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  • Newswire | Media campaign launch to ‘expose’ the BNP

    • 15:09
  • Melissa | Gordon Brown and Alternative Voting

    • 15:03
  • ConservativeHome | (6) Vote Conservative... because of Liam Fox

    • 15:00
  • Will Straw | Anticipating the electoral reform vote

    • 14:52
  • Catherine Mayer | Britain must be broken! Cashier in office canteen insisted on opening styrofoam ...

    • 14:36
  • guidofawkes | School Children Exposed to Balls

    • 14:35
  • George Eaton | How electoral reform would have changed the 2005 result

    • 14:31
  • Vince Cable | FSA has an important role to play http://bit.ly/9Qtffa

  • Mehdi Hasan | Tony Blair decries "conspiracy theories" on Iraq

    • 14:19
  • Daniel Finkelstein | Benefit cheats and the profit principle

    • 14:16
  • Ali Dizaei: when bent coppers are black

    • 14:14
  • Don Paskini | The myth of the New Labour carpetbagger

    • 14:11
  • The Orange Party | Brown's Deathbed Conversion A Sick Joke

    • 14:11
  • Jeff | Labour found guilty of making automated phone calls

    • 14:01
  • Ros Coward | Britain's forgotten students | Ros Coward

    • 14:00
  • ConservativeHome | (5) Vote Conservative... because of Iain Duncan Smith

    • 13:59
  • Rayhan Haque | Why the Tories aren’t so super-fast on their digital vision

    • 13:53
  • Brian Taylor (BBC News) | Keeping a roof over your head

    • 13:51
  • Richard Murphy | Time for transparency – guest blog by Alex Cobham

    • 13:50
  • Bryony Worthington | Ofgem's green energy label helps empower the consumer | Bryony Worthington

    • 13:48
  • freethinkingeconomist | Greece, money printing, immigration and inequality

    • 13:38
  • Alan Dershowitz, Elizabeth Samson | Libel reform may not secure free speech | Alan Dershowitz and Elizabeth Samson

    • 13:30
  • Jason Stamper | Time to turn open source words into action

    • 13:27
  • Mike Smithson | Is Brown really the Tories’ biggest asset?

    • 13:07
  • ConservativeHome | (4) Vote Conservative... because of Greg Clark

    • 13:06
  • Peter Hoskin | Accountability on your iPhone

    • 12:56
  • Next Left | No need to give reasons: a letter from David Cameron

    • 12:56
  • Will Heaven | Are you a Leftie iPhone smoothie or a Right-wing BlackBerry addict?

    • 12:51
  • Douglas Carswell | Time to democratise banking?

    • 12:50
  • Archbishop Cranmer | Conservatives and the Ethics of Accountability

    • 12:50
  • Ed Jacobs | Northern Ireland decommissioning – progress but not the end

    • 12:49
  • Kerry McCarthy | I'm Mandy Fly me

    • 12:47
  • Faisal Islam | Interesting ... my sources tell me that Hector Sants met George Osborne hours be...

    • 12:44
  • Cashback?

    • 12:39
  • Guido Fawkes | Devine Unquestioning

    • 12:39
  • Next Left | Think-Tank Clash

    • 12:39
  • Chris Huhne | The alternative vote is not the solution | Chris Huhne

    • 12:30
  • Hattie Garlick | Stalking your MP? There's an app for that

    • 12:24
  • Iain Martin | Sants Resignation a Headache For Government And Opposition

    • 12:24
  • Mark Pack | Why politics should be about personalities

    • 12:20
  • FT | FT video: Sants quits as FSA chief

    • 12:14
  • FT | FT video: Sants quits as FSA chief

    • 12:14
  • David Hughes | We have all let Tony Blair down

    • 12:02
  • Natalia Shapovalova | Ukraine's revolution lives on | Natalia Shapovalova

    • 12:00
  • Jessica Shepherd | Swedish-style 'free schools won't improve standards'

    • 11:59
  • The conspiracy behind it

    • 11:56
  • Samira Shackle | Universities set for strikes and protests

    • 11:53
  • Jeff | Labour's Union Dividend

    • 11:49
  • Hattie Garlick | Sarah Palin: will she, won't she?

