Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Today's ConservativeHome Newslinks
TelegraphmarriedMarried couples to be offered
"Tax breaks worth up to £150 to married couples will be written into law by David Cameron before the next election, a Treasury minister has promised. David Gauke gave a “firm commitment” to help married couples within the next two years, amid growing unrest among Tory MPs about the lack
of support for traditional families.... the most likely date for its introduction is April 2015, which would be during the next general election campaign. However, the source said it was still possible that ministers could legislate for the change in this parliament and delay its implementation." - Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday:
May pledges to purge police corruption
"Theresa May has pledged to be "ruthless about purging corruption from the police" following claims officers took part in a smear campaign against the family of Stephen Lawrence. The Home Secretary said the allegations would be thoroughly investigated, after former officer Peter Francis claimed he was asked to spy on relatives of the murdered teenager. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs May said the Metropolitan Police have referred the claims of wrongdoing to their independent watchdog." - Daily Telegraph
  • "Cops stand accused of attempting to smear murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence’s parents to discredit their campaign for justice. The Prime Minister wants to “get the full truth out”. But Theresa May has acted too hastily in lumping these abhorrent claims into two existing inquiries. They’ll dismiss them in a footnote." - The Sun Says
TimesdoctorsDoctors reject longer hours and round on Hunt...
"Doctors’ leaders were accused of ignoring the wishes of patients yesterday by mocking plans for more NHS services at evenings and weekends. The British Medical Association claimed that the idea of what it called a “Tesco NHS” was absurd and unaffordable. It also rounded on Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, accusing him of maligning the health service for ideological reasons." - The Times (£)
  • "It is extraordinary to hear Mark Porter, who chairs the BMA Council, complain that it is “ridiculous” to expect the NHS to be open longer out of office hours and at the weekends. Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of NHS England, is preparing plans for routine operations, clinics and tests to take place out of hours. The rationale is that they will be more convenient for patients, diagnosis will be accelerated and hospital stays will be shorter. Yesterday the BMA voted against the plans by a large majority." - Leader The Times (£)
  ...as Lansley is challenged by whistleblower
"The whistleblower at the health regulator who had raised concerns over care at the Morecambe Bay NHS foundation trust has accused Andrew Lansley, the former health secretary, of giving an inaccurate account of the circumstances in which she spoke out. Kay Sheldon, a board member at the troubled Care Quality Commission, disputed Lansley's account of events that he gave in an interview on Sunday, and repeated claims that she had been threatened with being fired." -Guardian
>Yesterday: Charlotte Leslie MP on Comment:  We need a judge-led inquiry into the NHS - one which goes right to the top. "It should reveal the relationships and interrelationships between NHS managers, Department of Health Officials, Secretaries of State and Ministers at the time. It should look at how appointments were made, and where interests of individuals lay, who know what and when."
GovemGove clashes with Clegg over free nursery places
"An attempt to save £380m by cancelling a plan to further extend access to free nursery education has been at the centre of one of the most bitter battles in the comprehensive spending review due to be announced Wednesday. Whitehall sources said Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, and Michael Gove, the education secretary, clashed over the plan, with the issue taken to the most senior ministers by Clegg last Wednesday. Gove had proposed that the plan to provide 15 hours a week of free nursery education to a further 20% of low income families from next year be shelved." - Guardian
Troubled Families scheme extended....
"The government's "troubled families" project is to be extended to help a further 400,000 households who have financial and social problems. An additional £200m will be made available to help "high-risk" families address challenges of worklessness, anti-social behaviour and truancy." - BBC
>Today on Local Government: Troubled Families programme expanded
....but what about Troubled Services?
