http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/ from www.independent.co.uk en-GB Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:07:00 +0100 http://www.typepad.com/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/07/today-in-poli-3.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/07/today-in-poli-3.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown has said he is "very disappointed" that MPs voted against plans to curb their "second home" expenses. His remarks have surprised some Labour MPs, who say there was an unofficial Brown whipping operation to oppose... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:18:35 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/07/today-in-poli-2.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/07/today-in-poli-2.html By Andrew Grice MPs missed an opportunity to clean up their act tonight when they voted on their own pay and expenses. They bowed to Gordon Brown's pressure by holding down their pay but then threw all the possible benefits... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:02:12 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/07/today-in-poli-1.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/07/today-in-poli-1.html By Andrew Grice An unusual session of Prime Minister's Questions today in that it left a mystery hanging in the air. David Cameron brought a scoopette with him: news of a letter from the Government Chief Whip Geoff Hoon, to... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:20:22 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/07/today-in-politi.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/07/today-in-politi.html By Andrew Grice The Tories pulled off a clever trick last week by announcing a health policy based on "outcomes" for patients rather than centrally-set targets, pre-empting the Goverrment's review to mark the 60th birthday of the NHS, which recommended...... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:04:42 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-24.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-24.html By Andrew Grice Today has long been pencilled in the Downing Street diary as a good news day. It is the 60th birthday of the National Health Service and, therefore, an opportunity for Labour to celebrate something it created, trumpet... Today in Politics Ruth Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:14:03 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-23.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-23.html By Andrew Grice A clever trick by the Tories to call the Henley by-election to coincide with Gordon Brown's first anniversary as Prime Minister. Labour was bound to do badly in what was always going to be a Con-LibDem fight.... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:44:25 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-22.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-22.html By Andrew Grice Tensions are rising in the Conservative Party about what it would actually do in government. David Cameron keeps a tight grip on policy announcements but differences are emerging over whether the party should overturn some Labour decisions... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:21:01 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-21.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-21.html By Andrew Grice A Prime Minister's Questions of two halves. David Cameron did the statesmanlike thing by raising the crisis in Zimbabwe, showing he can so serious as well as political knockabout. Perhaps he guessed what was coming later (see... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:12:11 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-20.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-20.html By Andrew Grice Another day, another climbdown. After offering major concessions to squeeze 42-days detention for suspected terrorists through the Commons, ministers have now given ground to defuse a Labour rebellion over their proposals to streamline the planning system. As... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:27:29 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-19.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-19.html By Andrew Grice David Cameron is looking more and more like a Prime Minister-in-waiting, and being treated as such in the Westminster village. His monthly press conference today was packed and went on for 45 minutes, longer than usual. The... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:27:15 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-18.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-18.html By Andrew Grice in Brussels Today's summit of European Union leaders was supposed to mark the moment when they stopped the "navel-gazing" about the way the EU functions and turned their attention to real world issues such as rising oil... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:07:26 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-17.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-17.html By Andrew Grice in Brussels My report in today's paper seems to have triggered a new debate over whether Britain should open the door to the commercial cultivation of GM crops. None are being grown at present but ministers are... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:28:14 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-16.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-16.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown has just enjoyed his best session of Prime Minister's Questions for some weeks. He swatted David Cameron aside today and the cries of "more, more" from Labour backbenches were genuine rather than ritualistic. Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:10:37 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-15.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-15.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown adopted a different approach today as he sought to win over critics of his plan for suspected terrorists to be detained for up to 42 days without charge. Away from the bearpit of the Commons... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:25:50 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-14.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-14.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown appears to have found a way of pulling British troops out of Iraq without upsetting George Bush too much - but only by sending more of them to Afghanistan. That enables Brown to distance himself... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:35:44 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-13.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-13.html By Andrew Grice The "no" vote in the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty has revived the dormant debate on Europe in Britain. The irony is that Gordon Brown was tantatisingly close to pulling off his "softly softly" strategy of... