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The Staggers

The New Statesman rolling blog

CommentPlus: pick of the papers

The ten must-read pieces from this morning's papers.

1. If the cuts are to be derailed, there must be an alternative (Guardian)

Seumas Milne warns that trade unions will need allies if resistance to coalition slash-and-burn is to succeed. They will also need Labour to shift its ground.

2. We don't need new laws to call Crow's bluff (Times) (£)

Anti-strike legislation could split the coalition, says Camilla Canvendish. But there ... read more

New Statesman cover | 13 September 2010

Sneak preview of this week’s front cover.

... read more

8 comments

David Cameron's father dies

Prime Minister’s father passes away after suffering a stroke.

David Cameron's father Ian has sadly passed away after suffering a stroke and heart complications while on holiday in France. The 77-year-old died several hours after the Prime Minister reached his bedside.

In a statement, Downing Street said:

It is with deep regret we can confirm that Ian Cameron died earlier this afternoon.

He passed away shortly after the Prime Minister arrived at the hospital in France where he was undergoing treatment.

The Deputy ... read more

7 comments

Web Only: the best of the blogs

The five must-read posts from today, including Clegg at PMQs and the male dominance of political blogs.

1. Has Clegg just green-lighted a Tory rebellion?

Paul Waugh draws attention to a misguided comment by Nick Clegg towards the end of PMQs.

2. Will Hague and Clegg deliver on their pledge to the Chagossians?

Over at Left Foot Forward, Keiran Roberts discusses the plight of the Chagos Islanders, and the likelihood of the coalition sticking to its promises.

3. read more

Metgate: from a clamour to an inquiry

The crucial New York Times allegation can now be addressed.

When the New York Times broke the significant "MetGate" allegation of an improper relationship between the Metropolitan Police and News International, commentators and politicians went in two directions.

Some, confusing a demand for an investigation or an inquiry with a call for an arrest, a prosecution, or a conviction, just repeated a mantra about the need for new or fresh evidence.

However, this was misconceived.

What is needed ... read more

Tags: Andy Coulson

18 comments

Mulcaire received more than 20 calls a year from NoW staff

The jailed private detective was planning to write a book about his role in the phone-hacking scandal.

The Independent reports today that Glenn Mulcaire, the private detective jailed in the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, had planned to write a book detailing his work with the newspaper.

The book was never written, because Mulcaire signed an £80,000 confidentiality agreement with the newspaper after he sued for wrongful dismissal following his conviction. But he did write a detailed, five-page synopsis of the book, ... read more

1 comment

For Tony Blair and free speech

Are we censoring a retired politician?

A retired politician is promoting a publication to those who may wish to purchase it.

This is not some extremist politician, but a former mainstream, democratic politician.

And this is not just any former mainstream, democratic politician, but the only UK party leader to have won a decisive general election with a sustainable majority since 1987.

But that politician cannot do any events. The events are being cancelled. Is this a cause for ... read more

Tags: Tony Blair

30 comments

Clinton condemns 9/11 Quran burning

US secretary of state joins General Petraeus in condemning plans by a small Florida church to burn copies of the Quran on September 11.

Hillary Clinton has added her name to a long list of those who have condemned plans by a Florida church to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of 9/11 as "a warning to radical Islam".

The burning is planned to take place at the Dove World Outreach Centre, a 50-member evangelical Christian church in Gainesville, Florida. Its pastor, Rev Terry Jones, told CNN that he is taking the widespread ... read more

Tags: Islam Hillary Clinton

26 comments

Ann Widdecombe confirmed as guest on Strictly

Having turned down the role of ambassador to the Vatican, the ex-MP will appear on the ballroom dancing show.

Forget the phone-hacking scandal and the Lib Dem party conference. The news we've all been waiting for has broken: it has been confirmed that Ann Widdecombe will appear on the next series of the BBC's primetime show Strictly Come Dancing.

This follows weeks of speculation (seriously) since the Daily Mail first reported the story in July.

As ... read more

7 comments

CommentPlus: pick of the papers

The ten must-read pieces from this morning’s papers.

1. Bankers are Masters of the Universe again (Times) (£)

It's a paradox, says Anatole Kaletsky, but the unfocused rage against financiers is one reason for their sudden rehabilitation.

2. Two years on and all we get from the banks is two fingers (Guardian)

Deborah Hargreaves argues that the appointment at Barclays of Bob Diamond, risk-taker par excellence, throws down the gauntlet over ... read more

Let's not disrupt the Pope

Can we just ignore or deride him instead?

For those of us who are merely secular or anti-clerical rather than militantly atheistic, there is something rather off-putting about the possible scale of the impending protests at the papal visit.

It would appear that there is a fear that the protests will be such that the papal tour will be disrupted.

This fear is so serious that it is reported that there is to be a meeting at Scotland Yard between ... read more

Tags: Papal visit 2010

54 comments

Web Only: the best of the blogs

The five must-read posts from today, including tuition fees and Barack Obama’s spending plans.

1. Why did no senior Tories back Nick Clegg?

Benedict Brogan notes that no senior Conservatives were present on the front bench as Clegg opened the second reading on AV.

2. Rather a big if . . .

The UK Polling Report notes a leap of logic in the BBC coverage of today's poll of Labour councillors.

3. Infrastructure

Paul ... read more

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Clinton condemns 9/11 Quran burning

Christianity's top 11 most controversial figures

For Tony Blair and free speech

Will this picture come back to haunt Nick Clegg?

David Cameron's father dies

Latest comments

Christianity's top 11 most controversial figures

I am proud of the work of Martin Luther and his opening up the Word and faith to freedom of the intent of the Lord. Often I hear that Lutherans are just liek Catholics and that coul dnot be...

From Ruth Hammons, 09 September 07:19

Christianity's top 11 most controversial figures

Terribly ethno-centric and narrow, very poor, Hitler, Stalin, Da vinci, Shakespear, Charlemagn, Constantin surely??????

From Leo, 09 September 07:13

Labour voters lost faith in the state

Will Julia Gillard’s Labor Party government fixed voters voices, pains and crying? Australia citizens now enter a very challenging political era for 70 years in the 2010 federal election, many...

From ma sealake, 09 September 07:01

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