This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2012/feb/29/pmqs-cameron-miliband-mccluskey
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Politics live blog + PMQs: Wednesday 29 February | Politics live blog + PMQs: Wednesday 29 February |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 11.02am: Even Ken Livingstone is having a go at Len McCluskey this morning over the Olympics strike threat. This is what Livingstone has posted on Twitter. | |
| K: My position is unequivocal, there must be no disruption of the Games from any quarter | |
| 10.46am: And here's Ed Miliband on Twitter on Len McCluskey's Olympics strike threat. | |
| Any threat to the Olympics is totally unacceptable and wrong. This is a celebration for the whole country and must not be disrupted. | |
| 10.35am: The backlash against Len McCluskey continues. Harriet Harman, Labour's deputy leader, has just told BBC News that she spoke to the Unite leader this morning and told him that she and Ed Miliband thought he was "just plain wrong" to even raise the issue of a strike during the Olympics. | |
| 10.21am: Today the Daily Mail is splashing on the news that Chris Huhne is taking the £17,000 pay off that cabinet ministers can claim if they stand down. Huhne is being accused of hypocrisy because he shared a platform with Lady Warsi, the Conservative co-chairman, in 2010 when she said that retiring Labour ministers should forfeit their severance payments. Other Lib Dems have criticised these payments, and David Laws did not take one when he resigned from the cabinet in 2010, but even the Daily Mail's finest haven't been able to find a quote from Huhne himself saying cabinet ministers who stand down shouldn't take the money. | 10.21am: Today the Daily Mail is splashing on the news that Chris Huhne is taking the £17,000 pay off that cabinet ministers can claim if they stand down. Huhne is being accused of hypocrisy because he shared a platform with Lady Warsi, the Conservative co-chairman, in 2010 when she said that retiring Labour ministers should forfeit their severance payments. Other Lib Dems have criticised these payments, and David Laws did not take one when he resigned from the cabinet in 2010, but even the Daily Mail's finest haven't been able to find a quote from Huhne himself saying cabinet ministers who stand down shouldn't take the money. |
| Nick Clegg was asked about this on LBC this morning. He wasn't very supportive. This is what he said about his old rival. | Nick Clegg was asked about this on LBC this morning. He wasn't very supportive. This is what he said about his old rival. |
| It's his decision. It's an individual decision. He's decided to take that severance pay ... It's a decision which he has taken and he has taken alone. | It's his decision. It's an individual decision. He's decided to take that severance pay ... It's a decision which he has taken and he has taken alone. |
| 10.06am: There are two polls around today. For the record, here are the figures. Ipsos MORI | 10.06am: There are two polls around today. For the record, here are the figures. Ipsos MORI |
| Labour: 41% (up 3 from Ipsos MORI last month) Conservatives: 35% (down 3) Lib Dems: 12% (no change) | Labour: 41% (up 3 from Ipsos MORI last month) Conservatives: 35% (down 3) Lib Dems: 12% (no change) |
| Labour lead: 6 points. | Labour lead: 6 points. |
| YouGov | YouGov |
| Conservatives: 40% (up 2 points since YouGov on Monday night) Labour: 39% (down 1) Lib Dems: 9% (no change) | Conservatives: 40% (up 2 points since YouGov on Monday night) Labour: 39% (down 1) Lib Dems: 9% (no change) |
| Conservative lead: 1 point | Conservative lead: 1 point |
| Government approval: -24 | Government approval: -24 |
| 9.33am: Yesterday the Guardian published details of the government's plans to curb the powers of the European court of human rights. On the Today programme this morning Shami Chakrabati (left), director of Liberty, said she was concerned about the plans. I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. | 9.33am: Yesterday the Guardian published details of the government's plans to curb the powers of the European court of human rights. On the Today programme this morning Shami Chakrabati (left), director of Liberty, said she was concerned about the plans. I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. |
On the one hand – and this is the bit I welcome – the proposals would encourage other countries in the Council of Europe to have a human rights act. The more troubling part of the proposal is to suggest that when member states have done that and when they have a human rights act... they should no longer be effectively subject to the court of human rights. | On the one hand – and this is the bit I welcome – the proposals would encourage other countries in the Council of Europe to have a human rights act. The more troubling part of the proposal is to suggest that when member states have done that and when they have a human rights act... they should no longer be effectively subject to the court of human rights. |
