+ + + Yeo Goes + + +

Judge Ordered PRISM Silence | Samizdata
Yeo Reported to Police | ITV
UKIP’s First Serious Big Name Recruit | Peter Oborne
180 Year Archive Now Online | Speccie
Bloggers Invited to Secret DCMS Talks Revealed | Greg Callus
Europe-Bound Mitchell Keeps Mandarins Sweet | Speccie
Guardian’s State Spying Hypocrisy | Brendan O'Neill
Streak in Front of Clegg For Free Tuition Fees | London Loves Business
Even in a Free Society States Must Have Secrets | Dan Hodges
Sod the Poor, Go Offshore! | ActionAid
Explosion at Nick Boles’ Office | BBC

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013

+ + + Yeo Goes + + +

Tim Yeo has tonight stood down as Chairman of the Energy Select Committee to clear his name. Full statement:

I have decided that at the private meeting of the Energy and Climate Change Committee to be held tomorrow morning I will recommend to members of the committee that for the period until the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, to whom I have referred myself today, has completed her investigation I will temporarily stand aside from the chairmanship of the committee.
I am doing so solely to ensure the smooth running of the committee during the next few weeks.

I firmly believe that I have not breached the MPs’ Code of Conduct in any respect and therefore await the outcome of the commissioner’s investigation with confidence.
In particular I absolutely and unreservedly deny the allegation that I coached a witness with whom I have a business connection before that person gave evidence to the committee.
I do not wish the Commissioner’s investigation to be a distraction from the Committee’s important work.
I believe that during the past three years the committee has been extremely effective and I want this to continue.

He may be some time. Cheers…

Exclusive: Labour Call for Yeo to Quit Select Committee

Labour Shadow Minister Gareth Thomas has put the boot in tonight:

“David Cameron has revealed how weak he is. He has failed to show leadership over serious allegations that Tim Yeo coached a witness to the Energy and Climate Change Committee, and used his position to further the interests of his clients. Tim Yeo has the right to defend himself but it is difficult to see how he can continue as Chair of the Select Committee pending investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. If David Cameron won’t act then Tim Yeo should take it upon himself to stand down from his post.”

Tick tock, Tim.

Friends Reunited
Labour SpAd Reunion Tonight

If you are up Islington way this evening why not pop into Charlie Falconer’s £3 million home, where he is hosting a Labour “former Special Advisor’s reunion”.  Labour sources say that a mooted plan from party General Secretary Iain McNicol to have the old guard SpAds mentor current party flacks was shelved as Blairite SpAds are not too keen on taking the time out from money making to help their Milibandite successors. The fundraiser will see the former spinners mingle and share precious memories of wars and wins with Labour’s “Thousand Club” donors.
Guido would pay a £1,000 not to spend an evening with that lot…

WATCH: Bilderberg Lizard Ken Clarke Answers Urgent Question

On fine form…