MPs’ expenses row continues
‘The expenses scandal is the biggest shock to the political system since I began pounding the Westminster beat 25 years ago. To borrow the language beloved by campaign strategists, it has “cut through” to the public in a way that very few political events do.’ – Andrew Grice, The Independent
‘Rough justice is no justice. The flood of disclosures about MPs’ expenses has led to a haphazard mess in which there is no obvious reason why one MP should be forced out but another survives.’ – Peter Riddell, The Times
‘The slow drip of pilfered data in the pages of the Daily Telegraph over the 42 days has by now poisoned public life far too profoundly for MPs to be able suddenly to wrest back control of the agenda. As if to underline the irrelevance of yesterday’s official release, the Telegraph advertised that it would be publishing an uncensored cut of expenses for every MP as soon as tomorrow. The Portcullis House edition of the dossier does not so much slam the door behind a bolted stallion as painstakingly construct a new stable in order to house a dead nag.’ – Editorial, The Guardian
‘Everyone knew it was coming, and so did MPs. The years of clubby confidentiality over expenses were always going to end by July. But it was shocking nonetheless to see how much information was still not subject to disclosure when the heavily expurgated records of MPs’ expenses claims were finally released. What is more, many of the more colourful, and so memorable, details were missing: the moat-clearing, the duck-house and the like were nowhere to be seen.’ – Leader, The Independent
Blears survives no confidence vote
‘Former Cabinet minister Hazel Blears has clung on to her job as an MP after her local party rejected an attempt to deselect her.’ – Sky News
‘Hazel Blears welcomed “sensible discussions” with party members after she survived a deselection vote.
The former communities secretary said the Labour party had “rallied behind me” after she kept the party’s nomination for her Salford seat.’ – The Independent
Job losses at Lindsey oil refinery
‘Nearly 900 workers constructing a new plant at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire have been sacked, following unofficial strike action.’ – BBC
Tsvangirai in London
‘Morgan Tsvangirai is due to arrive in London today as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. He will be seeking UK government support and pitching for foreign investment. How should we respond to such an appeal from a Government that is led by Robert Mugabe, a man to whom we have got used to saying “no”?’ – Mark Malloch Brown, The Times
Unrest in Iran
‘Iran’s Supreme Leader is addressing the nation for the first time since disputed election results sparked huge protests in the capital, Tehran.’ – BBC
‘”President” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – and the quotation marks are becoming ever more appropriate in Iran today – is in real trouble. There are now three separate official inquiries into his supposed election victory and the violence which followed, while conservative Iranian MPs fought each other with their fists at a private meeting behind the assembly chamber, after Ahmadinejad’s members objected to an official’s reference to the “dignity” with which the opposition leader, Mirhossein Mousavi, answered parliamentary questions. Those close to the man who still believes he is the President of Iran say that he is himself deeply troubled – even traumatised – by the massive demonstrations against him across the country.’ – Robert Fisk, The Independent