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| There were four storms rocking British politics this week. And one of them actually involved weather. It must be what the weatherpersons live for. There is nothing they like more than a drought, or floods, or in this case hurricane-force gusts. Cast your mind back to last weekend and you'll recall exactly how worked up they were. The weatherfolk were in heaven. My wife was getting distinctly worked up. Normally the government is able to get through these crises very easily. Just look at how they fared after the 1987 hurricane, for example, and you'll see how easy it is for weather worries to disappear into the cauldron of partisan hatred. The 2013 anticyclonic tropical storm, or whatever, was less calamitous. Even if the intervention of a crane about the Cabinet Office led to an unexpected disruption in Nick Clegg's media schedule of deputy-prime-ministerial jibber-jabber. By then all three of the definitely non-literal tempests tracking their way through Westminster were underway. Actually, that's not quite right. One was slowly approaching. Another had already rushed through. The third continued to rage overhead. The approaching tornado is HS2. Despite all the fuss you've heard about it this week, the truth is this is only the warm-up act. Our politics.co.uk meteorologists are forecasting it will be tracking across the Atlantic (in a Y-shaped formation, of course) before slamming into Westminster some time next spring. Curiously, Labour politicians are especially vulnerable to the gusts this one will bring. A split between the party's frontbench (not sure about spending all that cash) and backbenches (desperate to get the economic benefits) looked dangerous as the paving bill completed its Commons stages on Thursday, but shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh did a decent job of patching over them. For now. The passings squall is, despite all the lurid headlines, the phone-hacking scandal. That's how it seems right now, anyway. At its height this was the scandal which dominated the news for weeks on end. But now, despite the trial now ongoing at the Old Bailey, in purely political terms the damage seems to have already been done. David Cameron has not yet been hit hard by any shocking new revelation produced by the prosecution team. Until that happens, it looks like this is one typhoon of news which has already whisked its way through Britain. That just leaves the one remaining figurative storm which might, just might, one day end up actually turning off the lights. The furore over gas and electricity prices generated a media storm which peaked this week with the appearance of energy company bosses before MPs in Westminster. I was in the room to watch it unfold. The atmosphere was horribly tense - but, astonishingly, the bosses were able to hold their nerve. Such was the ineptness of the questioning from the energy and climate change committee that the energy chiefs were actually able to lobby for a reduction in the green and social subsidies the government imposes on their customers. Still, as prime minister's questions showed once again, energy remains a hot topic. Pun intended. David Cameron's decision to accept an offer to kick the issue into the long grass by ordering a Competition Commission inquiry mean it's possible this week might just be the peak of a this particular patch of bad political weather. This was also the week when the privy council decided to adopt its own version of regulation for the press, by the way. Unfortunately that didn't fit into my little storm analogy, so it's got forgotten about. Who said good journalism was dead, anyway? MondayHow MPs respond to hurricanes: A 1987 case study How do MPs respond when massive storms batter Britain's shores? By bickering about who picks up the bill, of course. Grant Shapps' attack on the BBC is an act of bare-faced political thuggery The Tory party chairman has given the BBC an explicit warning: Give us favourable coverage or we'll have our revenge in 2016. Swindon, we have a problem: UK 'underfunding' galactic-sized space ambitions MPs have expressed concern after discovering Britain's booming space sector, which the government hopes will grow fourfold by 2030, is being overseen by just 44 staff - mostly based in Swindon. TuesdayEnergy prices grilling sketch: Three suits and a salesman The logic was impenetrable, the avalanche of numbers overwhelming. But this afternoon's grilling of energy firm bosses contained a big clue proving the suspicion of everyone that electricity and gas is all but dead. Comment: Snowden saga has left Britain adrift The Land of the Free has become Big Brother Central. As the Edward Snowden saga drags on, Britain must ask itself: Which side of the Atlantic are we really on? Comment: Don't dismiss celebrity politics – young people can learn from famous campaigners The commentariat reacted snootily to Russell Brand's call for political revolution, but many young people get positive messages from celebrity politicians. WednesdayCoulson–Brooks affair revealed in phone-hacking trial A six-year affair between Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson has been revealed during the court case at the Old Bailey. Shrinking power: One Direction and supermarket boss humiliate Cameron in influence stakes A supermarket chief and five-piece global pop phenomenon have handed David Cameron's status twin setbacks this morning. Comment: The press is hypocritical and irresponsible – but we must defend it against the state The press paints bullying as principle and arrogance as saintliness. But the secret work of the Privy Council shows it's better than the alternative. ThursdayCoulson–Brooks affair revealed in phone-hacking trial A six-year affair between Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson has been revealed during the court case at the Old Bailey. Labour sticks with HS2 as high speed rail bill passes Commons Labour's frontbench has offered strong support for the government's HS2 project, as the Commons voted through a bill paving the way for the £42 billion scheme to go ahead. Comment: The press is hypocritical and irresponsible – but we must defend it against the state The press paints bullying as principle and arrogance as saintliness. But the secret work of the Privy Council shows it's better than the alternative. FridayPhone-hacking trial: Coulson gave order to 'do his phone' Andy Coulson instructed a colleague investigating a story about model Calum Best to "do his phone", jurors in the phone-hacking trial have been told. Comment: Eating animals is like slavery - it has to end now Ultimately the exploitation of animals for human ends must be stopped – just as slavery, child labour and other social ills have been. Tory wants cannabis legalised 'for medicinal purposes' A Conservative MP is calling on the government to do more to make cannabis available for those suffering intense pain. | BSA: September mortgage lending by mutual sector shows 50% riseLending by building societies and other mutuals was 50% higher in September 2013 than 2012. RSPCA welcomes new European Commission study into puppy tradeThe RSPCA has welcomed the launch of a new study into the puppy trade across Europe. CIOB: Identifying the construction leaders of tomorrowCIOB challenges universities to compete in Global Student Challenge initiative. North-South new rail link: HS2, more than a railway [Opinion Former Infographic]An infographic depicting the economic benefits, both direct and indirect, of the proposed north-south rail link. ESRC: Rude Britannia – what our politeness says about our nationBritain is still a nation of polite people, and fears that social media makes us ruder is a myth. BSA: September mortgage lending by mutual sector shows 50% riseLending by building societies and other mutuals was 50% higher in September 2013 than 2012. RSPCA welcomes new European Commission study into puppy tradeThe RSPCA has welcomed the launch of a new study into the puppy trade across Europe. ESRC: Climate change action "a matter of life and death"Infrastructure a matter of life and death for people in countries most affected by climate change. NASUWT: "Nick Clegg fools no-one"“Does Nick Clegg honestly think that either the teaching profession or parents will be impressed?" RSPCA: Trust in ready meals declines as demand for ethical food risesBritain - ready meal capital of Western Europe - loses trust in pre-prepared food and demand for higher welfare food rises. |
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