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:11:40 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-12.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-12.html By Andrew Grice A festering dispute about how far the Tories should push their campaign against 42-day detention for terrrorist suspects lies behind the shock resignation of David Davis. The shadow Home Secretary has stunned Westminster today by announcing that... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:41:35 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-11.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-11.html By Andrew Grice "A win is a win," a Brown aide told me tonight after the Prime Minister squeaked home in the crucial Commons vote on plans to detain terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge - but... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:18:08 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-10.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-pol-10.html By Andrew Grice No prizes for guessing that plans for 42-day detention for terrorist suspects dominated Prime Minister's Questions. Gordon Brown accused David Cameron of "opposition for opposition's sake" in objecting to the Government's controversial proposals. But Cameron argued convicingly... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:11:46 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-9.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-9.html By Andrew Grice The gloom among Labour MPs will have deepened among those who could bear to watch last night's Dispatches programme on Channel 4 about Gordon Brown's first year as Prime Minister. No dynamite revelations but a very watchable... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:48:43 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-8.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-8.html By Andrew Grice Nick Clegg regretted his promise to give a straight answer to questions after unwisely telling GQ magazine he had had "no more than 30" sexual partners. He was dubbed "Cleggover" by the tabloids but maybe it wasn't... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:19:02 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-7.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-7.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown has written to all Labour MPs, pleading with them not to inflict a humiliating defeat on the Government on Wednesday in the crucial vote on plans to detain suspected terrorists for up to 42 days... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:26:41 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-6.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-6.html By Andrew Grice Many Labour MPs and some of his own advisers are telling Gordon Brown to slow down a bit aND prioritise more. He looks washed out, they say, and his instinct to work even harder because he's in... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:27:10 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-5.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-5.html By Andrew Grice Feathers have been ruffled in David Cameron's Shadow Cabinet by rumours that Kenneth Clarke could return to frontline politics if the Tories win the next election. Some senior figures are fretting that they might not land the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:42:37 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-4.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-4.html By Andrew Grice A lively session of Prime Minister's Questions just now, the first since Labour's by-election disaster in Crewe. In the circumstances, Gordon Brown did better than might have been expected. He clashed with David Cameron over the Government's... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:45:58 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-3.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-3.html By Andrew Grice The writ for the Henley by-election will be moved shortly, allowing polling to take place on 26 June. Boris Johnson, the MP, is standing down after winning the race to become Mayor of London. Although he enjoyed... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:48:07 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-2.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-2.html By Andrew Grice The Government is often accused of burying bad news. Today, bizarrely, it is denying good news. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has criticised BBC reports that the Government will win next week's crucial vote on plans for suspected... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:30:04 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-1.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-poli-1.html By Andrew Grice At last some good news for Gordon Brown. The Labour rebellion against plans to allow police to detain suspected terrorists for 42 days without charge appears to be fading tonight. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith won plaudits after... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:42:12 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-politi.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/today-in-politi.html By Andrew Grice "We are in deep shit," the minister told me this morning at my first meeting since my week away from the Westminster hothouse. Nothing has changed, then. He went on: "No one thinks we can win the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:44:27 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-21.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-21.html By Andrew Grice A spectacular Tory win in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, where the man dubbed a "Tory toff" by Labour, Edward Timpson, turned a Labour majority of 7,078 into a Tory one of 7,860. The Tories expected to... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 23 May 2008 08:38:27 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-20.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-20.html By Andrew Grice Red faces in the Conservative Party this morning after the revelation that staffers in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election inadvertently sent the personal details of 8,500 local voters to a radio station in the Isle of Man.... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 22 May 2008 11:42:58 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-19.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-19.html By Andrew Grice A very flat session of Prime Minister's Questions today. There was a sombre mood as Gordon Brown and David Cameron discussed the natural disasters in Burma and China. You wouldn't have guessed that Brown is a PM... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 21 May 2008 13:10:00 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-18.