Expenses row continues
‘Clare Short and Justice Minister Shahid Malik are the latest MPs to have their expenses scrutinised as public anger mounts over the revelations.’ – BBC
‘It’s a no-win situation for MPs, because whatever we do about it, we’re damned. Gordon Brown’s proposal for an attendance allowance is half-baked, because the public won’t accept a siutation where we are being paid just to turn up. If they scrapped the allowances and put it on our pay that would not be acceptable to the public either.’ – Austin Mitchell, The Independent
‘The oceans churn again. The collapse of the financial markets last autumn marked one historic sea change, of a kind not seen since the late 1970s. But a tidal wave is breaking that for now swamps even the economic issues that have been so dominant. The last few days will be studied for centuries to come – from the choreography of a single newspaper holding puny elected representatives in its thrall, to the revelations themselves, which show what happens when an institution functions in the dark.’ – Steve Richards, The Independent
Latest polls
‘A Times-Populus poll this week cheered them all, including the Liberal Democrats. The party rose 4%, to 22%, as Labour and Tories dropped 4% apiece –to 26% and 39% respectively. The ragbag of “other” parties pocketed 4%, while 9% went undecided.’ – Michael White, The Guardian
‘A YouGov survey for The Sun newspaper, puts Labour on just 22 per cent, with the Conservatives on 41 per cent and the Lib Dems a close third with 19 per cent.’ – Aislinn Simpson, Daily Telegraph
‘Gordon Brown has six months to close the gap with David Cameron if Labour is to have any chance of raising an election war chest, close aides admit.’ – Francis Elliott and Philip Webster, The Times
‘The more widespread threat may be locally. Polls, focus groups and an instant survey of Tory grassroots members by conservativehome.com all show a mood of anger, as well as demands for the dumping of errant MPs. This could trigger moves by local parties to deselect MPs. There are no signs yet of MPs under pressure standing down immediately and thus forcing by-elections that could be lost by the incumbent party.’ – Peter Riddell, The Times
European elections
‘David Cameron’s new allies in Europe are set to include a homophobic Polish party, Czechs who have just passed the Lisbon Treaty and Nazi-supporting Latvians. A senior MEP confirmed yesterday that the Conservatives had signed up pledges from the requisite seven countries to form a new group in the European Parliament after next month’s elections.’ – David Charter, The Times
Speaker faces more pressure
‘The Speaker of the House of Commons was facing a crisis last night after the Liberal Democrats withdrew their support for him as MPs prepared a motion of confidence.’ – Sam Coates, The Times
Aung San Suu Kyi detained in Burma
‘The junta’s threat to jail Aung San Suu Kyi is a cynical attempt to silence her before next year’s election. Though lacking leverage, the West must not compromise’ – Leader, The Times
‘A year after the cyclone which devastated southern Burma, the pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was back yesterday in Rangoon’s infamous Insein prison facing her accusers again. Having spent 13 of the last 19 years in detention without trial, the charges the Nobel peace prize laureate faces could be dismissed as a technicality. But that would be to misjudge the iron purpose of her enemies.’ – Editorial, The Guardian