'Ed Miliband speaks on elected police commissioners: Politics live blog' diff viewer (5/6)

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Ed Miliband speaks on elected police commissioners: Politics live blog	Ed Miliband speaks on elected police commissioners: Politics live blog
2012-06-18 11:40:05 UTC	2012-06-18 12:20:04 UTC (40 minutes later)
	12.35pm: It's hard to imagine a dull interview with Boris Johnson, but this one, in New York magazine, is a cracker.
	Do read the whole thing. But, if you're in a rush, here are the highlights.
	• Johnson says he wants to "assume supreme power in England". It is, of course, a joke. But that does not mean it's not true.
	• He says Europe should abandon the euro.
	For what it's worth, he thinks Europe needs to just dump the euro. "Better an end with horror than horror without end," he says, deploying a German proverb associated with the last days of the First World War.
	• He describes himself as a "libertarian anarcho-Tory".
	• He says the lure of cities is explained by the human desire for sex and fame. Johnson, as we all know, is an expert on both. This is not a particularly political point, but it's interesting anyway.
	"The whole thesis" of his book, [Johnson] says, "is about prestige. What makes people tick. We seek cities because there are a greater range of girls at the bar, of reproductive choice. Number one. Number two is there are better outcomes for health and wealth. And now we care more about the environment, and cities are better for the environment. But above all, talented people seek cities for fame. They can't get famous in the fucking village." Then he recites: "Fame is the spur which clear spirit doth raise / That last infirmity of noble mind / To scorn delights, and live laborious days." It's from "Lycidas," the John Milton poem about a friend who drowned in the Irish Channel. "That's what's driving me. That's the awful fact." He mentions Benjamin Disraeli, another writer-politician, who once told another member of Parliament, " 'We came here for fame.' And a city, by the sheer concentration of people, provides the most amazing opportunity to get that affirmation—which is what it's about. The reason that so many ideas are produced in cities is not just that people are cross-fertilizing; it's because they want to beat each other. They want to become more famous than the other person."
12.29pm: Ed Balls (pictured), the shadow chancellor, has written an article for the Evening Standard saying that the world needs a "global growth plan" and that the eurozone countries should revise the terms of the Greek bailout agreement. Here's an extract.	12.29pm: Ed Balls (pictured), the shadow chancellor, has written an article for the Evening Standard saying that the world needs a "global growth plan" and that the eurozone countries should revise the terms of the Greek bailout agreement. Here's an extract.
There is no easy option for Greece, given its problems. Difficult reforms are vital. But how can an austerity plan — which has seen recession turn into depression, youth unemployment soar to more than 50 per cent, the economy shrink by six per cent in the last year alone and the national debt grow further — be seen as a success? As even the credit rating agencies now recognise, as Standard and Poor's puts it, that "austerity alone risks becoming self-defeating".	There is no easy option for Greece, given its problems. Difficult reforms are vital. But how can an austerity plan — which has seen recession turn into depression, youth unemployment soar to more than 50 per cent, the economy shrink by six per cent in the last year alone and the national debt grow further — be seen as a success? As even the credit rating agencies now recognise, as Standard and Poor's puts it, that "austerity alone risks becoming self-defeating".
The irony is that yesterday's vote now allows eurozone leaders to do what they should have done before. They must now revise the Greek bailout agreement if it is to have any chance of economic success or lasting political support.	The irony is that yesterday's vote now allows eurozone leaders to do what they should have done before. They must now revise the Greek bailout agreement if it is to have any chance of economic success or lasting political support.
12.05pm: 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.	12.05pm: 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 that are particularly interesting.	As for the rest of the papers, here are some stories that are particularly interesting.
• Andrew Grice in the Independent says Nick Clegg is preparting to veto plans for regional pay in the public sector.	• Andrew Grice in the Independent says Nick Clegg is preparting to veto plans for regional pay in the public sector.
