The five must-read pieces from today, including
1. The strange survival of Labour England
Talk to any Tory, and it's hard to find any who thinks the 2015 election is in the bag, says Fraser Nelson at Coffee House.
2. UK's unemployment record looking less impressive
While other countries are reducing unemployment, Britain's dole queues are lengthening, notes Richard Exell at the Touchstone blog.
3. If ... read more
Clegg greets Huhne's successor.
The long-term cost of high unemployment to individuals and to society is huge.
Not surprisingly, NIESR's latest forecast, published today, has led to predictable headlines focusing on our prediction of a "return to technical recession." But this misses the point. We are forecasting that the economy will contract slightly in the first half of this year; some other forecasters agree, others don't. But the differences are within the margin of error; we could well be wrong. The point ... read more
Huhne was not the most "coalicious" figure in government, but that is precisely why ordinary party members liked having him in the cabinet.
There is a thread of glee running through some of the commentary around Chris Huhne's fate this morning. This is because the former Energy Secretary has rubbed a lot of people in Westminster up the wrong way. Many Tories see him as insufficiently collegiate when it comes to collective cabinet responsibility for the coalition project. He is suspected of keeping too beady an eye on that corner of the ... read more
Lib Dem resigns as Energy Secretary and says he is "innocent of these charges".
As expected, Chris Huhne has fallen on his sword. Here's his statement, which he has just made outside his London flat.
The Crown Prosecution Service's decision today is deeply regrettable.
I am innocent of these charges and I intend to fight this in the courts and I am confident that a jury will agree. So as to avoid any distraction to either my official duties or my trial defence I am standing ... read more
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Energy Secretary will be prosecuted over speeding points allegations.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has just announced live to the TV cameras that Chris Huhne and his former wife Vicky Pryce will be charged for allegedly "perverting the course of justice". They will appear before Westminster magistrates court on 16 February and, if found guilty, could face prison.
Huhne, who denies all allegations, will now be forced to resign from the cabinet, with the smart money on Ed Davey, the ... read more
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Lib Dem leader ignores manifesto pledge explicitly opposing military action against Iran.
Nick Clegg has given an interview to The House magazine in which he's questioned about the increasing possibility of a pre-emptive strike by Israel against Iran. Asked if Britain would participate in military action, he replies:
It depends entirely on what Iran's intentions are. I think of course you don't in a situation like this take any options off the table. When you are in a ... read more
The ten must-read pieces from this morning's papers.
1. End this masochism in economic policy (Financial Times)
Prolonged stagnation and high unemployment will permanently lower the economy's potential, writes Martin Wolf. But there is an alternative.
2. The welfare reform bill will incentivise people: to turn on David Cameron (Guardian)
David Cameron's cuts have barely got going yet, writes Polly Toynbee. That's the frightening truth about austerity.
3. read more
New polling evidence shows how Salmond's loaded question increases support for Scottish independence.
Alex Salmond's chosen question for the Scottish independence referendum ("Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?) is clearly a leading one. As Robert Cialdini, an American psychologist with no stake in the race, told the Today programme: "it sends people down a particular cognitive chute designed to locate agreements rather than disagreements." But would it actually make any difference to the ... read more
One man's experience of successfully appealing a Work Capability Assessment ruling.
I'm one of the 39 per cent. I appealed against a decision by Jobcentre Plus that, despite being five months into recovery from a stroke, I was not entitled to sickness benefit. On Tuesday, I won. The overturned decision was based on the infamous work capability tests carried out by French IT company Atos. The accuracy of the tests has ... read more
David Miliband's essay is the latest in a line of scoops here at the New Statesman.
This week we published yet another scoop here at the New Statesman, an essay by David Miliband challenging Labour to reform. It has dominated the political conversation .
It's the latest in a series of articles that have led to the New Statesman being voted newspaper and current affairs magazine of the year and consumer website of the year.
Here's a selection of our agenda-setting journalism:
"No strategy, no narrative and ... read more
The five must-read blogs from today, including why No. 10 doesn't forecast a Tory majority.
1. Number 10 don't forecast Tory majority
ConservativeHome's Tim Montgomerie explains why Downing Street thinks another coalition remains is very likely and even desirable after the next election.
2. Why won't ministers speak up for David Cameron?
Senior ministers are refusing to take to the airwaves to put the government's case, reveals the Telegraph's Benedict Brogan
3. Unfortunately, more ... read more
The drive for mass immigration actually came from the public sector unions which fund Labour 9 parts out of 10 and call the tune. (In the 1980s Private sector unions had all but collapsed)...
From Mr Hammond, 04 February 01:35
You have gotta be kidding? Hope you censor the words JEW or ISRAEL with equal vigor
From Ozzie Mike, 04 February 01:30
Does BBC managment realize that by censoring this, the CD sales will go way up. Which will show even more people how hypocritical this is? If you publically criticize Israel on the BBC, will...
From Tom, 04 February 01:02
Can the UK achieve it’s commitment to carbon reduction targets by 2020?
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