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| Our five most popular pieces of the week, for your reading pleasure Five: Prison book ban: Grayling steals ChristmasThe 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 nonsenseA 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 weekPMQs verdict: Finally, Miliband's long wait is over 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 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 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 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 flagship cycle scheme failing to cover its costs | Alarm as cosmetics ban claim referred to ECJFears it could prove major setback to animal welfare. Labour pledge to legalise humanist marriages as Government blocks proposals, disappointing thousands of couplesThe 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 remainTax 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 forecastsLooking ahead over the next two years, housing and mortgage market developments appear well supported by relatively favourable economic fundamentals. RSPCA shakes up ChristmasThought-provoking video homage to festive classic set to shock. "Teacher recruitment and retention on the precipice of a crisis" NASUWT tells pay review bodyThe 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 workersPoliticians 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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