Pick of the Week: Cameron's threat to the Union - Politics.co.uk

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Our top five most read articles this week. 5. Boris Johnson humiliated after Theresa May blocks water cannon licence The London mayor's decision to spend £218,000 on three second-hand water cannon, despite failing to receive any authorisation to use them, was widely questioned last year. The mayor's own party colleagues and even his closest advisers, had warned him against purchasing them, but he pressed ahead anyway insisting that a licence would be shortly forthcoming. Theresa May had other ideas. Following evidence of gruesome injuries and deaths caused by the weapons, the home secretary declined to authorise their use. The decision has been widely seen as a snub to her likely future leadership rival. However, others suggest it is a sign of a deeper political principle on May's part. Either way, most of the favourites to succeed Johnson have indicated that they are opposed to water cannon, so it is looking increasingly likely that the weapons will now not be used against Londoners. 4. The British public deserve a better general election than this The Scottish referendum should have been a lesson to Britain's political class about the big, even existential issues facing the UK. Unfortunatly, the general election campaign we have seen so far suggests that this lesson has not been learnt. On the one hand the Conservatives have spent the campaign trying to scare English voters about a non-existent deal between Labour and the SNP. On the other hand, Labour have spent the campaign pursuing a seemingly endless debate about TV debates. With the latest election issue being the size and number of Ed Miliband's kitchens, the prospect of this campaign moving onto the real issues facing the country, is rapidly receding. 3. Nigel Farage incites race row after calling for discrimination to be legalised With such a tiny debate taking place between the two main parties, it is no surprise that voters are increasingly turning to politicians who push bigger and simpler solutions. Nigel Farage's suggestion this week that anti-discrimination legislation should be scrapped in order to allow employers to discriminate in favour of British born candidates was one such apparently simple solution. However, with polls suggesting that growing numbers of voters see the party as racist and nasty, it risks confirming perceptions of the party as 'the BNP in blazers' and risks damaging Ukip's chances of making a significant breakthrough in May. 2. Comment: Eric Pickles' 'evangelical charter' forces people to take part in organised religion "A small group of Christians in parliament are changing the law, almost unimpeded, to give local councils the power to introduce prayers to their meetings," writes Stephen Evans from the National Secular Society. The little-reported development is being pursued by communities secretary Eric Pickles who regards Britain as a "Christian country". "This bill is an attempt by a handful of religious enthusiasts in parliament to facilitate the encroachment of religion into secular spaces," writes Evans, in our second most-read piece this week. 1. David Cameron is now the greatest threat to the union The Conservative party were once the dominant political force in Scotland. Their demise has been a relatively recent development which Cameron once promised to reverse. However, with Labour facing almost total wipeout north of the border, Cameron has deserted all hide attempts to improve his party's standing in Scotland.  Instead the Tories are now seeking to use Scotland as a bogeyman with which to scare English voters into their arms. For a party which was founded on its commitment to the Union, it is a deeply cynical act, from which the whole country could ultimately pay the price. Best of the rest... Cameron's 'buggeration factor': Tory bitterness at the civil service might be an excuse for failure Today we learn that David Cameron is fed up with what he calls the "buggeration factor" of trying to ram policies past the civil service. The PM's frustration is understandable, one of his former special advisers says. Sturgeon and Murphy draw battle lines during Scottish leaders' debate First encounter between SNP and Labour leader reveals nature of battle ahead Boris Johnson to meet Tory mayoral hopeful Sol Campbell Former England footballer says he is "definitely interested" in standing for mayor Who gets first dibs at forming a new government? David Cameron's position of strength - sort of How a failure to gather evidence meant spending cuts actually hurt the taxpayer New report shows how failure to do research into effects of spending cuts caused more problems than it solved Lord Grade reveals vanishing gap between Tories and the press The revolving door between CCHQ and Fleet Street is long-established It's time to give prisoners the vote The delay over the European court ruling isn't just politically counter-productive - it's morally wrong Even as a Blairite, I wouldn't accept Tony's money The Labour candidates turning down Blair's donations aren't grandstanding - they're showing principle 'Hard-hearted Hannah' triggers Commons sexism row Tempers were running high in the Commons this afternoon over a sexism row - which got so heated Speaker John Bercow allowed the phrase "lynch the bitch" to pass without question. Fact Check: Do free schools really improve standards? Prime minister pledges to build 500 new free schools, despite lacking evidence they raise standards	Advertise your job vacancies here Polling suggests London politicians should get behind Heathrow Nowhere is the Heathrow debate more fiercely conducted than in London. For years, local politicians have been wary of the subject, but new polling suggests support for expansion could be key to their general election campaign. New NHS obligation to provide equal pastoral care to non-religious in England With the publication today of new national guidance, NHS bodies in England will be obliged for the first time to provide pastoral support and care to non-religious people on the same basis as chaplaincy is provided to the religious. Prime Minister backs shooting The chairman of BASC, Alan Jarrett, has written to political party leaders in advance of the election thanking them for their support for shooting and asking them to confirm their commitment to evidence-based policy and principles of better regulation. Welcome relief for low income savers but watch out for Gift Aid ‘sting-in-the-tail’, says charity Savers on low incomes are eligible for extra tax relief from this April. The Government has announced that there will be no tax on savings income of up to £5,000 above the personal allowance. Early study into how certain breast cancer grows and spreads Rachel Rawson: 'Knowing more about this type of breast cancer is essential and it could one day allow oncologists to tailor treatment to individuals. This could mean a better chance of survival for these patients'.

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