Tuesday 31 March 2015

Britain First's retaliation attack for Farage - Politics.co.uk

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"We've come here tonight to give them a taste of their own medicine"

Britain First

Britain First launch retaliation attack in defence of Nigel Farage

Britain First: "If you overstep the mark you will find us on your doorstep."

Nigel Farage's party have been dogged by associations with fascist group

Labour track right on drugs

Labour attacks Lib Dems for being 'soft on drugs'

Labour leaflet attacks Lib Dem drug policy

Leaflets target Clegg policy of scrapping prison sentences for drug possession and suggest old habits due hard

The Google election

The Google election: Search analysis tips Tories for election win

Could online search offer a glimpse of the election result?

The Conservatives are on course to be the largest party in a hung parliament, according to a new analysis of online search terms.

Hobbits for Labour

WATCH: Martin Freeman's Labour election broadcast

Martin Freeman - the Hobbit takes on the election

Watch Martin Freeman urge voters to pick Labour in the party's first election broadcast of the short campaign

RSPCA - urgent #homesforhorses appeal launched

Charity received more than 22,000 calls in 2014 as horse crisis continues.

Campaigners launch manifesto for low income taxpayers

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has published a manifesto setting out the agenda the Group would like the next government to pursue for taxpayers on low incomes.

Suffolk parents raise money to help their son walk just like his twin brother

James and Lorna Brokenshire-Dyke are now trying to raise seventy thousand pounds for life-changing surgery in America which they hope will help two year Sebastian walk and hopefully run too - just like his twin brother, Solomon.

Older women with breast cancer not receiving best care and treatment

Diana Jupp: "It is unacceptable that, in 2015, a breast cancer patient does not get the best care and treatment simply because of how old they are".

An expanded Heathrow would take Wales further

Every part of Britain is set to gain from an increased aviation hub capacity if the right decision is made – especially Wales.

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Monday 30 March 2015

The SNP's secret ID cards plan - Politics.co.uk

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"A shift away from the current consensual model"

SNP ID cards

How the SNP plans to secretly introduce ID cards

Plans for ID cards: opposed in 2006, supported in 2015

SNP plans to tag people's NHS number to an 'entitlement card' threaten to introduce ID cards without a vote or even debate

Election 2015

Tory panic as Miliband gets big debate poll boost

Ed Miliband's personal ratings surge following debate appearance

Miliband's personal ratings surge following confident performance

What if Cameron won't go?

Here's what the Queen has to say about Cameron's hung parliament plans

A big day at the Palace: It's general election time

Inside Buckingham Palace, the prime minister faces an awkward conversation

Boris' tax avoidance failure

What happened to Boris' 'tax avoidance crackdown' at TfL?

Boris Johnson has overseen huge rise in employees paid "off pay-roll"

Mayor has overseen huge rise in employees paid "off pay-roll"

Housing crisis

Comment: The old socialist project which could solve London's housing crisis

Garden City: The solution to London's housing crisis?

Garden Cities were designed to spread the social benefits of increased land value. This centuries-old project could be the solution to a very modern housing crisis.

Human rights in the private sector

Comment: UK firms need more nudging to respect human rights

The government can do much, much more on human rights

Is it time to force UK businesses to implement human rights checks? Thirty per cent of businesses back legal requirements on human rights due diligence.

...and finally

Pets vs election leaflets: There can only be one winner

Lacking the election spirit

Carefully crafted political literature is being heartlessly mangled by idiot dogs

RSPCA - urgent #homesforhorses appeal launched

Charity received more than 22,000 calls in 2014 as horse crisis continues.

Campaigners launch manifesto for low income taxpayers

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has published a manifesto setting out the agenda the Group would like the next government to pursue for taxpayers on low incomes.

Suffolk parents raise money to help their son walk just like his twin brother

James and Lorna Brokenshire-Dyke are now trying to raise seventy thousand pounds for life-changing surgery in America which they hope will help two year Sebastian walk and hopefully run too - just like his twin brother, Solomon.

Older women with breast cancer not receiving best care and treatment

Diana Jupp: "It is unacceptable that, in 2015, a breast cancer patient does not get the best care and treatment simply because of how old they are".