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-18.html By Andrew Grice Tax is back at the top of the political agenda. Yesterday David Cameron showed a little more ankle than usual on the prospects of a Tory Government cutting taxes. Today Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, joined... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 20 May 2008 18:19:30 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-17.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-17.html By Andrew Grice Things seem to be going from bad to worse for Labour in Crewe and Nantwich ahead of Thursday's by-election. Labour MPs and allies of Gordon Brown have admitted that the party's campaign against "Tory toff" candidate Edward... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 19 May 2008 19:03:48 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-16.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-16.html By Andrew Grice Reading Cherie Blair's much-panned memoirs, I took a special interest in her confirmation that the Blairs' youngest son Leo was given the MMR vaccine. I revealed this on the front page of The Independent in February 2002.... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 19 May 2008 10:48:04 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-15.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-15.html By Andrew Grice A rare bit of good news for Gordon Brown. Speculation that Tony Blair is going to follow his wife Cherie by bringing forward his memoirs is wide of the mark, I'm told. Last Friday night, Team Brown... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 16 May 2008 16:04:12 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-14.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-14.html By Andrew Grice "May I say, for the benefit of those who have been carried away by the gossip of the last few days, that I know what's going on. I'm going on," the beleaguered Labour Prime Minister said amid... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 15 May 2008 15:23:47 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-13.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-13.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown is trying to make a virtue out of his remarkable U-turn over the 10p tax rate. Interviewed on BBC's Today programme this morning, he argued that the £2.7bn tax cut announced on Tuesday was to... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 15 May 2008 09:58:07 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-12.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-12.html By Andrew Grice David Cameron won the second leg of today's Commons match with Gordon Brown. In a witty and punchy speech, the Tory leader ridiculed the draft Queen's Speech set out by the Prime Minister, accusing him of stealing... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 14 May 2008 16:49:20 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-11.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-11.html By Andrew Grice A good, if predictable, line of attack from David Cameron in Prime Minister's Questions just now. He accused Gordon Brown of not "being straight" with the British people over the election that never was (nothing to do... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 14 May 2008 12:31:19 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-10.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-pol-10.html By Andrew Grice The Chancellor Alistair Darling's £2.7bn compensation package for the losers of the abolition of the 10p tax rate was much more significant than had been expected. Individual personal tax allowances will be increased by £600 this year,... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 13 May 2008 17:18:45 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-9.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-9.html By Andrew Grice I'm told that Tony Blair spent much of his final weeks in Downing Street censoring the diaries that Alastair Campbell was itching to publish the minute he stood down. No doubt many references to the running battle... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 12 May 2008 10:44:33 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-8.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-8.html By Andrew Grice Just when some Labour people thought things could only get better for Gordon Brown, they are getting worse. Today's edition of The Economist depicts him, Jesus-like, with arrows stuck in various parts of his body (with a... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 09 May 2008 09:38:07 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-7.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-7.html By Andrew Grice Boris Johnson should enjoy his honeymoon while it lasts, because all good things come to an end. Few people will begrudge him his time in the sun, after his remarkable victory in the London Mayoral election. Labour... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 08 May 2008 11:55:31 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-6.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-6.html By Andrew Grice You couldn't make it up. At a time when Gordon Brown has enough difficult balls to juggle, he's been lobbed another one by his very own Scottish Labour Party. Its leader Wendy Alexander, a Brown ally, has... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 07 May 2008 18:59:18 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-5.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-5.html By Andrew Grice A good day to have my ringside seat for Prime Minister's Questions. From my perch in the Press Gallery, I can see the faces of Labour MPs, but not those of the Tories. There was ritual rather... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 07 May 2008 13:17:25 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-4.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-4.html By Andrew Grice There seems to have been a timely bit of briefing by allies of Gordon Brown against Wendy Alexander, Labour's leader in Scotland, over her surprise call for an early referendum on Scottish independence. In today's newspapers, her... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 07 May 2008 10:50:54 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-3.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-3.html By Andrew Grice David Cameron is trying to turn this month's Crewe and Nantwich by-election into a referendum on Gordon Brown's disastrous decision to abolish the 10p lower rate of tax. At his monthly press conference this morning before heading... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 06 May 2008 12:00:23 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-2.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-2.html By Andrew Grice The defeat of Ken Livingstone after eight years as Mayor of London is a big moment with implications way beyond the capital. We might well look back on Boris Johnson's remarkable victory as the time when the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Sat, 03 May 2008 09:34:39 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-1.