    • 11:40
  • Michael Crick (BBC News) | How 'AV' made Cameron Tory leader

    • 11:39
  • Hugh Muir | Sorry mess of the Ali Dizaei case | Hugh Muir

    • 11:36
  • Norman Tebbit | Teach immigrants proper British history, not politically correct rubbish

    • 11:33
  • Michael Tomasky | Michael Tomasky: Murtha's death and healthcare

    • 11:31
  • Daniel Korski | Yanukovych wins Ukrainian election – but that may not be all bad

    • 11:29
  • ConservativeHome | (3) Vote Conservative... because of Chris Grayling

    • 11:28
  • Haroon Siddique | Ali Dizaei disciplinary charges dropped 'due to politics'

    • 11:26
  • Hattie Garlick | Tim's ten reasons to vote Tory

    • 11:17
  • Jim Jepps | Brown's voting reform error

    • 11:14
  • Guest | Double-dip: The negative impact of inequality and the recession on young people

    • 11:02
  • Henry Porter | Macho and excessive armed policing | Henry Porter

    • 11:02
  • Ed West | Labour spends billions on the obesity epidemic it helped create

    • 11:00
  • Sunny H | Speculation that Tory PPC left due to pregnancy

    • 11:00
  • David Blackburn | Plenty to encourage the Tories in the Populus poll

    • 10:55
  • David Burrowes MP, Member of Parliament for Enfield Southgate | At least one War Memorial is desecrated every week

    • 10:55
  • Press | Labour Target Cancer campaign at voteNHS.com

    • 10:54
  • Stephen Tall | Tories’ policies recalled as economic model proves unroad-worthy

    • 10:50
  • George Eaton | Labour is wise to target the Mumsnet vote

    • 10:45
  • Benedict Brogan | Conservatives: we'll listen to the Civil Service

    • 10:42
  • Archbishop Cranmer | Alternative Vote is the least unpopular voting system

    • 10:41
  • John Prescott | @ericpickles I'll ask again. Does your deputy Lord Ashcroft pay tax in this coun...

  • Iain Dale | Raising Money for Dartford

    • 10:25
  • Iain Roberts | Are the Tories resigned to pushing lobby fodder?

    • 10:24
  • John Redwood | John Redwood welcomes clarification of householders’ liability when clearing sno...

    • 10:24
  • Faisal Islam | FSA chief exec resigns: pointed remark: ' “The success of any regulatory structu...

    • 10:21
  • World News Blog Editor | Oxfam blog: Haiti quake aftermath ‘bringing people together’

    • 10:19
  • Laura Kuenssberg | Andy Burnham's promise that cancer patients will get test results in a week was ...

    • 10:16
  • Telegraph Opinion | David Cameron must reject Thatcherite apologies for inquality

    • 10:15
  • The Orange Party | Watch Out, Green Police About

    • 10:12
  • Jon Snow | Why expanding trade with Iran rather than sanctions will terrify the agents of r...

    • 10:03
  • Mark Wadsworth | More Ali Dizaei Fun

    • 10:03
  • Administrator | David Maddox: The Numbers Game (27) - Marginal results

    • 10:01
  • ConservativeHome | (2) Vote Conservative... because of Michael Gove

    • 10:00
  • hopisen | World Tonight

    • 09:55
  • Michael White | Indecision is evident across the board in Europe | Michael White

    • 09:47
  • Much ado about nothing?

    • 09:36
  • Sunny H | Only 2 Tory MPs sign EDM accepting climate change

    • 09:32
  • Will Straw | Osborne’s policies are no April Fool

    • 09:32
  • Tory Rascal | Tower Block of Commons Episode 2

    • 09:30
  • Joe Dyke | Review: Joseph Stiglitz at the LSE

    • 09:25
  • Shamik Das | Politics Summary: Tuesday, February 9th

    • 09:05
  • Time for Maya's voice to be heard amid the non-tears

    • 09:04
  • Andrew Sparrow | Labour press conference on the NHS - live

    • 09:02
  • Guest | Has the left won the first round in spending cuts?

    • 09:01
  • Tanya Gold | Was Gordon Brown right to talk about his daughter's death? | Tanya Gold

    • 09:00
  • Peter Hoskin | A day to damage Brown?

    • 09:00
  • Guido Fawkes | Apparently those MPs facing theft charges still take the Labour whip. Tories di...

    • 08:47
  • Chris Bryant | I'm definitely backing AV tonight. Every labour candidate is selected by AV and ...

    • 08:47
  • John Redwood | Why should Lib Dems vote twice?

    • 08:42
  • Mark Reckons | What difference does political blogging really make? - Event review

    • 08:42
  • Jim Knight | Great quote in Guardian: Cameron may be a pretty face; a pity that lower down he...

    • 08:39
  • Genuine regionalism could save the economy and Labour

    • 08:24
  • Dizzy | Derek Wyatt launches MyMP

    • 08:23
  • Guido Fawkes | Will Dave Really Crack Down on Lobbyists?: Yesterday Dave in his speech had a g...

  • Mark Pack | What happened to the 19 Conservative MPs who voted to keep MPs’ expenses secret?

    • 08:20
  • Guido Fawkes | Will Dave Really Crack Down on Lobbyists?

    • 08:20
  • BBC Radio 4 Today | Met police "without a doubt" still institutionally racist - Sergeant Alfred John...

    • 08:20
  • Paul Waugh | Former LibDem mayoral candidate and copper Brian Paddick says Ali Dizaei was a "...

