Political news

• Labour figures call for candidates to step aside for Greens in two seats

  30-04-2017 20:24 via theguardian.com
  
  Former policy chief among signatories to letter asking candidates to stand down in Brighton Pavilion and Isle of WightLabour’s former policy chief has called on Jeremy Corbyn to stand down candidates in two key constituencies in order to help the Greens defeat the Conservatives and boost their hopes elsewhere.Jon Cruddas has teamed up with MPs, including the former shadow cabinet member Clive Lewis, peers and campaigners such as Neal Lawson and Billy Bragg to issue the demand through a let
  
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• Labour Donor Michael Foster Vows To Stand Against Jeremy Corbyn If He Does Not Quit

  30-04-2017 18:40
  
  One of Labour’s largest donors has pledged to stand against Jeremy Corbyn in the general election if he does not quit
  Michael Foster, who has given more than £400,000 to the party since 2010, said Labour faces “annihilation” on 8 June because the “blinkered” leader lacks the characteristics to win.
  Foster, a celebrity agent whose clients have included Chris Evans and Sacha Baron Cohen, even made the sensational claim that supporting the current leader &l
  
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• Lib Dems Hint At 'Gig Economy' Crackdown In 2017 General Election Manifesto

  30-04-2017 18:38
  
  The Lib Dems are poised to unveil plans to stop employers forcing staff to identify as self-employed with policies aimed at regulating the so-called ‘gig economy’, the party has suggested.
  The party said “freedom cuts both ways” when it comes to employers seeking a flexible workforce and that loopholes allowing bosses to tie staff to exclusivity deals should be closed down.
  It comes after HuffPost revealed staff working on so-called ‘short hours contracts’ gu
  
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• General election 2017: May says Tories would not raise VAT

  30-04-2017 18:10 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The prime minister also declines to back David Cameron's 2015 pledge for a "five-year tax lock".
  
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• May holds firm on double-track Brexit deal

  30-04-2017 17:44 via ft.com
  PM wants both trade talks and divorce negotiations in spite of EU dismay
  
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• General Election 2017: Corbyn 'wants low taxes for low earners'

  30-04-2017 16:53 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Labour leader says the party wants to change tax policies at the top end of the earnings scale.
  
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• David Cameron 'Buys £25,000 Shed To Write In' And People Can't Cope

  30-04-2017 16:31
  
  A man has bought a shed. 
  It’s a very expensive shed, thought to have cost about £25,000 - almost as much as the average UK salary.
  The owner of this fancy new Cotswolds 16ft by 7ft hut is former Prime Minister David Cameron.
  The former Tory leader, who once claimed “we are all in this together”, said he needs the luxury shed to write in. 
  He’s even willing to take on his children to make sure they can’t get their hands on the property.
  The purchase
  
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• David Cameron buys £25,000 garden shed 'to write in'

  30-04-2017 16:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The former prime minister says he wants to use the shepherd's hut to write a book.
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn pledges to plug 'school funding black hole'

  30-04-2017 15:55 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Labour's Jeremy Corbyn tells head teachers he will plug a £3bn gap in school funding in England.
  
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• Tory central command keeps a tight leash on selections

  30-04-2017 15:41 via ft.com
  Theresa May seeks to forge a far more obedient parliamentary Conservative party
  
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• Kim Jong-May awkward and incredulous as journalist asks question | John Crace

  30-04-2017 15:26 via theguardian.com
  
  The Supreme Leader was in full Maybotic mode on the Marr Show as she droned on … and on about strength and stabilityKim Jong-May clutched her left arm tightly. She was out of her comfort zone. Surely the whole point of being the Supreme Leader was not having to go on television to answer rude questions. Still, too late to back out now. She smiled awkwardly. It was always good to try to appear friendly towards one’s subjects.“Don’t the voters deserve better than to be spo
  
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• Tim Farron says 'I'm a bit of a Eurosceptic'

  30-04-2017 15:10 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Liberal Democrat leader is hoping his party can win votes from Remain supporters.
  
