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| You might not feel this way after reading it, but believe me - this is the ultimate in a politically neutral newsletter. It has three reasons why David Cameron had a good week and three reasons why he had a bad one. Something for everyone, really. Let's start with the bad. This was the week when chancellor George Osborne's resistance folded to imposing a limit on the amount payday loan companies are able to charge their customers. It was an embarrassing U-turn and an example of a government in retreat. Cameron was badgered over the issue at PMQs, but it turned into a furiously shouty agreement session and the PM got away with a 1-1- draw. This was also the week when the controversial badger cull, which ministers have defended despite the very limited scientific basis the killing rested on, was abandoned as a failure. Sometimes governments get it wrong but doing so rarely costs so many lives - or so much political capital. This morning it looked like a third huge setback was underway: the suggestion that next week's autumn statement might see the government attempting to persuade the big six energy companies to hold prices until 2015. The Treasury has denied the story, meaning it will not be on the news tonight. Instead of being a bad news story for the coalition, we found ourselves looking at spiked coverage of Labour's own energy green paper. Now for the flip side of the coin: three reasons why the prime minister actually had a pretty good seven days, after all. First came a washout from north of the border. The Scottish government's independence white paper managed to be literally heavy and figuratively lightweight. Its assumption that the sterling currency union would be permitted by the rump UK seemed a bit optimistic. With Cameron continuing his strategically astute approach of keeping his nose well and truly out of the debate, his chances of becoming the PM who saved the union have gone up another notch. Then came the extraordinary error from Boris Johnson of telling it like it is. The London mayor's defence of greed and envy as Good Things has very truthfully revealed the fundamental selfishness at the heart of Conservatism - or so I argued in an unusually opinionated outburst on the website this week. Coming so fast on Boris' speech to the Tory party conference, when he raised eyebrows by telling an audience of right-wingers they ought to pull themselves together on immigration, Dave will be getting much more relaxed about the leadership threat from his floppy-haired Bullingdon rival. Finally we had immigration. Cameron has a tricky task in getting an overall majority - or even an underall minority - in 2015. So he needs every vote he can get. With Ukip threatening his right flank and the media getting worked up about a feared wave of Romanian and Bulgarian arrivals next year, the time was ripe to complete a very potent cocktail by stirring in a dash of euroscepticism and a sprinkling of benefits. The result was deeply depressing - and undoubtedly vote-winning - for the PM. Cameron has had a good week, but for one man this couldn't have got much worse. All week our editor Ian's been following the story of Isa Muazu, who was deported to Nigeria despite outrage from campaigners. He hasn't eaten for 90 days and many feared he would not survive the flight. His supporters haven't heard from him since 02:00 this morning. SundayThe dead cat strategy: How Tories hope to win the next election Labour can expect to see plenty more dead cats thrown on their table over the next year and a half. Labour faces 'financial crisis' as Co-op scandal deepens Labour could have to pay back more than £2 million in loans early to the troubled banking group when it is taken over by US-based hedge funds as part of a rescue deal. Dominic Grieve sorry for calling Pakistanis corrupt The government's chief legal advisor has apologised after suggesting the Pakistani community in Britain is endemically corrupt. MondayMinisters 'won't break' law over immigrant benefits crackdown Britain will act "within the law" over a harsh new crackdown on benefits for immigrants, No 10 has said - despite illegal proposals being considered in Whitehall. Aussies elect... Mr Paparazzi Celebrity Big Brother contestant Darryn Lyons has been elected the new mayor of Geelong. Labour campaigner accepts Osborne surrender over payday loans George Osborne has denied the coalition is U-turning over payday loans - after confirming the government will force the loan shark regulator to impose a cap on the cost of last-minute credit. TuesdayEverything you need to know about the Scottish independence white paper in five minutes Is this the game-changer Salmond needs? Porno Britain: Are we all to blame for child-on-child sex abuse? And if we're all to blame, what are we all going to do about it? Comment: Our 'holy alliance' should claim victory over payday lending cap A political silence on issues like payday lending has led to a desperate need for other voices in the public debate - and it's religious ones who are, increasingly, filling the gap. WednesdayExclusive: Muazu's fate rests on rearguard legal defence Lawyers were engaged in a frantic behind-the-scenes battle to save a Nigerian asylum seeker today, after a last-minute reprieve won him another two days in the UK. PMQs verdict: Cameron and Miliband in furious agreement David Cameron and Ed Miliband agree with each other over the need to cap payday loans. They therefore decided to spend half an hour shouting at each other about it. Comment: The case that tells us what kind of country Britain is He cannot stand or see, but this week we will deport Isa Muazu and dump him in Nigeria, where he fears being targeted by Islamic extremists. ThursdayComment: No Boris, greed and charity don't mix Greed and envy are sins. So why is Boris Johnson trying to turn them into virtues? Isa Muazu: Campaigners pin hopes on last-minute injunction Campaigners trying to prevent the deportation of Isa Muazu are pinning their hopes on a last minute court injunction which will be sought tonight, just hours before the Nigerian national is due to be returned to his home country. Analysis: Why David Cameron's right to snub the Scots While Scottish celebs will be earnestly chewing the delicately-prepared fat over Alex Salmond's independence white paper, the prime minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be having dinner with EU leaders. FridayComment: Our regulators are as mad and bad as Mussolini Big business and regulators are in cahoots to fill their pockets. Podcast: Living with dirty politics British political culture isn't very nice. It's a deeply entrenched problem - and yet the Politics.co.uk team was able to solve it in just 18 minutes... Comment: Concerns about immigration are not automatically racist We should be brave enough to challenge those whose cultural practices don't fit in with British values. Too often doing so prompts unfair accusations of racism - and are only doing the debate a disservice. | CIOT: Low income campaigners call for wider universal credit pilotLITRG is calling for the Government to introduce a revised pilot of the new universal credit system. Cogent: New Online Skillsstore for the Science IndustriesCogent and the National Skills Academy Process Industries, has today launched Skillsstore.com. NASUWT "disappointed" that Education Secretary "resorted to provocation"NASUWT comments on the ongoing dispute with the Secretary of State for Education. CPA: Construction survey indicates broader growth aheadThe Construction Trade Survey shows construction activity rose for the second consecutive quarter in Q3. 3M: Fantastic makeovers film showcased on Peter Andre's 60 Minute MakeoverOriginal covers for radiators by Couture Cases will be showcased on Peter Andre's 60 Minute Makeover. The world looks up to English education as an international benchmark - Cambridge AssessmentBritain is at the heart of overseas educational investment - and Cambridge Assessment is a key player. BSIA South East event challenges perception of ‘victimless’ business crimeBusiness crime should never be dismissed as low level, or victimless. CIOT: Have you paid too much tax on your redundancy payment?When an employer becomes insolvent, payments made by RPO to employees often wrongly have tax deducted. RSPCA: Gordon Ramsay should drop "barbaric" foie gras altogetherThe RSPCA is glad Gordon Ramsay dropped his supplier but sale of foie gras should be banned. |
