Speaker election
‘There seems to be a fairly widespread assumption the Conservatives have modernised under the leadership of David Cameron. Evidently they have not modernised enough if they can get so worked up about Bercow’s modestly progressive views.’ – Steve Richards, The Independent
‘The Conservatives are wrong to react as they have to John Bercow.’ – Comment Central, Times Online
‘Outside, the nation watches this and the megabucks paid to the RBS boss, and either feels its veins bulge with rage or – more worrying – its shoulders shrug with resignation, despairing at our society’s apparent inability to change. It’s not just these latest examples. It’s a House of Lords whose need for radical reform has been discussed for an entire century, but which still remains intact. It’s a voting system regularly lamented for its unfairness, but which stands immutable. It’s a set of monarchic powers still used by a prime minister able to rule like an 18th century king.’ – Jonathan Freedland, The Guardian
Expenses claims
‘MPs who break the rules could face up to a year in jail under plans for new criminal charges for Parliamentarians.’ – BBC
‘A middleman who helped pass on details of MPs’ expenses to the Daily Telegraph has said it was done for the public good and not to make money.’ – BBC
‘Boris Johnson’s chief of staff faces tough questions today after the resignation of his deputy mayor revealed evidence of a lax expenses regime within his administration.’ – Hélène Mulholland, The Guardian
‘A regime in trouble’
‘Relations between Britain and Iran, rarely cordial in recent years, suffered a sharp deterioration yesterday with tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. Iran expelled two British diplomats, accusing them of spying, and Britain – as David Miliband announced in the Commons – expelled two Iranians in response, while insisting, as is a set piece of such occasions, that the British had done nothing wrong.’ – Leader, The Independent
‘Iran’s rulers turned their fury towards the outside world yesterday, starting tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions with Britain and accusing the head of the United Nations of “meddling” in the country’s affairs by “ignorantly following domineering powers”.’ – Kim Sengupta and David Usborne, The Independent
‘President Obama condemned Iran’s “iron fist” last night after the regime flooded Tehran with armed security to quash street demonstrations.’ – Philip Webster and Tom Baldwin, The Times
‘Their gesture attracted worldwide comment and drew the attention of football fans to Iran’s political turmoil. Now the country’s authorities have taken revenge by imposing life bans on players who sported green wristbands in a recent World Cup match in protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election.’ – Robert Tait, The Guardian
Iraq inquiry
‘Gordon Brown and Tony Blair face being questioned in public over their roles in the run-up to the Iraq war after the chairman of the independent inquiry indicated that he is to summon the prime minister and his predecessor to give evidence.’ – Nicholas Watt, The Guardian