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• Theresa May hints at scrapping Tory tax lock

  30-04-2017 14:17 via ft.com
  PM signals she will change Cameron’s flagship policy if she wins
  
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• Paul Nuttall Defends Failing To Identify Pictures Of Boston And Skegness

  30-04-2017 13:53
  
  How well does @paulnuttallukip know the constituency he's standing in for #GE2017? @SophyRidgeSky puts him to the test #Ridge pic.twitter.com/pPO68hvFY4— SophyRidge On Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) April 30, 2017
  Paul Nuttall was this morning subjected to an unexpected quiz about Boston and Skegness, the constituency he intends to stand in at the general election.
  During an interview with Sky News’ Sophie Ridge on Sunday programme, the Ukip leader was shown photographs of towns and asked
  
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• Theresa May Refuses To Accept Government Responsible For Nurses Using Food Banks

  30-04-2017 13:13
  
  Theresa May questioned on nurses using food banks #marr pic.twitter.com/LAJy6st8AW— The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) April 30, 2017
  Theresa May has been condemned for refusing to accept the government’s public sector pay freeze could be responsible for reports that nurses are having to use food banks.
  The prime minister was repeatedly challenged this morning by the BBC’s Andrew Marr over Royal College of Nursing figures that show some nurses have had a 14% pay cut since 2010 a
  
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• Rachel Johnson Accuses Brexiteers And Brother Boris Of Selling 'Faulty Goods'

  30-04-2017 13:11
  
  Rachel Johnson has accused Brexiteers, which includes her brother, Foreign Minister Boris, of selling “faulty goods” over their broken promises on Europe.
  Both the columnist and her younger brother Jo Johnson, the universities minister, supported the remain campaign in the July referendum.
  Ms Johnson has defected from the Tories to the Liberal Democrats because they “have the only sensible plan in place”.
  She added that leaving the European Union is a “suicide missi
  
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• Theresa May Promises Not To Raise VAT But Other Taxes May Increase

  30-04-2017 12:10
  
  BREAKING: @theresa_may promises #Peston the @Conservatives will not raise VAT after #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/nwUHNaxr7T— Peston on Sunday (@pestononsunday) April 30, 2017
  Theresa May has signalled she will ditch David Cameron’s “tax lock” that committed the Conservative Party to not raise VAT, income tax or National Insurance.
  The prime minister this morning did rule out raising VAT should she win the election, however she avoided making similar pledges on National Insura
  
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• General Election 2017: May 'heading for coronation' - Farron

  30-04-2017 11:45 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Lib Dem leader Tim Farron vows to turn the general election into a "desperately-needed contest".
  
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• General Election 2017: Theresa May denies 'robotic' message

  30-04-2017 11:10 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The prime minister is challenged on her repeated use of the phrase "strong and stable".
  
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• Can’t be bothered to vote? If you’re young, you simply can’t afford not to

  30-04-2017 08:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Voter apathy among the 18-24 age group has seen the advent of tuition fees and cuts to housing benefit and student grants. It’s time to turn out to reverse this cycle, writes Armando IannucciA senior political figure who shall remain nameless, but is currently mayor of London, once told me that on the final day of general election campaigning he had just enough time left to visit one of two places: a students’ hall of residence or an old people’s home. He chose the old people&r
  
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• Downing Street to garden retreat: David Cameron spends £25,000 on luxury hut

  30-04-2017 06:00 via theguardian.com
  The hand-built ‘shepherd’s hut’ comes with sheep’s wool insulation, a wood-burning stove, Bakelite light switches and a hardwood doorFormer prime minister David Cameron has spent £25,000 on a “luxury hut” for his Cotswolds garden that he plans to use as a writing studio.Since leaving Downing Street, Cameron has undertaken a speaking tour in the US and has said he is spending his time rediscovering his love of game shooting.Continue reading...
  
