Electoral reform plans
‘Gordon Brown is to announce plans to look at a new system of electing MPs, as he seeks to regain the political initiative after a week of turmoil.’ – BBC
‘Gordon Brown will today promise an elected House of Lords and open the door to electoral reform as part of a sweeping package to “clean up politics” after the MPs’ expenses scandal.’ – Andrew Grice, The Independent
‘Yet these are not normal times. And unlikely though it might seem, the
hare of reform is now up and running. Gordon Brown held the first
meeting yesterday of a Cabinet subcommittee with the rather grand title
of “National Democratic Renewal Council” and will make a statement in
the House of Commons on the subject today.’ – Leader, The Independent
‘That means a governing programme, a series of goals that can be embarked upon now, even in this last gasp of power. There are two good reasons to do it. First, it’s essential to rebut the charge that Labour’s cupboard is bare, that it has run out of ideas. Second, many voters will conclude that Brown and his ministers are in office for its own sake, that if New Labour began as a project to win power, it is ending as a scheme to cling to it.’ – Jonathan Freedland, The Guardian
Andy Burnham interview
‘In Andy Burnham’s first interview since becoming health secretary, the upbeat former culture chief tells Sarah Boseley that he is determined to trumpet the successes of the NHS and boost the fortunes of an ailing government’ – Sarah Boseley, The Guardian
Speaker election
‘A former government minister today put his name forward to be the first Speaker of the House of Commons from an ethnic minority.’ – David Hencke, The Guardian
NUS call for graduate tax
‘Student leaders will today call on ministers to replace university fees with a graduate tax, in a radical departure from decades of opposition to any form of payment for tuition.’ – Jessica Shepherd, The Guardian
Control orders verdict
‘The law lords have dealt a major blow to the government’s controversial use of control orders on terror suspects, saying that the use of “secret evidence” denies them a fair trial.’ – Alan Travis, The Guardian