Nick Clegg is preparing to veto Chancellor George Osborne's controversial proposal to introduce local pay agreements throughout the public sector.	Nick Clegg is preparing to veto Chancellor George Osborne's controversial proposal to introduce local pay agreements throughout the public sector.
The Liberal Democrats have become increasingly hostile to the idea, amid growing fears that it would widen the north-south divide and provoke a backlash from voters in the north of England. Mr Osborne has asked the public sector pay review bodies to consider the scope for local agreements on the grounds that the present national bargaining system drives up local wage levels in the private sector.	The Liberal Democrats have become increasingly hostile to the idea, amid growing fears that it would widen the north-south divide and provoke a backlash from voters in the north of England. Mr Osborne has asked the public sector pay review bodies to consider the scope for local agreements on the grounds that the present national bargaining system drives up local wage levels in the private sector.
Although the Treasury denies the change would mean pay cuts, wage levels in some areas outside London and the South East could be frozen in future years.	Although the Treasury denies the change would mean pay cuts, wage levels in some areas outside London and the South East could be frozen in future years.
• Jill Sherman at the Times (paywall) says some ministers want the power to hire and fire their permanent secretaries.	• Jill Sherman at the Times (paywall) says some ministers want the power to hire and fire their permanent secretaries.
Ministers are demanding new powers to hire and fire their permanent secretaries using a US-style system, The Times has learnt.	Ministers are demanding new powers to hire and fire their permanent secretaries using a US-style system, The Times has learnt.
Last week key ministers, including Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, tried to block proposals for Civil Service reforms, due to be published tomorrow, claiming that they were not radical enough. The Times now understands that the main row at Cabinet was over whether ministers should be able to pick their most senior officials and put them on fixed-term contracts. Mr Gove and others want to have the flexibility to appoint outsiders from business or the wider public sector. Ministers are also keen to appoint other senior officials.	Last week key ministers, including Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, tried to block proposals for Civil Service reforms, due to be published tomorrow, claiming that they were not radical enough. The Times now understands that the main row at Cabinet was over whether ministers should be able to pick their most senior officials and put them on fixed-term contracts. Mr Gove and others want to have the flexibility to appoint outsiders from business or the wider public sector. Ministers are also keen to appoint other senior officials.
Steve Hilton, the Prime Minister's former strategy adviser, favoured fixed-term contracts for permanent secretaries but this is not in the latest draft.	Steve Hilton, the Prime Minister's former strategy adviser, favoured fixed-term contracts for permanent secretaries but this is not in the latest draft.
• James Cusick in the Independent says Scotland Yard detectives are investigating four newly discovered iPhones issued to senior News International executives. • Jason Groves in the Daily Mail says Tory MPs have been criticising Lord Justice Leveson following the revelation that he rang Number 10 to complain about Michael Gove's speech questioning the wisdom of his inquiry.	• James Cusick in the Independent says Scotland Yard detectives are investigating four newly discovered iPhones issued to senior News International executives. • Jason Groves in the Daily Mail says Tory MPs have been criticising Lord Justice Leveson following the revelation that he rang Number 10 to complain about Michael Gove's speech questioning the wisdom of his inquiry.
• Ed Davey, the Lib Dem energy secretary, tells the Financial Times (subscription) that his Conservative colleagues should not to play "fast and loose" with investors in onshore wind farms by cutting subsidies.	• Ed Davey, the Lib Dem energy secretary, tells the Financial Times (subscription) that his Conservative colleagues should not to play "fast and loose" with investors in onshore wind farms by cutting subsidies.
If we send signals to investors and to companies that we'll play fast and loose, and we won't go where the evidence is, we won't stick to our word, what will happen? The cost of capital for investment in the UK will go up so there will be a political risk premium.	If we send signals to investors and to companies that we'll play fast and loose, and we won't go where the evidence is, we won't stick to our word, what will happen? The cost of capital for investment in the UK will go up so there will be a political risk premium.