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• May vows to protect pensions from 'unscrupulous bosses'

  30-04-2017 05:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The Tories promise to protect company pensions, while Labour pledges to improve workers' rights.
  
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• Household food waste level 'unacceptable'

  30-04-2017 05:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Changing rules on best before dates and the sale of "wonky vegetables" could help cut waste, MPs say.
  
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• Triple-lock: Call for pensions policy to be revamped

  30-04-2017 04:11 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Former pensions minister Steve Webb calls for pension increases that target those most in need.
  
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• Green heating system accused of causing 'fuel poverty'

  30-04-2017 02:47 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The government says district heating networks should cut bills, but some say they are beset with problems.
  
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• Trump’s first 100 days: he is listening and learning how to take good advice | Megan G Oprea

  30-04-2017 01:05 via theguardian.com
  
  The president has toned down the rhetoric and, abroad at least, he has learned to co-operateWhen assessing Trump’s performance so far, we should not measure him by what he promised on the campaign trail or even by what we would expect from a more conventional president. Trump is a special case.Instead, his success should be measured by the degree to which he has been able to adapt, correct course and shift his policies back towards the mainstream. By that standard, he is doing far better t
  
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• Theresa May: the fruits of Brexit - cartoon

  30-04-2017 01:05 via theguardian.com
  
  Chris Riddell on what the Tories are really thinking Continue reading...
  
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• ‘May says this is about stability. She should meet my constituents’

  30-04-2017 01:05 via theguardian.com
  
  On the doorsteps of Yardley, Brexit barely gets a mention“Hello – my name is Jess and I’m your local MP.” The opening of hundreds of conversations I have had this week. I wouldn’t be surprised if I had taken to shouting this out in my sleep. My husband can neither confirm nor deny this as mostly I am not sleeping. Instead, I get up in the middle of the night and retire to another room to write down things I absolutely have to remember, which seem not to matter a jot
  
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• If May really does mean what she says, she should put it in writing | Andrew Rawnsley

  30-04-2017 01:05 via theguardian.com
  
  The PM has been long on rhetoric, short on action and the Tory manifesto should contain some real promisesOn the night of Theresa May’s announcement that she was calling a snap election, she addressed a private meeting of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers. She rehearsed to them the Brexit-related arguments for going to the country that she had already offered to the public, but witnesses report that she did so without much animation.In the words of one in the audience, there was only
  
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• Labour’s aimless stroll towards oblivion in Glasgow | Kevin McKenna

  30-04-2017 01:04 via theguardian.com
  
  Years of bad management and lack of vision have left the SNP and Tories poised to expunge the left from north of the borderNo other city in the UK has embodied the success and aspirations of the Labour movement more than Glasgow. And now, as Labour faces up to the reality of spending a generation in the political wilderness, no city has come to epitomise the party’s decline more than this one. At Westminster, Jeremy Corbyn is facing a reckoning; in Glasgow, the party he leads is contemplat
  
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• City mayors could head off post-Brexit divisions

  30-04-2017 01:04 via theguardian.com
  
  Local elections provide opportunity to promote social cohesion, says reportBritain’s leading expert on social cohesion has backed calls for a radical new approach to heal deepening divisions in the post-Brexit-vote era.Professor Ted Cantle, author of a groundbreaking report commissioned by the government after the 2001 race riots in northern England, has backed calls for the mayors of the six new city regions being created across England in local elections on Thursday to appoint deputies r
  
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• Bankruptcy risk as ‘desperate’ councils play the property market

  30-04-2017 00:10 via theguardian.com
  
  Liberal Democrat former business secretary Vince Cable warns of gambles taken by local authorities hit by cutsDesperate councils risk being plunged into an Icelandic-style financial crisis after investing £1.5bn in the commercial property market, according to Sir Vince Cable, former business secretary.Heavy cuts in central government funding have left the authorities having to consider increasingly exotic solutions to ease their financial constraints. Continue reading...
  
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