms about any concerns you have on the subject. Wear your photo identity pass while you are on the parliamentary estate—this is particularly important over the next 24 hours, as there will be a number of police officers on duty, covering for absent security officers, who cannot be expected to recognise members. | Please be vigilant and tell the Serjeant at Arms about any concerns you have on the subject. Wear your photo identity pass while you are on the parliamentary estate—this is particularly important over the next 24 hours, as there will be a number of police officers on duty, covering for absent security officers, who cannot be expected to recognise members. |
| We'll be covering the strike on a separate live blog. Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, has already put out a statement about it this morning. | We'll be covering the strike on a separate live blog. Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, has already put out a statement about it this morning. |
| It is very disappointing that a handful of unions insist on carrying on with futile strike action which will benefit no one. We would urge these union leaders to reconsider their position. Pension talks will not be reopened and nothing further will be achieved through strike action. | It is very disappointing that a handful of unions insist on carrying on with futile strike action which will benefit no one. We would urge these union leaders to reconsider their position. Pension talks will not be reopened and nothing further will be achieved through strike action. |
| In March we set out our final proposed agreements on pension reform following more than a year of intensive discussions with trades unions. Our reforms ensure that public sector pensions will remain among the very best available and that they can be sustained for the future. | In March we set out our final proposed agreements on pension reform following more than a year of intensive discussions with trades unions. Our reforms ensure that public sector pensions will remain among the very best available and that they can be sustained for the future. |
| Public sector workers are being asked to work a bit longer and pay a bit more, but they will continue to get a guaranteed pension which is index-linked and inflation-proofed. Most staff on low and middle incomes will receive a pension at retirement as good as what they expect today, and for many it will be even better. | Public sector workers are being asked to work a bit longer and pay a bit more, but they will continue to get a guaranteed pension which is index-linked and inflation-proofed. Most staff on low and middle incomes will receive a pension at retirement as good as what they expect today, and for many it will be even better. |
| It's hard to tell what political effect the strike may have, but I'll be covering any reaction here. | It's hard to tell what political effect the strike may have, but I'll be covering any reaction here. |
| As for the rest of the day, it's a bit mixed, although Andy Coulson's evidence to the Leveson inquiry should be interesting. Here's what's in the diary. 10am: Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor and David Cameron's former communications director, gives evidence to the Leveson inquiry. We'll be covering it live on a separate live blog. | As for the rest of the day, it's a bit mixed, although Andy Coulson's evidence to the Leveson inquiry should be interesting. Here's what's in the diary. 10am: Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor and David Cameron's former communications director, gives evidence to the Leveson inquiry. We'll be covering it live on a separate live blog. |
| 10am: Michael Gove, the education secretary, speaks at the Brighton College conference. | 10am: Michael Gove, the education secretary, speaks at the Brighton College conference. |
| Around 11.30am: Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, makes a statement in the Commons confirming the government's decision to abandon its plan to buy the preferred fighter for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. | Around 11.30am: Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, makes a statement in the Commons confirming the government's decision to abandon its plan to buy the preferred fighter for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers. |
| 12pm: Off-duty police officers march through Westminster to protest about cuts to their pay and conditions of service. | 12pm: Off-duty police officers march through Westminster to protest about cuts to their pay and conditions of service. |
| Around 12.30pm: Theresa May and Yvette Cooper open the Queen's Speech debate on home affairs. | Around 12.30pm: Theresa May and Yvette Cooper open the Queen's Speech debate on home affairs. |
| 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. |