Archive of November 2012

Leveson: Cameron half-implements 'bonkers' report

David Cameron agreed to produce a draft bill of the Leveson recommendations today, in a bid to demonstrate that the core proposal is "unworkable".

The Rwanda scandal: Greening reverses Mitchell decision

All aid to Rwanda is to be halted immediately amid controversy over the east African state's involvement in violence in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
British abstention fails to derail Palestinian statehood

Palestine has been awarded the position of 'non-member observer state' at the UN after winning a comfortable majority in the general assembly.

'Nobody came': BNP's Nick Griffin escapes legal action over gay B&B tweet

BNP leader Nick Griffin has escape criminal charges for encouraging supporters to demonstrate outside the home of a gay couple barred from a B&B by its Christian owners.
Hammered: Lib Dems and Tories fall to historic lows in by-elections

The coalition partners were hammered at the polls last night, with the Tories falling to fifth place in Rotherham, and the Liberal Democrats coming eighth.

High stakes poker: Cameron isolated as Clegg and Miliband team up over Leveson

The publication of the Leveson report created an extraordinary alliance against the prime minister today, as Nick Clegg reached across the aisle and teamed up with Ed Miliband against David Cameron.
Sharp fall in net migration

Net migration into the UK fell by 59,000 between March this year and March last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

'Quite exciting' energy consultation would pay out for electricity saving

The government has published a set of proposals alongside the energy bill, including a "quite exciting" consultation encouraging firms to save electricity.
By-election day: Could Ukip finally win a seat?

Polling closes at 22:00 GMT tonight in three by-elections, one of which could conceivably return a Ukip MP.

Balls: We'll go into next election demanding tougher immigration controls

Labour needs to promise "tougher controls" on immigration if it is to win key marginal seats at the next general election, Ed Balls has told politics.co.uk.
Google clampdown: Contempt of court changes put forward

Jurors could face tighter restrictions on their behaviour under proposed changes to contempt of court laws published today.

Spectator pledges to break the law over Leveson

The editor of the Spectator has pledged not to sign up to any new statutory watchdog of the press, ahead of the Leveson report tomorrow.
Govt announces alcohol pricing consultation... again

The government has taken further action on problem drinking, by once again announcing the same consultation it had originally planned to hold during the summer.

High stakes: UK makes a deal on Palestinian statehood

Britain has said it would back a Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN tomorrow if president Mahmoud Abbas agrees to three conditions.
Miliband takes on 'the wrong people'

Ed Miliband has pledged to "stand up for the right people, not the wrong people" as he looks to reshape Britain's economy after 2015.

The mystery of the disappearing government witnesses

The government was accused of trying to escape scrutiny today after it withdrew its witnesses from a parliamentary inquiry at the eleventh hour.
Baroness Warsi 'failed to register rent of over £5,000'

Former Conservative party chairman Baroness Warsi has been found guilty of failing to declare thousands of pounds worth of rental income by a House of Lords investigation.

A strange kind of success: Work programme pushes ahead despite 3.5% success rate

The government pledged to plough ahead with its flagship work programme today, despite evidence showing it had a success rate of just 3.53%.
Poll: Most Londoners want to leave

Just over half of Londoners would prefer to live outside the capital, a surprising new survey from YouGov revealed today.

Dorries 'confident' Tories will welcome her back

Nadine Dorries said she was "confident" her suspension from the Tory party would be lifted today, after she met with the chief whip.
Leveson beckons: Will Miliband and Clegg team up against Cameron?

There were suspicions of a secret deal between Liberal Democrats and Labour today, after David Cameron was warned he would not necessarily speak for the government over the Leveson report.

City in shock as Osborne appoints Canadian as Bank of England governor

George Osborne has surprised the City by appointing a leading Canadian banker to the governorship of the Bank of England.
EU asked to intervene after Argentine gang ransacks cruise office

A British MEP asked the European Union to intervene today, after police in Argentina took no action against a gang which ransacked the office of a cruise company offering trips to the Falklands Islands.

Conservative students: A persecuted minority?

Conservative students at Oxford university have started a campaign for the same rights as gay people and ethnic minorities after claims they are being persecuted on campus.
Ukip foster parents told: 'You can't have your children back'

The children removed from the care of foster parents because of their support for Ukip have not been returned, Rotherham council has confirmed.