An expanded Heathrow would take Wales further

Every part of Britain is set to gain from an increased aviation hub capacity if the right decision is made – especially Wales.

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Friday 27 March 2015

Pick of the week: The shady group fighting the SNP - Politics.co.uk

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The top five most-read articles on Politics.co.uk this week.

5. Hague's last defeat. Labour MPs block 'grubby' anti-Bercow coup

This week's last-minute debate over the rules for electing the Speaker will have gone largely unnoticed by the country but it was a moment of rare parliamentary high-drama, high-intrigue and high-emotion.

Those who did tune in this Thursday will have witnessed truly remarkable scenes as the government was defeated by a coalition of Labour MPs and Tory backbenchers appalled at William Hague's "grubby" attempt to sneak through changes that would have made it easier to replace the current speaker John Bercow. The one-hour debate had it all: tears, abuse, applause, venom and one genuinely great speech from Tory MP Charles Walker.

The look Bercow gave the government benches once it became clear their coup had spectacularly failed will go down in history as one of the most menacing ever caught on camera. Bercow's vengeance can only be a matter of time.

4. Comment: I've been barred from visiting a G4S prison

Frances Crook's account from last week, of how the National Offender Management Service intervened to prevent her from visiting privately-run prisons, continued to grab your attention this week. If you haven't yet read this piece by the chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform then you should do so now.

3. Comment: Forget the hysteria: Here are the facts about 'cannabis psychosis'.

For all the talk in recent months about 'cannabis psychosis' being a widespread problem, new figures reveal that there are actually only tiny numbers of confirmed cases of it within the NHS every year. This piece, by Cannabis Law Reform leader Peter Reynolds, outlining the case for legalising and regulating the drug, was our third most read article of the week.

2. Conservative Party to introduce 'mosque closure orders'

The Conservative party will introduce new powers to close down any mosque which hosts extremists, Theresa May said this week. The new 'mosque closure orders' would give the government widespread powers to close down any premises which are either run by, or welcome, extremist speakers.

In a decidedly neo-Conservative speech May channeled the language of George Bush, saying the nation faced a new battle between "them and us", adding that those who chose the wrong side would feel the full force of the law. Tellingly, rather than criticise the new measures as illiberal, Labour instead insisted the home secretary hadn't gone far enough.

1. Secret enemy: Meet the shady group fighting the SNP

The Scottish independence referendum continues to reverberate through British politics both north and south of the border. The latest attempt to fight back against the rise of Scottish nationalism comes from a new campaign to persuade Scottish voters to vote tactically to keep the SNP out. So who is behind this latest anti-SNP fightback? Politics.co.uk's own Alex Stevenson thought he would try to find out.

Best of the rest...

TfL boss wines and dines Labour mayoral hopefuls

Sir Peter Hendy alongside current mayor Boris Johnson

Sir Peter Hendy enjoys Champagne and Cognac with Labour politicians.

Exposed: The Scottish independence myth no party leader wants you to hear

The defeated Alex Salmond blamed the Vow for his failure

Scottish nationalists spooked Westminster's party leaders into giving away more powers to Scotland than they needed to during last year's referendum, new research has found.

#BattleforNumber10: How Miliband beat Cameron

Kay Burley and Jeremy Paxman: Neither of these people are going to be prime minister

According to our sophisticated scoring system, which involves adding two numbers together, the clear winner is... Ed Miliband, actually.

Comment: Boarding school has scarred our leaders

How have boarding schools like Eton shaped our leaders?

Everyone knows there's something wrong with politics in Britain. And, at long last, the psychotherapy profession has started to take note.

PMQS Verdict: Miliband goes out with a whimper

Goodnight sweetheart: Tory MPs wave farewell to Miliband

Labour leader suffers a crushing defeat at the last PMQs of this Parliament

Comment: It's time to finally ban the cruel snaring of wild animals

The public overwhelmingly back a ban, so why don't politicians act?

The public overwhelmingly back a ban, so why don't politicians act?