"Louise Casey said police, job centre officials and social workers needed to change the way they
worked to realise the programme’s potential...Ms Casey singled out the police for criticism – saying that while they had to respond to 999 calls, they also needed to work to stop those calls happening in the first place." - The Independent
British Pakistanis urged to integrate
"The British Pakistani community is often closed to “indigenous” Britons, a Conservative charged with courting South Asian voters will say today. In a controversial speech, Michael Wade, chairman of the year-old Conservative Friends of Pakistan, will tell an audience of 300 Pakistani businessmen and community leaders that integration is a two-way street." - The Times (£)
GraylingnewGrayling warned of risk of reoffending increase
"Chris Grayling has been warned by his own officials that his plan to privatise probation risks an increase in reoffending. The Justice Secretary has also been told of the danger that there will be an
“unacceptable drop” in the performance of the probation service during the speedy implementation of the changes." - The Times (£)
Most pensioners back benefit cuts
"The majority of pensioners do not want special protection from the impact of public spending cuts, according to a ComRes survey for The Independent. Amid an intense political debate over the future of the basic state-pension and perks such as the winter fuel allowance, the poll suggests that most people aged 65 and over are prepared to absorb some of the pain in the age of austerity." - The Independent
  • "The government should acknowledge the new realities of what it means to be over 65 and still working. In terms of well-being, those in their 60s and 70s are fitter, healthier and more active than ever before. And on the other side of the retirement coin, work is safer, more sedentary and less physical than in the past. So while plans to raise the state pension age to 68 by 2046 are a step in the right direction, they should be going further and faster if we're ever going to get the deficit back under control." - Rory Meakin City AM
Donald MacIntyre of The Independent gives a "loony rating" (out of 5) to the Tory rebels alternative Queen's speech
"...10. Capital Punishment. To allow for capital punishment for certain offences. Loony rating: 4..." - The Independent
ByrneletterTHAT letter finally emerges
"The Coalition turned the screw on Labour over spending last night, releasing the infamous letter admitting there was ‘no money’ left at the 2010 election. Cabinet Office minister David Laws made public the glib note, left by outgoing Treasury chief secretary Liam Byrne for his successor. It states: ‘Dear Chief Secretary, I’m afraid there is no money. Kind regards – and good luck! Liam.’ - Daily Mail
 RaabDominic Raab says leaving EU would help free trade
"Tory veteran Ken Clarke claims British dreams of free trade can only be realised through the EU. In reality, the EU’s ebbing value as a free trade area risks being eclipsed by dwindling competitiveness and stubborn protectionism. Take cars. Last year, Britain was a net exporter for the first time
since 1976. To understand why, compare the recent performance of Honda and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). Honda’s Swindon plant is the Japanese firm’s regional hub, manufacturing 90 per cent of its cars sold to Europe. Yet, falling demand has led to scaled back production. In January, Honda announced 800 job losses in Swindon. In contrast, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) produces all its cars in Britain, selling 59 per cent of them outside Europe (and just 22 per cent on the continent)." Dominic Raab City AM
Miliband invited for Syria talks
"Ed Miliband will attend a high level security briefing with defence and intelligence chiefs on the deteriorating situation in Syria later on Tuesday.  Labour leader Ed Miliband's visit to the National Security Council  will be only his second since becoming Labour leader in September 2010. ..The timing of the meeting will fuel speculation that Mr Cameron is trying to win over support from Labour MPs if he decides to intervene militarily in Syria." - Daily Telegraph
News in brief
  • Labour lead at 7% on YouGov - YouGov
  • Labour lead at 6% on Com Res- The Independent
  • Youngest councillor quits Labour - BBC
  • Welsh Education Minister attacked for school closure hypocrisy -BBC
  • Expenses scandal former Labour MP Joan Ryan selected again for Enfield North - Daily Telegraph
And finally...1) Tory MP Mark Harper breaks his foot table dancing
"Conservative MP Mark Harper has fallen off a table while dancing in a bar in Soho and broken his foot. A spokesman for Mr Harper's office confirmed the 43-year-old MP for the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire had suffered the injury. Mr Harper, who is the Minister for Immigration, is recovering and his foot is in a cast, the spokesman added. "My wife Margaret was with me but thankfully she's a far better dancer so didn't fall off," Mr Harper said." - BBC
And finally...2) Samantha Cameron wears orange dress
"Samantha Cameron was the centre of attention at the Conservative Party Summer Ball in a vibrant tangerine dress. The PM's wife's glowing calf-length dress was in stark contrast to her husband's dour navy suit and true blue tie. She completed the ensemble with a pair of tan heels. Government ministers, MPs and party grandees descended on Old Billingsgate Market in the City for the annual celebration." - Daily Mail
Yesterday on ConservativeHome
Charlotte Leslie MP on Comment:  We need a judge-led inquiry into the NHS - one which goes right to the top. "It should reveal the relationships and interrelationships between NHS managers, Department of Health Officials, Secretaries of State and Ministers at the time. It should look at how appointments were made, and where interests of individuals lay, who know what and when."
Local Government: What about state land banking?
Nathan Gamester on ThinkTankCentral: Andrew Mitchell's case for international aid

Posted by Britannia Radio at 19:18