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-poli-1.html By Andrew Grice A new, more contrite Gordon Brown emerged this morning from the wreckage of Labour's worst local election results for 40 years. Less than a year after Brown took over from Tony Blair, Labour has come a humiliating... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 02 May 2008 11:57:57 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-politi.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/05/today-in-politi.html By Andrew Grice Even before the votes are counted in today's local and London Mayor elections, a debate has begun in the Labour Party about how Gordon Brown should fight back. Which, even allowing for the pre-match spin by all... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 01 May 2008 12:39:14 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-28.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-28.html By Andrew Grice A slow-burning Prime Minister's Questions finally caught fire with David Cameron's final question. He is allowed up to six and often saves the pre-prepared soundbite he wants the TV news bulletins to gobble up until last. So... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:57:34 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-27.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-27.html By Andrew Grice Last week, it was the independent-minded Frank Field who ran rings round the Government by winning compensation for some of the losers from the abolition of the 10p tax rate. Today, his partner-in-crime Kate Hoey has stirred... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:39:53 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-26.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-26.html By Andrew Grice If Gordon Brown was hoping that the row over his decision to abolish the 10p lower rate of income tax would not damage Labour, he'll be very disappointed by the latest monthly ComRes survey for The Independent.... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:46:47 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-25.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-25.html By Andrew Grice The Tories have rightly accused Labour of copying their policies on issues such as inheritance tax and foreign residents with non-domicile tax status. But David Cameron is not above a bit of jackdaw politics himself. Today the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:49:40 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-24.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-24.html By Andrew Grice A ray of hope for Labour during dark days. David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, outshone David Cameron, the Tory leader, when they gave separate interviews on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC TV just now. Miliband had... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:29:39 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-23.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-23.html By Andrew Grice Ken Livingstone has admitted going naked in his pursuit of votes in next Thursday's London Mayoral election. Well, almost. On BBC's Question Time last night, Ken confessed that he and his Tory rival Boris Johnson were scrabbling... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:42:01 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-22.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-22.html By Andrew Grice On the morning after the great climbdown over the 10p tax rate, the compensation package offered by the Government may not be as generous as Labour MPs had hoped. In an email to Labour colleagues, the leader... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:46:54 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-21.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-21.html By Andrew Grice A rowdy session of Prime Minister's Questions was inevitably dominated by the climbdown in which the Government will compensate many of the losers from Gordon Brown's decision to abolish the 10p lower rate of income tax. If... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:16:27 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-20.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-20.html By Andrew Grice Government whips are warning Labour MPs that next Monday's vote on the abolition of the 10p tax rate amounts to a vote of confidence in Gordon Brown. The implicit threat is that the PM would call a... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:49:09 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-19.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-19.html By Andrew Grice Thirty nine Labour MPs have this morning signed an amendment (pictured) to the Finance Bill demanding immediate compensation for the low paid workers who lose out as a result of Gordon Brown's decision to abolish the 10p... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:13:32 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-18.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-18.html By Andrew Grice It must have seemed a good idea to send fractious Labour MPs away from Westminster for the past two weeks so they couldn't make more trouble for Gordon Brown. In fact, the late Easter recess which ended... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:04:34 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-17.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-17.html By Andrew Grice The Tories appear to be talking up the possibility of a high-profile defection from Labour. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, David Cameron heaps praise on Blairites Lord Adonis, the Schools Minister, and the former Cabinet... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:47:57 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-16.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-16.html By Andrew Grice Why was the body language between Gordon Brown and George Bush at their White House press conference so much warmer than at their frosty first joint appearance at Camp David last July? Camp Brown would argue that... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:36:13 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-15.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-15.html By Andrew Grice At last, some positive media coverage for Gordon Brown. Not a moment too soon for Labour MPs, who breathed a sign of relief as TV bulletins led with by his strong attack on the "stolen" election and... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:55:38 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-14.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-14.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown begins a visit to the United States today but, as is often the case when a troubled leader goes abroad, he will find it difficult to escape his domestic woes. His trip is already being... