Wednesday 31 December 2014

Warning: Election year starts in just a few hours' time - Politics.co.uk

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It's the final day of 2014 - and politicos up and down the country are bracing for a busy year that, alarmingly, begins in just a few hours' time. Pause for breath, everyone... and happy new year.

To 2014

Drugs, Ukip and a prisoner book ban: Our most-read articles of 2014

The prison book bank: A campaign started on Politics.co.uk

Dodgy government plans you probably don't know about and outrageous comments from fringe parties: these are what the readers of Politics.co.uk got most excited about in 2014.

2014 was the year the two main political parties died

The two main political parties have struggled to be heard this year

British politics is now defined by its smallest parties

Some New Year's Eve news

Prisoner book ban enemy Carol Ann Duffy honoured

Carol Ann Duffy becomes a dame

Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, who protested against justice secretary Chris Grayling's ban on prisoners receiving books earlier this year, has been made a dame in the new year's honour's list.

To 2015

How to steal the youth vote in Britain

Young voters will play a big role in deciding the 2015 general election

They're critical to deciding the next general election - but will any of the political parties actually do what they must to win over young voters?

Reverse honeymoon: SNP lead widens following Jim Murphy selection

Jim Murphy: A clear choice for Scots

Murphy's selection fails to stem rise of SNP in Scotland.

Labour are losing votes to the Greens and they don't know why

Caroline Lucas set to hold onto her seat against Labour.

Ed Miliband's anti-Green strategy appears to be backfiring

Unpicking the secret of Nigel Farage's appeal

Nigel Farage: The embodiment of frustration?

Nigel Farage looks, sounds and feels annoyed with the way things are. For the people who also feel this way he has become a beacon.

Learning to let go: How opening up parties could save them

Conservative party members listen to David Cameron in Birmingham, October 2014

The Conservative and Labour parties are dying a painfully slow death – but there is a way out, a report out today suggests.

Alarm as cosmetics ban claim referred to ECJ

Fears it could prove major setback to animal welfare.

Labour pledge to legalise humanist marriages as Government blocks proposals, disappointing thousands of couples

The Labour Party has today pledged to give legal recognition to humanist marriages if returned to power next year, as the government publish a report blocking Liberal Democrat party policy for reform.

Advisers welcome common sense approach on digital firms’ VAT but warn uncertainty will remain

Tax advisers have welcomed a government move1 which will save thousands of small businesses needing to register for European VAT on digital services from having to charge their customers UK VAT, provided their relevant turnover remains below the £81,000 threshold

CML publishes new market forecasts

Looking ahead over the next two years, housing and mortgage market developments appear well supported by relatively favourable economic fundamentals.

RSPCA shakes up Christmas

Thought-provoking video homage to festive classic set to shock.

"Teacher recruitment and retention on the precipice of a crisis" NASUWT tells pay review body

The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, is today giving oral evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (Review Body) to argue for a substantial above-inflation pay award for teachers in 2015/16.

Call to end the exploitation of agency workers

Politicians must show they are serious about cracking down on the exploitation of agency workers, including supply teachers, NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, has said.

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Monday 29 December 2014

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Wednesday 24 December 2014

2014: The year the two big parties died - Politics.co.uk

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"The public have become increasingly uninterested in what either of them have to say"

The year in review

2014 was the year the two main political parties died

The two main political parties have struggled to be heard this year

British politics is now defined by its smallest parties

Cameron's Christian values

David Cameron should practice the Christian values he preaches

David Cameron celebrating the arrival of Christmas

Under Cameron's government, there is no room at the inn for the world's needy

Other news

Why are taxpayers spending £60m on a bridge for Joanna Lumley?

Joanna Lumley has very effectively secured political support for the scheme

Project expected to boost central London property values

Reverse honeymoon: SNP lead widens following Jim Murphy selection

Jim Murphy: A clear choice for Scots

Murphy's selection fails to stem rise of SNP in Scotland.

Alarm as cosmetics ban claim referred to ECJ

Fears it could prove major setback to animal welfare.

Labour pledge to legalise humanist marriages as Government blocks proposals, disappointing thousands of couples

The Labour Party has today pledged to give legal recognition to humanist marriages if returned to power next year, as the government publish a report blocking Liberal Democrat party policy for reform.

Advisers welcome common sense approach on digital firms’ VAT but warn uncertainty will remain

Tax advisers have welcomed a government move1 which will save thousands of small businesses needing to register for European VAT on digital services from having to charge their customers UK VAT, provided their relevant turnover remains below the £81,000 threshold

CML publishes new market forecasts

Looking ahead over the next two years, housing and mortgage market developments appear well supported by relatively favourable economic fundamentals.

RSPCA shakes up Christmas

Thought-provoking video homage to festive classic set to shock.

"Teacher recruitment and retention on the precipice of a crisis" NASUWT tells pay review body

The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, is today giving oral evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (Review Body) to argue for a substantial above-inflation pay award for teachers in 2015/16.

