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Brown pressed on incentives claim | |
(20 minutes later) | |
Gordon Brown has denied offering backbenchers incentives to vote through controversial counter-terrorism laws, during questioning by senior MPs. | |
The prime minister is facing the chairs of 30 Commons committees, among them Home Affairs chairman Keith Vaz. | |
Mr Vaz, whose decision to back the proposals prompted rumours he had been offered a knighthood, asked Mr Brown to confirm he had made no such offers. | |
"Not at all," replied Mr Brown, who also faces questions on the economy. | |
Mr Vaz was in the news on Wednesday, after a letter to him from Labour chief whip Geoff Hoon, suggesting he may be "appropriately rewarded" for his help, was leaked to the Daily Telegraph. | |
At the start of the session Tory MP Patrick Cormack suggested the reward might be the opportunity to question Mr Brown - to which Mr Vaz joked: "I'm not sure that's not being shortchanged". | |
The prime minister is pressed on his lifestyle and job satisfaction by Tory MP Sir Patrick Cormack and urged to take a holiday - Mr Brown says he has "the best job in the world" class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7487029.stm">Key points as they happen | |
But in his question to the prime minister about counter-terrorism laws he also asked him to confirm he had not offered knighthoods, peerages or the "governorship of Bermuda". | |
Mr Brown replied: "Not at all, nor do I recall writing any letters to anyone." | |
On Wednesday the Bank of England's new deputy governor, Charlie Bean, told MPs there was "not very much that we can do about that as a nation" to help the British economy without increasing productivity. | On Wednesday the Bank of England's new deputy governor, Charlie Bean, told MPs there was "not very much that we can do about that as a nation" to help the British economy without increasing productivity. |
There was also an unexpected profit warning from Sir Stuart Rose, Marks and Spencer's chief executive, who predicted "stormy times ahead" for the UK economy. | There was also an unexpected profit warning from Sir Stuart Rose, Marks and Spencer's chief executive, who predicted "stormy times ahead" for the UK economy. |
The same day also brought figures from the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors, showing the building of new homes had fallen at the fastest pace since 1995. | The same day also brought figures from the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors, showing the building of new homes had fallen at the fastest pace since 1995. |
And more than 200 hauliers parked their lorries on one of the main roads into London to demonstrate against rising fuel prices. | And more than 200 hauliers parked their lorries on one of the main roads into London to demonstrate against rising fuel prices. |
The price of oil has continued to climb as well, with Brent crude rising above $145 (£73) a barrel for the first time. | The price of oil has continued to climb as well, with Brent crude rising above $145 (£73) a barrel for the first time. |