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Latest from The Green Box

Today's Storys

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lord Clarke will have his expenses investigated by the House of Lords Sub-Committee on Lords' Interests, despite being cleared of criminal charges by the Crown Prosecution Service last Friday.

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." The Tories have said the plans amounted to a "death tax."

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.

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.

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.

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.

Other stories today

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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Cameron “very badly advised” over referendum decision, says Tory MP

  • 18:11
  • Bill Cash MP
    • 03/11/09
    • Bill Cash MP, Conservative MP
    • Sky News

Mr Cash said David Cameron has been “very badly advised” in his decision to rule out a referendum on the Lisbon treaty, and added that the reasons given for the decision “just don’t stack up”.

“I hope that David Cameron will reconsider, and I’m not personally gong to do more at this stage as I’ve written to him personally asking him to reconsider,” he said.

“I think he’s been very badly advised and the reasons given just don’t stack up.”

He went on to say that the British people deserve the chance to have their say: "A referendum at least gives people the chance to make their democratic choice as to which way to go on this matter."

View all On Air Today

Leave a comment...

Agent Digby

Silly people like Cash could scupper a decent Tory victory and at worst leave us with 5 more years of this wretched integrationist Brown regime.

He would be wise to keep schtum - get a Euro Sceptic government and work from there.

 

Rog

If Cameron wanted a landslide, all he has to do is offer us a referendum on our involvement with the EU, not merely Lisbon.

Hardly silly to have some principles, and want to stick to them!

Culverin

Dave deals with real politics so doesn't want to worry about a costly and meaningless referendum.

Time for Bill Cash to live in the real world of national debt, job losses and our troops fighting for a lost cause in Afghanistan.

les

please please please do not make this a ball breaker for the conservative victory.

It was a good policy when the treaty had not been ratfied but in all seriousnmess whats the point when it has passed into law.

allow a conservative election victory and let us have a proper euro realistic relationship with the rest of europe.

If the sceptics in the party cause trouble and deny an outright majority the country will never forgive them.

Mr cash et all - please keep quiet about this - do not rock the boat at this crucial time !!! 

Ian E

Sorry, the Lisbon referendum may be pointless now, but we would accept an In/Out referendum in its place. 

I have always voted Tory (and only missed one election over the last 38 years when I had to go abroad on business at short notice) - even when they had no chance, I turned out and hoped.  BUT, no referendum means no democratic say on the EU and that is a red line for me.  I loathe UKIP, but other than voting for the dreadful BNP, it is the only way I can now express my disgust at the way the EU has gone.

So, thanks, Mr Cameron, for disenfranchising me.  I hope the statement tomorrow can change my mind, but it doesn't look likely,

roadrunner

well said Bill,this could cost Cameron his chance of victory and it will serve him right. 

Adam

Try living in the real world of politics you moron.

If DC is so evil, let's hear your plan on Europe... one that actually makes sense, instead of simply beating your chest about Europe, something 90% of voters couldn't give a toss about.

Idiot UKippers.

melvyn emmett

I voted against the then Common Market in 1974 and even more so as a very sinister political animal has emerged over the intervening years which has greatly undermined our democratic rights.

David Cameron is WRONG to deny the British people their right to a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty if the Tories get into power.

Blair and Brown reneged on Labour's promise of a referendum - if the Tories are now taking the same stance , they may not get into power next May . The British people will rightly feel robbed and excluded from a very big influence in their lives.