Speaker election
‘MPs were yesterday embroiled in a last- minute plot to destabilise one of the leading reformist candidates in the running to be elected House of Commons Speaker.’ – David Hencke, The Guardian
‘MPs are due to vote for a new Commons Speaker amid claims that Labour whips are trying to influence the contest.’ – BBC
‘John Bercow or Margaret Beckett could be knocked out of the contest for Commons Speaker unexpectedly early today because Labour MPs who make up the bulk of the voters are divided between two equally cynical paths of action.’ – Sam Coates, The Times
‘Of course, somebody will be elected today, in a process driven more by inter-party squabbling and score-settling than thirst for reform. Whoever it is may yet surprise us all. But when party leaders talk of the need for a radical reformer with real leadership skills, able to project a new Commons to the country, it’s a bit hard to spot this paragon just yet.’ – Jackie Ashley, The Guardian
Gordon Brown interview
‘It becomes clear, as his answers to other questions reveal, that it’s Brown to whom Brown listens most. His often-repeated mantra, “I’ve got a job to do” sounds empty, but perhaps it isn’t: what drives him appears to be this desire to complete a task. “When things are difficult, you have to be sure of who you are and what you want to achieve,” he says. “When people criticise you, you’ve got to listen to that criticism, and to learn from it, which I’ve tried to do. But you also have to be sure about what you are in this for.”’ – Katharine Viner, The Guardian
Education matters
‘Education Secretary Ed Balls today pledged to pump £10 million into extra help for children with dyslexia and literacy difficulties.’ – Beverley Rouse, The Independent
‘The government is investigating a possible ban on British National party members working as teachers in schools in a move that could challenge the legitimacy of the far-right party.’ – Polly Curtis, The Guardian
Unrest in Iran continues
‘Iranian authorities have deployed thousands of security officers on the streets of Tehran, after a week of mass protests over a disputed election.’ – BBC
‘Iran’s opposition leader appealed for restraint as his supporters regrouped after Saturday’s bloody confrontations with the security forces.’ – Martin Fletcher, The Times
Aid questions
‘The world’s poorest countries will see $1tn (£600bn) drain from their economies this year according to the first detailed analysis of how the global recession is hitting developing nations.’ – Ashley Seager, The Guardian
‘Across the world, poverty wears a woman’s face. The United Nations Food Programme estimates that seven out of 10 of the hungry of the world are female. Women make up the same proportion of refugees. Women are also the main victims of the traffickers, of violence in the home or in conflict. While tragically hundreds of million of people are still denied their most basic human rights, it is women who suffer most.’ – Cherie Blair, The Independent
‘British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced an extra £5m ($8m) of transitional aid to Zimbabwe.
He was speaking after meeting Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.’ – BBC