Call to end the exploitation of agency workers

Politicians must show they are serious about cracking down on the exploitation of agency workers, including supply teachers, NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, has said.

This email has been sent to you by Politics.co.uk because you previously registered on our site. To stop receiving emails like this please update your preferences or unsubscribe here. Politics.co.uk, South Quay Plaza 2, 183 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SH. Registered in England with company number 07092149.

Monday 22 December 2014

Boris's bridge to nowhere - Politics.co.uk

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"While local government services and benefits are being cut to the bone, when it comes to funding these kinds of vanity projects, money always appears to be of no object."

Bridge to nowhere

Why are taxpayers spending £60m on a bridge for Joanna Lumley?

Joanna Lumley has very effectively secured political support for the scheme

Project expected to boost central London property values

Scottish Labour wipeout

Reverse honeymoon: SNP lead widens following Jim Murphy selection

Jim Murphy: A clear choice for Scots

Murphy's selection fails to stem rise of SNP in Scotland.

Last week

Pick of the Week: Failing Grayling

It's been another bad week for justice secretary Chris Grayling

Labour's rivals on the left and right, MI6 torture allegations and another bad week for the justice secretary

Comment: Why is it still socially acceptable to persecute travellers?

Flames engulf a caravan during the Dale Farm travellers camp eviction in 2011

No other minority is so widely and unquestionably abused in the UK.

Labour are losing votes to the Greens and they don't know why

Caroline Lucas set to hold onto her seat against Labour.

Ed Miliband's anti-Green strategy appears to be backfiring

Alarm as cosmetics ban claim referred to ECJ

Fears it could prove major setback to animal welfare.

Labour pledge to legalise humanist marriages as Government blocks proposals, disappointing thousands of couples

The Labour Party has today pledged to give legal recognition to humanist marriages if returned to power next year, as the government publish a report blocking Liberal Democrat party policy for reform.

Advisers welcome common sense approach on digital firms’ VAT but warn uncertainty will remain

Tax advisers have welcomed a government move1 which will save thousands of small businesses needing to register for European VAT on digital services from having to charge their customers UK VAT, provided their relevant turnover remains below the £81,000 threshold

CML publishes new market forecasts

Looking ahead over the next two years, housing and mortgage market developments appear well supported by relatively favourable economic fundamentals.

RSPCA shakes up Christmas

Thought-provoking video homage to festive classic set to shock.

"Teacher recruitment and retention on the precipice of a crisis" NASUWT tells pay review body

The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, is today giving oral evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (Review Body) to argue for a substantial above-inflation pay award for teachers in 2015/16.

Call to end the exploitation of agency workers

Politicians must show they are serious about cracking down on the exploitation of agency workers, including supply teachers, NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, has said.

This email has been sent to you by Politics.co.uk because you previously registered on our site. To stop receiving emails like this please update your preferences or unsubscribe here. Politics.co.uk, South Quay Plaza 2, 183 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SH. Registered in England with company number 07092149.

Friday 19 December 2014

Pick of the Week: Failing Grayling - Politics.co.uk

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Our five most popular pieces of the week, for your reading pleasure

Five: Prison book ban: Grayling steals Christmas

The government's decision not to appeal last week's landmark prison book ban ruling could have something to do with how universal the negative coverage was following the ruling. From the right wing press to the left, Grayling's prison book ban was condemned in the strongest terms. However, what's remarkable is that even now, as the policy slowly wastes away, Grayling still cannot bring himself to act in a principled manner. His last decision in this debacle is to prevent prisoners being sent books in time for Christmas

Four: The attack on Labour's Ukip leaflet is cynical nonsense

A leaked strategy document detailing how Labour plans to deal with the Ukip-threat was widely derided this week as further proof that Labour simply do not want to talk about immigration. However, a closer reading of the document suggests it was cynically taken out of context by Labour's critics in the press. The full memo is actually a common-sense guide to dealing with the rise of Nigel Farage's party.

Three: Labour are losing votes to the Greens and they don't know why

But while Labour appear to have woken up to the threat from Ukip, their strategy for dealing with the Greens is far less clear cut. New polling out this week suggests that Labour's recent attempts to win back voters from the Green party may have backfired, with Green support surging both locally and nationally. Are Labour now making the same mistakes with the Greens as the Conservatives made with Ukip?

Two: The allegations against MI6 are serious – so why aren't they front page news?

Allegations that the MI6 colluded in the torture of detainees are highly serious and potentially very damaging to the UK's international reputation. So why are the British press only just waking up to this important story. Journalist Alastair Sloan investigates.

One: Probation privatisation looks to be as big a disaster as we thought it was

When Chris Grayling announced the sell-off of probation services, he was told it was unnecessary, dangerous and needlessly complex. Grayling ignored the criticism and pressed ahead regardless. Now an initial assessment of how that process is going by the chief inspector of probation, appears to have validated the concerns of those who had warned the justice secretary off the idea.

