A Twitter chief for Labour
‘Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East, has been given the job of improving Labour’s use of networks such as Facebook and Twitter and will train MPs and candidates to employ the internet as an electoral weapon.’ – Philip Webster, The Times
‘In an interview with LabourList, the website founded by Mr Draper, Ms McCarthy said her role would be to support Labour bloggers and spread “best practice” among Labour candidates and supporters.’ – BBC
High Pay Commission
‘The Chancellor was right yesterday to dismiss the idea of a High Pay Commission. His phraseology was characteristically mild: he was “not persuaded” of his merits. He might have put the point more strongly, for this is one of the most seriously stupid ideas that has come out of Britain’s liberal/left establishment since the £6-a-week pay limit in 1975.’ – Hamish McRae, The Independent
Funding higher education
‘Universities need encouragement to establish more scholarships; they would also do well to foster more “needs blind” admissions on the US model. Top-up fees have drummed home the truth that higher education has a cost – which is a good thing – but no one should be excluded for lack of means.’ – Leader, The Independent
The US right
‘It’s a shame, because there are some areas in which a conservative philosophy – reminding us of the limits of grand human schemes, and advising caution – could be a useful corrective. But that’s not what these so-called “conservatives” are providing: instead, they are pumping up a hysterical fantasy that serves as a thin skin covering some raw economic interests and base prejudices.’ – Johann Hari, The Independent
The cost of the Commons
‘The cost of running the Houses of Parliament fell by more than £30m last year to just under £500m, figures show.
The overall expense for taxpayers in 2008/9 came to £498.4m, down from £531.8 the previous year’ – BBC