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:22:35 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-13.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-13.html By Andrew Grice Rumours swirl around Westminster that both Gordon Brown and David Cameron will soon be reshuffling their Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet teams. Speculation about reshuffles is a bit like the first cuckoo of spring; it comes around every... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:56:24 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-12.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-12.html By Andrew Grice After a weekend of torrid headlines, Gordon Brown is trying to send a slightly different signal to the voters on the economy: that he understands that they are feeling the pinch. The Prime Minister was accused by... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:09:03 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-11.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-11.html By Andrew Grice The High Court's spectacular ruling that the Blair Government was wrong to halt the inquiry into alleged corruption over the BAE Systems arms deal with Saudi Arabia lands Gordon Brown with another headache at a time when... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:48:20 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-10.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-pol-10.html By Andrew Grice So now we know. Gordon Brown will not be attending the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. But it's NOT a boycott or a snub to China because Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister,... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:56:08 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-9.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-9.html By Andrew Grice Ken Livingstone needs all the help he can get if he is to hang on to his job as London Mayor. So he is pitching for Liberal Democrat supporters to use their second vote in the May... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:51:42 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-8.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-8.html By Andrew Grice Labour received more than 3,000 questions when Gordon Brown did a 30-minute live webcast last night, the first by a British Prime Minister. Labour has judged it a success. Brown didn't look like a man under pressure;... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:32:26 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-7.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-7.html By Andrew Grice David Cameron tried to rub salt in Gordon Brown's wounds at his monthly press conference today by promising to join forces with Labour MPs who are rebelling over the Government's decision to abolish the 10p starting rate... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:29:02 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-6.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-6.html By Andrew Grice The House of Commons is normally a quiet place on a Sunday but today I had a front row seat for the Olympic torch relay through London. From my office window I have just seen some rowdy... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:32:36 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-5.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-5.html By Andrew Grice Today's partial disclosure of the expenses of some of our leading politicians is a landmark, the moment when the dam started to burst. So it should be welcomed. Yet the way it has been handled by the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:04:43 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-4.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-4.html By Andrew Grice One of Gordon Brown's first acts as Prime Minister - signalling that he would reverse the Blair Government's decision to downgrade cannabis - is not looking too clever today. It has emerged that the Advisory Council on... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:59:46 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-3.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-3.html By Andrew Grice Boris Johnson has won support for his bid to become Mayor of London that he would rather do without. The far right British National Party (BNP), which stands a chance of winning seats on the London Assembly... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:56:35 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-2.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-2.html By Andrew Grice Today's session of Prime Minister's Questions was the most eagerly awaited for months - because Gordon Brown wasn't there for the first time since he became PM. He's at a Nato summit in Bucharest. Harriet Harman, the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:45:20 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-1.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-poli-1.html By Andrew Grice Something was missing at Gordon Brown's hour-long monthly news conference at Downing Street this lunchtime. A story, for starters. Jokes? Forget it. The PM spoke at length about immigration and the global economy but... it was a... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:50:06 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-politi.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/04/today-in-politi.html By Andrew Grice Rule one of the spin doctor's manual for politicians: there are some questions you just never answer. Commendably, Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, has tried to ignore it. He raised some LibDem eyebrows when he admitted... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:42:17 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-33.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-33.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown has just spoken at tonight's weekly meeting of Labour MPs. It's a fairly routine thing for the party leader to do, but clearly the PM felt the need to try to raise morale ahead of... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:55:38 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-32.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-32.html By Andrew Grice I went back to my long distant roots today. Boris Johnson launched his campaign to become Mayor of London, along with David Cameron, in Edmonton, North London, where I grew up (pictured). As a teenager, I used... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:34:29 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-31.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-31.html By Andrew Grice Another dose of bad NHS headlines for the Government because not all health trusts have completed the "deep clean" exercise ordered to combat MRSA by today's deadline. "Plan to deep-clean each hospital has failed," reported the Daily... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:24:55 +0100 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-30.