Boris Johnson's deputy accused of campaigning on the rates

Stephen Greenhalgh: Campaigning to be the next mayor of London

Stephen Greenhalgh accused of misusing City Hall resources

Senior Tory: David Cameron has made us a 'party for the rich'

David Cameron: Failed to shed negative image of the party

Former minister also warns party is seen as anti-migrant

Ken Livingstone tips Sadiq Khan to be next London mayor

Sadiq Khan: In the running for City Hall

Former mayor says shadow justice secretary will emerge as victor in London race

Comment: When women pay for austerity, we all suffer

Globally, women have become the face of austerity

Targeting women for austerity isn't just cruel. It destroys our social fabric

An expanded Heathrow would take Wales further

Every part of Britain is set to gain from an increased aviation hub capacity if the right decision is made – especially Wales.

RSPCA - urgent #homesforhorses appeal launched

Charity received more than 22,000 calls in 2014 as horse crisis continues.

London Oratory School in High Court challenge to School Adjudicator’s ruling on discriminatory admissions policy

On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the High Court will hear whether one of the country's leading state secondary schools has been selecting its pupils on ethnic and socio-economic grounds in its admissions policy, the BHA can reveal.

Older women with breast cancer not receiving best care and treatment

Diana Jupp: "It is unacceptable that, in 2015, a breast cancer patient does not get the best care and treatment simply because of how old they are".

Government waives planning permission for commercial rooftop solar

Barrier for solar rooftops up to 1MW first raised by the STA over a year ago falls away.

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Who won? - Politics.co.uk

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"Am I tough enough? Hell yes, I'm tough enough."

Last night's telly

#BattleForNumber10: How Cameron beat Miliband

David Cameron emerged as the polls' victor from last night's questioning

The PM is a much more convincing speaker on screen, with one person or speaking to an audience

#BattleforNumber10: How Miliband beat Cameron

Kay Burley and Jeremy Paxman: Neither of these people are going to be prime minister

According to our sophisticated scoring system, which involves adding two numbers together, the clear winner is... Ed Miliband, actually.

TV debates confidential: In search of a soundbite

Both Ed Miliband and David Cameron desperately need to win their TV debates

Killer soundbites are not simply down to natural flair or luck; they are crafted. Here's how.

After the indyref

Exposed: The Scottish independence myth no party leader wants you to hear

The defeated Alex Salmond blamed the Vow for his failure

Scottish nationalists spooked Westminster's party leaders into giving away more powers to Scotland than they needed to during last year's referendum, new research has found.

Parliament's messy demise

Tears in the Commons: Labour MPs stand up to applaud Tory MP's speech

Charles Walker was deeply moved as he admitted he had been "played as a fool"

Labour MPs have granted Conservative MP Charles Walker a standing ovation after he said he had been "played as a fool" on the final sitting day of the parliament.

Hague's last defeat: Labour MPs block 'grubby' anti-Bercow coup

John Bercow (l) with William Hague in the Commons chamber

MPs have defeated William Hague's "grubby" attack on John Bercow by blocking a move to introduce secret ballots on Speaker elections.

Comment and analysis highlights

Comment: Time to work together

Doing deals is all part of the new way of doing politics

It looks like we'd better start getting used to a different way of doing politics.

Review: Parliamentary Pioneers: Labour Women MPs 1918-1945, by Mary Honeyball

Labour MP Ellen Wilkinson addressing a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, 1938

Honeyball's history reveals that inequality in Parliament remains rife today

Comment: Boarding school has scarred our leaders

How have boarding schools like Eton shaped our leaders?

Everyone knows there's something wrong with politics in Britain. And, at long last, the psychotherapy profession has started to take note.

RSPCA - urgent #homesforhorses appeal launched

Charity received more than 22,000 calls in 2014 as horse crisis continues.

Campaigners launch manifesto for low income taxpayers

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has published a manifesto setting out the agenda the Group would like the next government to pursue for taxpayers on low incomes.

Suffolk parents raise money to help their son walk just like his twin brother

James and Lorna Brokenshire-Dyke are now trying to raise seventy thousand pounds for life-changing surgery in America which they hope will help two year Sebastian walk and hopefully run too - just like his twin brother, Solomon.

Older women with breast cancer not receiving best care and treatment

Diana Jupp: "It is unacceptable that, in 2015, a breast cancer patient does not get the best care and treatment simply because of how old they are".

An expanded Heathrow would take Wales further

Every part of Britain is set to gain from an increased aviation hub capacity if the right decision is made – especially Wales.

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.