More than a 100 MPs will today demand George Osborne scraps 3p rise in petrol duty
"In a Commons debate, they will tell the Chancellor the fuel duty rise scheduled for January will punish hard-working families. Dozens of Tory MPs are expected to defy the party whip. Today’s vote was triggered by a Downing Street e-petition which was signed by 100,000 voters and demanded lower taxes on petrol and diesel. More than 100 MPs have signed a motion calling for the Government to abandon the 3p rise in duty planned for January and another 5p rise scheduled for August" - Daily Mail
The Government is supposed to be rethinking increase, due to the effects the increase would have on motorists and growth
"Downing Street is considering scrapping January’s planned rise of 3p a litre in petrol duty to avoid imposing another crippling burden on motorists and damaging growth prospects. The Government is worried that the rise will hurt the economy, but cancelling it entirely would leave a £1.5 billion hole in the public finances" - Times (£)
In a move to bring down costs, Osborne announces "fundamental reassessments" of Private Finance Initiative contracts - BBC
"Change brings opportunities" says Cameron, as he accuses the EU of being "out of touch"
Cameron "accused the EU of being “out of touch” with European citizens. “It’s the pointless interference, rules and regulations that stifle growth not unleash it,” the Prime Minister said. “The sense that the EU is somehow an abstract end in itself, immune from developments in the real world, rather than a means of helping to deliver better living standards for the people of its nations.” He said: “It does not have to be like this. Out of crisis can come opportunity for the European Union, if its mem ber states are ready to grasp it.” - Telegraph
- 'I'll get powers back from the EU, says Cameron: PM's vow to rebellious MPs in Lord Mayor's speech' - Daily Mail
- The Europe issue brings the Tories and Labour closer together, says Steve Richards: "Both sides now accept that any transfer of powers from the UK to the EU in the future will require a referendum" - Independent
- David Miliband: 'Don't split Europe, make it stronger' - FT (£)
During the Lord Mayor's speech, Cameron said that Colonel Gaddafi's regime was responsible for the production of chemical weapons
"David Cameron said British chemical warfare specialists would join an international team to dispose of the weapons. “In the last few days we have learnt that the new Libyan authorities have found chemical weapons that were kept hidden from the world,” Cameron said. It is understood that the weapons were developed without the knowledge of inspectors who were in Libya before the international military intervention in March" - Telegraph
- 'Britain sends officials to Libya to help destroy chemical weapons' - Guardian
Phillip Hammond confirms that missiles could be used to protect London from terrorist attack during the Olympics, following question in Parliament from Liam Fox
"The announcement came as it emerged that America had repeatedly raised concerns about security at the Games and was preparing to send 1,000 agents to protect American citizens. Mr Hammond was pressed on the subject of Olympics security in the House of Commons by his predecessor, Dr Liam Fox. Dr Fox said surface-to-air missiles had been used at Olympic Games since Atlanta in 1996. He asked Mr Hammond to confirm that “there will be a full level of multi-layered defence and deterrence for the London Games, including gr ound-to-air based missiles in London” - Telegraph
- Quentin Letts: 'Fox just blew the Lib Dems out of the water following Olympic safety announcement' - Daily Mail
- Thomas Fleming: 'Olympics security: The absurdity of American law enforcement' - Daily Mail
An independent Scotland "would lose defence contracts", warns Phillip Hammond - Scotsman
Pressure increases on Theresa May, as it emerges that border security was relaxed 2,500 times
"Leaked emails reveal border checks were being relaxed up to 260 times a week across Britain. From August to October staff used "level 2" reduced security checks 2,450 times. Separate leaked emails reveal private jets flew into some airports with no checks at all. Borders staff complained they did not even see the people who landed" - Sun
- 'UK border checks were waived for travellers in private jets, emails reveal' - Guardian
- Rachel Sylvester: 'Borders row could close off May’s ambitions' - Times (£)
- Stefan Stern: 'Brodie Clark and the bravery that we need to encourage' - Independent
Clarke tells newspaper editor conference that the press should "carry on enraging some politicians" if it is in the public's interest
"The press should remain free to “carry on enraging some politicians, getting under the skin of governments and deeply embarrassing public figures” on matters of genuine public interest, Kenneth Clarke, the Justice Secretary, told newspaper editors at their annual conference. Mr Clarke said that the press watchdog must have “more convincing teeth” and cover the entire industry if it were to restore confidence after the phone-hacking scandal. But he added that the industry should continue to be allowed to regulate itself" - Times (£)
- 'Leveson inquiry uncovers 28 NI staff linked to phone hacking' - Guardian
Louise Mensch calls on News International to make "full disclosure" over claims MPs on the select committee were under surveillance in 2009 - Guardian
The information commissioner rules that Oliver Letwin committed "a series of data protection breaches by dumping correspondence from constituents in a park bin" in Westminster - Guardian
Thatcher biopic, 'The Iron Lady', has angered some of her friends over its portrayal of the former PM
"The Iron Lady, a new biopic starring Meryl Streep as Baroness Thatcher, has drawn an angry response from friends over its portrayal of the former prime minister as a lonely figure sliding into dementia. In the opening scenes, a frail Lady Thatcher is seen shuffling into a corner shop to buy a pint of milk and expressing shock at 21st-century prices...Another scene shows her oblivious to the fact that her husband, Sir Denis, is dead. She imagines him to be in the room and conducts conversations with him, before revisiting her glory years in a series of flashbacks" - Telegraph
- "Thatcher without Thatcherism" says Xan Brooks - Guardian
- Meryl Streep tells Baz Bamigboye: "it was a privilege to play her ... It was one of those rare, rare films where I was grateful to be an actor and grateful for the privilege of being able to look at a life deeply with empathy" - Daily Mail
> Yesterday WATCH: The official UK trailer for upcoming Mrs Thatcher biopic "The Iron Lady"
Baroness Trumpington gives fellow peer two fingers after he makes reference to her age
"The formidable 89-year-old Conservative life peer was unimpressed when her relatively junior colleague gestured towards her to illustrate his point about the extreme age of World War II veterans. Lady Trumpington hit back against his patronising reference with a distinctly unparliamentary gesture of her own - commonly known as the two-finger salute" - Daily Mail
And finally ... Cameron defends Larry the cat, resisiting calls for his resignation - The Australian
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