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Latest from The Green Box

Today's Storys

The deaths of three British soldiers in Afghanistan over the past two days brings the number of British military personnel killed there to 256 - one more than the number killed during the Falklands war.

The information commissioner has ruled that the party breached privacy laws by making nearly 500,000 automated calls that played a recorded message from a Coronation Street actor before a local election.

A new PoliticsHome poll suggests that the public is divided on the need for a change to the voting system, but is overwhelmingly cynical about the government's motives for proposing it. MPs are to vote this afternoon on Gordon Brown's plan for a referendum on changing to the AV system.

Hector Sants resigned from his position at City watchdog, the Financial Services Authority. He has in the past advocated international and domestic banking reform and criticised the economic proposals of the Conservative party.

Michael Carpenter, the Speaker’s counsel is expected to testify that the three MPs charged with making false expenses claims should not be covered by Parliamentary privilege.

Iran is facing new calls for tougher sanctions from Western nations, after announcing it has begun enriching uranium to 20%. Experts say this would increase Iran's ability to create a nuclear weapon.

The 27 new members of the European Commision have been unequivocally backed by a majority in an EU vote.

A new Populus poll for the Times found support for Labour up two points from last month at 30 percent, while the Conservatives were down one point at 40 percent.

According to a new report, the Treasury does not know why state-owned banks are still not lending money to small businesses.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth appeared before the defence select committee this morning answering questions about Afghanistan and the green paper on the future of defence.

Ones to watch

Toyota's woes continue as the company is set to recall nearly half a million Prius cars due to braking problems. Around 8,500 will be recalled in the UK.

The Corporation revealed that more than a quarter of its salary bill for presenters went on top names including Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said a plan for a £20,000 inheritance levy to pay for the government's social care programme is "not the right way to go."

Most voters believe Britain is "broken" and 42% of people say they would emigrate if they could, according to a new Populus poll for The Times.

The Shadow Defence Secreatry, Liam Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from a venture capitalist who helped buy a company selling defence equipment.

Britain's immigration system is not operating effectively and faces a damaging loss of public support, a report from the Parliamentary Ombudsman has warned.

City minister Lord Myners will tell institutional investors this morning that an excessive bonus culture is hitting UK pension funds.

Tony Blair suggested the Iraq Inquiry was part of a British obsession with conspiracy, deceit and scandal.

The UK trade deficit hit it's highest level since January 2009 in December, the ONS has said. The country imported £7.278bn worth of goods, but exported £6.798bn.

Despite David Cameron's intention of insisting that members of the House of Lords are domiciled in the UK in the future, whether Lord Ashcroft pays full UK tax remains to be confirmed by the party.

Other stories today

The Commons education select committee has said the entry requirements for teacher training courses in England are too low, recommending trainee teachers have at least a 2.2.

Metropolitan Police Commander Ali Dizaei was yesterday sentenced to four years in jail for assaulting a man and falsely accusing him in a spat over money.

Laws protecting workers' rights must be improved to tackle poverty, according to a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The amount of benefits overpaid due to errors by officials has doubled from £400m to £800m since 2000, say the work and pensions select committee.

All paramilitary groups involved in the ceasefire in Northern Ireland have now decommmissioned their weapons, just 24 hours ahead of a scheduled deadline.

Harriet Harman is in line for the annual Rear of the Year award, according to The Sun.

Scottish quangos should be scrapped and replaced by independently run organisations, according to think-tank Reform Scotland.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is expected to challenge Anglican infighting over women bishops and gay ordinations at the General Synod today.

The BBC needs to "wake up" to the dearth of older females on its programmes, Harriet Harman has said.

BSkyB says it has sold a 10% stake in rival broadcaster ITV - more than half of the shares it owned.

Some 1,000 UK professionals are to be deployed around the world to rebuild countries hit by conflict or disaster.

The Conservatives have pledged to increase broadband speeds across Britain by providing BT’s rivals with regulatory incentives to introduce new telecom networks.

The Treasury will not pursue reforms to gift aid, it has been reported.

Labour's manifesto team are considering proposals that would give people who inform on benefit cheats a share of the money saved, according to reports.

Joseph Stiglitz has urged Gordon Brown to reject "fiscal fetishism", defy the markets and maintain, or even extend, the fiscal stimulus of the British economy.

RSS PoliticsHome News

PoliticsHome News

Live as it happens

Monday 18th May 2009 | 15:00

Cameron announces launch of a general election petition

At a speech launching the Conservative campaign for the European elections, David Cameron called for an immediate general election and said that he was launching a petition calling for one.

He said: “I want to announce today that we are turning the campaign we had planned for these elections into the campaign Britain now needs: a campaign for a General Election, to be held as soon as possible after the 4th of June.
 
“From tomorrow I want Conservative candidates and activists right across the country to start collecting signatures for a petition demanding that Gordon Brown calls a General Election.
 
“And I want as many people as possible – whether you support Labour, or the LibDems, or no party – to join in.
 
“Write to your local paper.  Write to a national newspaper.  Start your own petition.
 
“Though the power of our collective pressure, we can force Gordon Brown to act.

He said that after MPs expenses had been scrutinised then he will consider asking the Conservative Party Board to trigger a reselection process in those cases where the system had been badly abused.

He said “I want to remind Conservative party members and local activists of the rules we already have.
 
“If you think your MP is not right to stand, there’s a simple process for triggering his or her re-selection.
 
“It only needs ten per cent of the members, or fifty people – whichever is the smaller number.
 
“Obviously, this process is not to be used lightly.
 
“But it is a process that can be used by Party members.
 
“The Chairman of every Conservative Association can also trigger a re-selection process.
 
“And, where necessary, the board of the Party can order it too."

Leave a comment...

Ken Hall
  • 16:29 |
  • 18 May 2009
  • 0

What are you waiting for people? If you live in a Conservative constituency, START PETITIONING!

DAVID ATKINS
  • 17:21 |
  • 18 May 2009
  • 0

This is the only fair way out of this mess a general election with each seat being selected by local people and not the party chiefs that have failed us

ryan

all political parties get campaigning... WE WANT A GENERAL ELECTION... get your msg out there, lets clear they whole political system of the smug, dis-honest MP's out there. CHANGE IS COMING!

Christine
  • 11:24 |
  • 20 May 2009
  • 0

If Gordon Brown wanted to be a voice of the people, he is not listening !   This country is crying out for a General Election - we all want it - but the Labour Party is not listening - Why?  Because Gordon is power happy, he honestly believes that he is the man to lead us out of this mess, poor disillusioned sole that he is.   Ask any man or woman on the street, would you like a General Election, I guarantee most if not all would give a resounding YES.  David Cameron seems to be the only leader of a party who is in touch with the people,  its now down to us, the people to call for change, and we cant do that by sitting back and doing nothing, please sign a petition for change, please sign for a General Election.

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