Best of the week

PMQs verdict: Finally, Miliband's long wait is over

Ed Miliband's final PMQs of 2014 contained hints the worst is behind him

It's been a hellish 51 months for Ed Miliband. Ever since being elected as leader of the opposition he's faced periodic claims that he's just not very good at his job. Now, just when it matters most, the evidence from today's prime minister's questions suggests that's suddenly going to stop mattering.

Austerity, what austerity? Councillors are getting a secret pay bump this Christmas

Working from home: Or not, if you're a councillors claiming travel expenses

Despite all the austerity faced by local government, councillors were handed an unnoticed tax break in this year's autumn statement. It's outrageous – but who in Westminster is going to complain?

MPs shatter David Cameron's EVEL promise

David Cameron promised English votes for English laws 'in tandem' with Scottish devolution

Bitterly partisan and failing to display any signs of agreement, MPs' failure to rise to the occasion on English votes for English laws shows they are beyond redemption.

Labour's migrant workers law will almost never be used

Ed Miliband promises to tackle the exploitation of immigrant Labour

The aim of Miliband's new law is more political than legal

TfL bury Boris bike fare hike under the Christmas tree

Boris Johnson's cycle hire scheme has failed to cover its own costs

Boris Johnson's flagship cycle scheme failing to cover its costs

Alarm as cosmetics ban claim referred to ECJ

Fears it could prove major setback to animal welfare.

Labour pledge to legalise humanist marriages as Government blocks proposals, disappointing thousands of couples

The Labour Party has today pledged to give legal recognition to humanist marriages if returned to power next year, as the government publish a report blocking Liberal Democrat party policy for reform.

Advisers welcome common sense approach on digital firms’ VAT but warn uncertainty will remain

Tax advisers have welcomed a government move1 which will save thousands of small businesses needing to register for European VAT on digital services from having to charge their customers UK VAT, provided their relevant turnover remains below the £81,000 threshold

CML publishes new market forecasts

Looking ahead over the next two years, housing and mortgage market developments appear well supported by relatively favourable economic fundamentals.

RSPCA shakes up Christmas

Thought-provoking video homage to festive classic set to shock.

"Teacher recruitment and retention on the precipice of a crisis" NASUWT tells pay review body

The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, is today giving oral evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (Review Body) to argue for a substantial above-inflation pay award for teachers in 2015/16.

Call to end the exploitation of agency workers

Politicians must show they are serious about cracking down on the exploitation of agency workers, including supply teachers, NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, has said.

This email has been sent to you by Politics.co.uk because you previously registered on our site. To stop receiving emails like this please update your preferences or unsubscribe here. Politics.co.uk, South Quay Plaza 2, 183 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SH. Registered in England with company number 07092149.

Labour are losing votes to the Greens and they don't know why - Politics.co.uk

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"Left wing voters are increasingly switching their allegiance to the Greens"

Going green

Labour are losing votes to the Greens and they don't know why

Caroline Lucas set to hold onto her seat against Labour.

Ed Miliband's anti-Green strategy appears to be backfiring

Travellers

Comment: Why is it still socially acceptable to persecute travellers?

Flames engulf a caravan during the Dale Farm travellers camp eviction in 2011

No other minority is so widely and unquestionably abused in the UK.

In other news...

There's two politician-sized holes in Britain's new anti-corruption plan

Anti-corruption report doesn't even mention party funding

There's two gaping holes in the government's much-delayed anti-corruption plan which was finally released today – and it's the politicians who are escaping scot-free.

Unpicking the secret of Nigel Farage's appeal

Nigel Farage: The embodiment of frustration?

Nigel Farage looks, sounds and feels annoyed with the way things are. For the people who also feel this way he has become a beacon.

Alarm as cosmetics ban claim referred to ECJ

Fears it could prove major setback to animal welfare.

Labour pledge to legalise humanist marriages as Government blocks proposals, disappointing thousands of couples

The Labour Party has today pledged to give legal recognition to humanist marriages if returned to power next year, as the government publish a report blocking Liberal Democrat party policy for reform.

Advisers welcome common sense approach on digital firms’ VAT but warn uncertainty will remain

Tax advisers have welcomed a government move1 which will save thousands of small businesses needing to register for European VAT on digital services from having to charge their customers UK VAT, provided their relevant turnover remains below the £81,000 threshold

CML publishes new market forecasts

Looking ahead over the next two years, housing and mortgage market developments appear well supported by relatively favourable economic fundamentals.

RSPCA shakes up Christmas

Thought-provoking video homage to festive classic set to shock.

"Teacher recruitment and retention on the precipice of a crisis" NASUWT tells pay review body

The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, is today giving oral evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body (Review Body) to argue for a substantial above-inflation pay award for teachers in 2015/16.

Call to end the exploitation of agency workers

Politicians must show they are serious about cracking down on the exploitation of agency workers, including supply teachers, NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK, has said.

This email has been sent to you by Politics.co.uk because you previously registered on our site. To stop receiving emails like this please update your preferences or unsubscribe here. Politics.co.uk, South Quay Plaza 2, 183 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SH. Registered in England with company number 07092149.