We absolutely have to be green in this government, and being green means being straight with investors and companies and not messing them around.	We absolutely have to be green in this government, and being green means being straight with investors and companies and not messing them around.
• Patrick Jenkins in the Financial Times (subscription) says the Bank of England's financial policy committee is divided over whether it supports George Osborne's plan for it to support economic growth.	• Patrick Jenkins in the Financial Times (subscription) says the Bank of England's financial policy committee is divided over whether it supports George Osborne's plan for it to support economic growth.
The Bank of England committee charged with ensuring the stability of Britain's banks is split over George Osborne's plan to oblige it to support the government's new growth agenda.	The Bank of England committee charged with ensuring the stability of Britain's banks is split over George Osborne's plan to oblige it to support the government's new growth agenda.
In a little-noticed section of his Mansion House speech last Thursday, the chancellor said the BoE's Financial Policy Committee should no longer focus narrowly on safeguarding the banking sector.	In a little-noticed section of his Mansion House speech last Thursday, the chancellor said the BoE's Financial Policy Committee should no longer focus narrowly on safeguarding the banking sector.
The FPC should not be creating "the stability of a graveyard", he said, and in future would have a "secondary objective to support the economic policy of the government".	The FPC should not be creating "the stability of a graveyard", he said, and in future would have a "secondary objective to support the economic policy of the government".
The change of tack has divided the committee, prompting criticism both within and outside the BoE that its independence and the FPC's financial stability mission could be undermined.	The change of tack has divided the committee, prompting criticism both within and outside the BoE that its independence and the FPC's financial stability mission could be undermined.
11.34am: At last. Some words have arrived from the speech Ed Miliband gave this morning to mark the fact that Labour is announcing its police commissioner candidates. Here's the key quote.	11.34am: At last. Some words have arrived from the speech Ed Miliband gave this morning to mark the fact that Labour is announcing its police commissioner candidates. Here's the key quote.
We didn't seek these police commissioner elections - we thought that if you were spending £125m most people would want that money spent on the police, not on new elections. But if these elections do go ahead - if the government insists on them going ahead - we, Labour, are determined to make the best of a bad job.	We didn't seek these police commissioner elections - we thought that if you were spending £125m most people would want that money spent on the police, not on new elections. But if these elections do go ahead - if the government insists on them going ahead - we, Labour, are determined to make the best of a bad job.
What we are going to be arguing for in these elections is very, very important.	What we are going to be arguing for in these elections is very, very important.
First of all we are going to be saying taking officers off the streets is the wrong thing to do - it's not what our communities want, it's not what the police want ...	First of all we are going to be saying taking officers off the streets is the wrong thing to do - it's not what our communities want, it's not what the police want ...
We are going to be arguing that we will protect the independence of the police - our police commissioner candidates are committed to that. But also crucially we'll be arguing that we want police commissioners who will work with fantastic city councils like Birmingham to say 'Whatever national government is doing let's join up to cut crime - let's work together against anti-social behaviour'.	We are going to be arguing that we will protect the independence of the police - our police commissioner candidates are committed to that. But also crucially we'll be arguing that we want police commissioners who will work with fantastic city councils like Birmingham to say 'Whatever national government is doing let's join up to cut crime - let's work together against anti-social behaviour'.
11.32am: David Cameron has just arrived in Mexico for the G20 summit, according to ITN.	11.32am: David Cameron has just arrived in Mexico for the G20 summit, according to ITN.
11.03am: David Bartlett at the Liverpool Post has confirmed that Jane Kennedy has beaten Peter Kilfoyle for the Merseyside police commissioner Labour candidate nomination, by 974 votes to 833.	11.03am: David Bartlett at the Liverpool Post has confirmed that Jane Kennedy has beaten Peter Kilfoyle for the Merseyside police commissioner Labour candidate nomination, by 974 votes to 833.
10.53am: More Labour crime commissioner news. This is from Dominyk Tiller.	10.53am: More Labour crime commissioner news. This is from Dominyk Tiller.