| The danger what that really – the bottom line – is, how do you expect Mr Putin and his government – repeat offenders I might add – how are you going to expect them to subject themselves to court scrutiny if you are not prepared to hold yourself up as well? | The danger what that really – the bottom line – is, how do you expect Mr Putin and his government – repeat offenders I might add – how are you going to expect them to subject themselves to court scrutiny if you are not prepared to hold yourself up as well? |
| On the same programme the Conservative MP Dominic Raab defended the plans. Denying Chakrabati's claim that he was a "human rights sceptic", he said the government's plans were relatively modest. | On the same programme the Conservative MP Dominic Raab defended the plans. Denying Chakrabati's claim that he was a "human rights sceptic", he said the government's plans were relatively modest. |
| From the document the Guardian has produced, the government is asking Strasbourg to do little more than it should already be doing. The Strasbourg court's job is to interpret and apply the law under Article 45 of the convention. It has being engaged in widespread judicial legislation for many years. I think prisoner voting and the Abu Qatada decision are the latest examples of that, and it has got to the point where the Strasbourg court is really itself undermining the rule of law and democratic accountability. | From the document the Guardian has produced, the government is asking Strasbourg to do little more than it should already be doing. The Strasbourg court's job is to interpret and apply the law under Article 45 of the convention. It has being engaged in widespread judicial legislation for many years. I think prisoner voting and the Abu Qatada decision are the latest examples of that, and it has got to the point where the Strasbourg court is really itself undermining the rule of law and democratic accountability. |
| 9.28am: I missed Chris Grayling on Channel 4 News last night, but several people posted comments on my blog late yesterday praising the interview. Channel 4 presented Grayling with a letter implying that the work experience programme was mandatory - not voluntary, as he says it is. You can watch the interview here. | 9.28am: I missed Chris Grayling on Channel 4 News last night, but several people posted comments on my blog late yesterday praising the interview. Channel 4 presented Grayling with a letter implying that the work experience programme was mandatory - not voluntary, as he says it is. You can watch the interview here. |
| 9.10am: Our interview with Len McCluskey, in which he said that unions should consider using strike action during the Olympics as part of their fight against the government's cuts, has certainly shaken things up. McCluskey has now been criticised by all three parties. Here's what Nick Clegg said this morning. | 9.10am: Our interview with Len McCluskey, in which he said that unions should consider using strike action during the Olympics as part of their fight against the government's cuts, has certainly shaken things up. McCluskey has now been criticised by all three parties. Here's what Nick Clegg said this morning. |
I just think people will be gobsmacked, appalled, that someone thinks that at a time when we are finally hosting one of the greatest events in the world, he is calling for civil disobedience. I know he is the sort of paymaster of the Labour Party but I hope Ed Miliband will rein him in. | I just think people will be gobsmacked, appalled, that someone thinks that at a time when we are finally hosting one of the greatest events in the world, he is calling for civil disobedience. I know he is the sort of paymaster of the Labour Party but I hope Ed Miliband will rein him in. |
| Here's what Tessa Jowell, the shadow Olympics minister, said. | Here's what Tessa Jowell, the shadow Olympics minister, said. |
| No one in our country looking forward to the Olympics, no athlete preparing, and none of our thousands of potential visitors, would understand or sympathise with any disruption to the Olympic games. If this is a negotiation it should take place in private. Unions and employers should get together and sort it out without threats or disruption to Britain's Olympics. | No one in our country looking forward to the Olympics, no athlete preparing, and none of our thousands of potential visitors, would understand or sympathise with any disruption to the Olympic games. If this is a negotiation it should take place in private. Unions and employers should get together and sort it out without threats or disruption to Britain's Olympics. |
| And here's what Lady Warsi, the co-chairman of the Conservative party, said last night. | And here's what Lady Warsi, the co-chairman of the Conservative party, said last night. |