    • 08:18
  • PPC Profile: Chris Williamson

    • 08:13
  • Hattie Garlick | Tuesday's comment from the papers in...

    • 08:07
  • Henry Macrory | Letter to Times: Do we now assume that if an MP takes a revolver into the Common...

    • 08:05
  • Morning Call: pick of the comment

    • 08:00
  • MPs ready to vote on AV referendum - 8 in the morning, February 9th

    • 08:00
  • Brian Walker | The politicians still don’t get it

    • 07:46
  • Toby Young | Can Cameron successfully spin himself as the anti-spin candidate?

    • 07:30
  • ConservativeHome | (1) Vote Conservative... because of George Osborne

    • 07:19
  • Dizzy | Playing the race card?

    • 06:56
  • Nile Gardiner | Barack Obama faces Armageddon in latest polls

    • 04:29
  • Mike Smithson | Is it because the marginals ARE different?

    • 04:03

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

Speaker election: Latest developments

21:20 Conservative MP Richard Ottaway says that that even though some Conservatives are "disappointed" at the election of Mr Bercow it will be difficult to remove him.

""It would be very hard for the Conservative party to move against him so whether we like it or not he's there for a while."

21:18 Diane Abbot warns that the Conservatives will appear "petty" if those opposed to Mr Bercow's election create problems for the new Speaker.

"They'll get over it. They'll make themselves look very petty if they create problems for a Speaker that's been elected with a clear majority".

20:54 David Blunkett calls for MPs to "cool it", despite Conservative conerns about electing John Bercow, to enable the new Speaker to get on with the work of reform.

"We need to cool it. All of us the Media and Parliament, so that we get it right in the future"

20:49 Sir Stewart Bell says John Bercow will be "the people's Speaker"

"The difficulties will be enormous but I am sure he is up to the job"

20:35 John Bercow elected speaker. In his acceptance speech he pledged he thanks MPs electing him.

"You have just bestowed upon me the greatest honour that I have enoyed in my professional life.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the confidence you have placed in me".

He also pledges to be impartial, despite Conservative fears about his closeness to Labour.

"I said it and I meant it my commitment to this house is to be completely impartial as between member of one political party and another that is what its about".

"I will do my best faithfully and honorably and effectively to serve this House in the period ahead".

19:36 Sir Alan Beith hints that he agrees Sir George Young would be more of a unifying candidate, saying more MPs feel they know Sir George. However he warns: "We really needed a concensus decision just winning may not be enough".

19:34 Labour MP John McFall says he feels John Bercow would "do the business" as Speaker and that the momentum is now with him.

19:33 John Redwood sounds a note of caution on the the reforming powers of the new Speaker, warning that he will need the backing of the party leaders, and the house as whole, to pass reforms.

19:18 Defeated candidate Ann Widdecombe says she will be voting for Sir George Young as "the more unifying candidate" warning that the election of John Bercow may breed resentment.

"I don't want the next Speaker to start with a lot of resentment," she said.

19:12 Douglas Carswell, says he is lukewarm about both remaining candidates for the Speaker's chair, but says he will be backing John Bercow. "John Bercow is very much his own man"

"Whoever wins has one heck of a job ahead of them to prove that we can get our house in order"

19:06 All candidates except John Bercow and Sir George Young withdraw from contest

18:42 Labour MP Martin Salter who is running John Bercow's campaign says he is "very comfortable" with the 179 votes his candidate received in the first round.

"We're in pole position at the moment but there's still a long way to go"

18:11 The votes, including the spoiled ballot, add up to 594, out of a possible 644. A quick call into the clerk's office to ask if our numbers are right yields an explanation: the Council of Europe is meeting, with up to 36 MPs attending, and some Select Committee trips explain the 50 odd absentees.

17:45 Tom Harris reveals that he is transferring his vote from Parmjit Dhanda to John Bercow. However he says he would be happy with either Bercow or Sir George Young.

17:44 Parmjit Dhanda tells Sky News that he won the argument if not the contest. "Perhaps I'm ten years ahead of the times ... I just hope whoever is elected does take on board these arguments".

He also says he will now vote for Sir Alan Beith.

Leave a comment...

Stpeney

Tom Watson says that the rumours in the House of Commons tea room are that the first round is a neck and neck between Margaret Beckett, John Bercow, and Sir George Young.

179, 119, 74?

Neck and neck? 

So much for Tom Watson's powers of insight - don't forget to close the door on your way out old son.

 

 

oldrightie
  • 18:27 |
  • 22 Jun 2009
  • 0

In the bag? Beckett or Bercow as shown in my latest post.

 

 

Major Plonquer

Ladies, As someone who suffers from Dailysex (dyslexia) I feel I must point out that 'Speaker John Bercow' is actually a clever anagram of 'Cheaper Brown Jokes'. Maybe this explains why he was elected. Major Plonquer.