Push for radical reform
‘Gordon Brown is being pressed within his cabinet to extend plans to reform parliament, with proposals including setting up a constitutional convention that would be responsible for reconnecting politics with the people.’ – Patrick Wintour, The Guardian
‘Modernisers want a referendum on House of Commons electoral reform, an elected House of Lords, spending caps on donations to political parties and a widening of the base from which candidates are drawn.’ – Andrew Porter, Daily Telegraph
Reshuffle rumours
‘Gordon Brown is drawing up plans for a cabinet reshuffle next month that could see Peter Mandelson promoted to foreign secretary in a damage-limitation exercise after the June 4 local and European elections.’ – George Parker, Financial Times
‘Among high-profile Labour MPs, it is Blears who most embodies the expenses controversy. There are worse offenders on both sides of the Commons; unlike some, she is not being accused of breaking the law. But she sticks out for two key reasons: not only is she in the cabinet, but her whole political shtick over the last decade or so has been based on the idea that she is a working-class outsider, dismissive of Westminster’s indulgences and forever rooted in her native Salford.’ – John Harris, The Guardian
Expenses row continues
‘A Tory MP is to retire after admitting he claimed a £1,645 “duck island” on expenses – as two Labour ministers face questions over capital gains tax.’ – BBC
‘Mr Wiggin, a contemporary of David Cameron at Eton, received more than £11,000 in parliamentary expenses to cover interest payments after declaring that his Herefordshire property was his “second home”.’ – Robert Winnett, Martin Beckford and Nick Allen, Daily Telegraph
‘A political party that claims not to be a party hopes to produce a new generation of independent Members at Westminster, amid the public anger over MPs’ expenses.’ – Will Pavia and Tim Glanfield, The Times
Speaker election
‘We are all reformers now. This will be the refrain from all the candidates for the Speakership. It is a phrase that hints at the opportunity but holds out a danger. Will the election really open the way to what is billed as the most powerful Speakership in our history?’ – Frank Field, Daily Telegraph
‘John Bercow, a former hard-right Tory student activist, emerged as the early frontrunner to become the Speaker of the Commons when he pledged to champion reforms to Britain’s “broken” parliament.’ – Nicholas Watt, The Guardian
Economic recovery
‘Gordon Brown told industrial leaders last night there could be no let-up in the fight against the recession after the International Monetary Fund praised the “aggressive” action taken by Britain to contain the crisis.’ – Gary Duncan, Philip Webster and Gráinne Gilmore, The Times
‘What goes up must come down. But the opposite is also true, at least in finance and economics.’ – Anatole Kaletsky, The Times
Policy shift on Gurkhas expected
‘Campaigning actress Joanna Lumley says she is “outstandingly optimistic” after meeting Gordon Brown about the right of Gurkhas veterans to settle in the UK.’ – BBC
‘Gurkha veterans who have served four years with the historic regiment will be told tomorrow that they will be allowed to settle in the UK. The home secretary is expected to reverse government guidance issued last month that made the obstacles to entry almost insurmountable for ordinary Gurkha soldiers traditionally recruited from Nepal.’ – Audrey Gillan, The Guardian