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-30.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown delivered a speech without notes to the Scottish Labour conference this afternoon. This has inevitably sparked comparisons with Dave "off the cuff" Cameron, although Brown had a dry run when he spoke to Labour's spring... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:35:33 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-29.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-29.html By Andrew Grice The phrase "whirlwind visit" might have been designed for Nicolas Sarkozy's trip to London. Not only did the French President cut short his state visit from two nights to one but he amazed his British hosts with... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:38:35 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-28.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-28.html By Andrew Grice Before he became Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg told close colleagues that his first 100 days in the job would be crucial and that he was determined to use it to make a dramatic impression on the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:25:51 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-27.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-27.html By Andrew Grice The Tories had a good Easter, pumping out several good anti-government stories - confirmation, if it were needed, that they are now an effective opposition. But they are not the finished article. There's too much central casting.... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:37:29 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-26.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-26.html By Andrew Grice "The Tories' sums don't add up" is one of Gordon Brown's favourite slogans. Today at Prime Minister's Questions he went one better, claiming that David Cameron couldn't add up. His researchers had unearthed a golden nugget from... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:20:57 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-25.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-25.html By Andrew Grice Nicolas Sarkozy has just arrived at Heathrow for his much-anticipated state visit to Britain. No doubt it will be deemed a success by all concerned, even if the media spotlight falls more on his wife Carla Bruni... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:58:06 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-24.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-24.html By Andrew Grice Gordon Brown had got himself into a "no win" situation over the forthcoming Bill to allow scientists to conduct more experiments on embryos in the hope of finding a cure to illnesses such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:21:13 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-23.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-23.html By Andrew Grice The Commons will debate Iraq tomorrow. Why? Not because it's the fifth anniversary of the war, which Gordon Brown did not want to mark at all. Not because the PM can announce that plans to reduce the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:55:02 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-22.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-22.html By Andrew Grice How times change. Gordon Brown appeared at the side of Ken Livingstone this afternoon to lend his support for his attempt to win a third term as London Mayor. "Ken Livingstone has dedicated his professional and personal... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:37:29 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-21.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-21.html By Andrew Grice At Prime Minister's Questions today, a confident David Cameron tackled Gordon Brown over his refusal to answer his questions in recent weeks. The PM, as he often does, turned the tables on the Tory leader by asking... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:09:50 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-20.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-20.html By Andrew Grice An important development today in the London Mayoral race. Sian Berry, the Green Party's impressive candidate, has urged her supporters to vote for Ken Livingstone as their number two choice in the 1 May election, when voters... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:23:38 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-19.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-19.html By Andrew Grice Tory officials have been tweaking my tail about my column in last Saturday's paper, which was headlined "The Tories fear they are losing momentum". Since then, three opinion polls have given the party big leads over Labour... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:06:13 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-18.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-18.html By Andrew Grice Another one of Gordon Brown's close aides is to leave Downing Street. Spencer Livermore, his director of political strategy, who has worked with Brown for 10 years, is jumping ship to join advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:26:00 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-17.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-17.html By Andrew Grice The Commons will vote next week on whether there should be an independent inquiry into the lessons to be learnt from the Iraq war. The Tories decided today to stage a debate in Opposition time on the... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:26:03 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-16.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-16.html By Andrew Grice at the Conservative Party conference in Gateshead David Cameron didn't "do a Cameron" in his speech to the Tory conference this afternoon. By that, I mean he didn't go walkabout on stage as Gordon Brown and Nick... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:07:53 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-15.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-15.html By Andrew Grice at the Conservative Conference in Gateshead The undisputed star of the Tory show in Gateshead so far has been Boris Johnson, the party's candidate for Mayor of London. Conference organisers brought forward his speech from today to... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:44:04 +0000 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-14.html http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/03/today-in-pol-14.html By Andrew Grice in Gateshead George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, disappointed Tory activists at the party's spring conference here this afternoon when he offered only the faintest hint about long-term tax cuts. If you put his audience on a lie... Today in Politics Andrew Grice Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:34:58 +0000