| I am shocked that Unite would sink so low as to spoil this great national event for everyone else. Ed Miliband must urgently order his union cronies to rule out disrupting the Olympics. | I am shocked that Unite would sink so low as to spoil this great national event for everyone else. Ed Miliband must urgently order his union cronies to rule out disrupting the Olympics. |
| Do read the interview in full. It's not just about the Olympics, and he has lots of interesting things to say about Unite's relationship with Labour. I expect we'll here more about it at PMQs. | Do read the interview in full. It's not just about the Olympics, and he has lots of interesting things to say about Unite's relationship with Labour. I expect we'll here more about it at PMQs. |
| Here's the agenda for the day. | Here's the agenda for the day. |
| 9.30am: Sir Michael Wilshaw, the Ofsted chief inspector, gives evidence to the Commons education committee. | 9.30am: Sir Michael Wilshaw, the Ofsted chief inspector, gives evidence to the Commons education committee. |
| 9.45am: Sir Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, gives evidence to the Commons Treasury committee about the Bank's latest inflation report. | 9.45am: Sir Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, gives evidence to the Commons Treasury committee about the Bank's latest inflation report. |
| 10am: Detective Superintendent Philip Williams, who led Scotland Yard's original phone-hacking investigation, gives evidence to the Leveson Inquiry. Detective Inspector Mark Maberly and Detective Chief Superintendent Keith Surtees are also appearing. | 10am: Detective Superintendent Philip Williams, who led Scotland Yard's original phone-hacking investigation, gives evidence to the Leveson Inquiry. Detective Inspector Mark Maberly and Detective Chief Superintendent Keith Surtees are also appearing. |
| 10am: Vince Cable, the business secretary, takes part in a debate on the impact of immigration policy on universities at Telford Theatre. | 10am: Vince Cable, the business secretary, takes part in a debate on the impact of immigration policy on universities at Telford Theatre. |
| 12pm: David Cameron and Ed Miliband clash at PMQs. | 12pm: David Cameron and Ed Miliband clash at PMQs. |
| 12.30pm: MPs debate the legality of the Eurozone treaty in an emergency debate held at the request of the Conservative MP Bill Cash. | 12.30pm: MPs debate the legality of the Eurozone treaty in an emergency debate held at the request of the Conservative MP Bill Cash. |
| 1pm: Oliver Letwin, the Cabinet Office minister, and Chloe Smith, the Treasury minister, give evidence to the Commons environment committee on the natural environment white paper. 2.30pm: Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish justice secretary, takes questions in the Scottish parliament about allegations that he urged the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, to drop his appeal to increase his chances of being released from jail on compassionate grounds. | 1pm: Oliver Letwin, the Cabinet Office minister, and Chloe Smith, the Treasury minister, give evidence to the Commons environment committee on the natural environment white paper. 2.30pm: Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish justice secretary, takes questions in the Scottish parliament about allegations that he urged the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, to drop his appeal to increase his chances of being released from jail on compassionate grounds. |
| From 3.30pm: Peers resume their debate on the health bill. | From 3.30pm: Peers resume their debate on the health bill. |
| 4pm: Tom Watson holds a debate in Westminster Hall on the death of Daniel Morgan - a case linked with the phone hacking scandal. | 4pm: Tom Watson holds a debate in Westminster Hall on the death of Daniel Morgan - a case linked with the phone hacking scandal. |
| Today we've also got Francois Hollande, the Socialist candidate in the French presidential elections, visiting London. He's meeting Miliband but not Cameron. And Chris Grayling, the employment minister, is hosting a meeting with employers involved in the government's work experience scheme to reassure them their reputations will not be damaged if they take on the young unemployed. | Today we've also got Francois Hollande, the Socialist candidate in the French presidential elections, visiting London. He's meeting Miliband but not Cameron. And Chris Grayling, the employment minister, is hosting a meeting with employers involved in the government's work experience scheme to reassure them their reputations will not be damaged if they take on the young unemployed. |
| I've got to finish after PMQs. My colleague Hélène Mulholland will be taking over the blog for the rest of the day. | I've got to finish after PMQs. My colleague Hélène Mulholland will be taking over the blog for the rest of the day. |
| If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. |
| And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. | And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. |