444 items found
Jon Snow
Legal sources I have spoken to tell me there could be a case to answer under both the fraud act (over the specific claim) and under the theft act. If it came to it, there’s a real danger that the Metropolitan Police may be put off investigating former Labour minister Elliot Morley by the chaotic…
As I said earlier, my best assessment of the Bank’s assessment is that they fear a W-shaped double-dipping relapse in the economy in a few months’ time. I also pondered on Twitter whether the recession would in fact be “skip-shaped” ie ___/ Other suggestions were “buttock-shaped” (from @callummay)
Jon Snow
It seems Speaker Michael Martin may survive the initial fallout from the expenses scandal and the controversial manner in which he has chosen to deal with it. But my sources tell me even if this initial attempt fails, his days may be numbered. My hunch would be to watch for a peerage. And so the…
Jon Snow
All my working life, the Commons has been a daunting and intimidating place – a place where I had no place. I have never been a “lobby correspondent”, although I have a journalist’s pass. Yet even with that, and even as an assiduous voter, the Commons has never felt a place that I had any…
Jon Snow
Amid the furore in which MPs from all parties appeared to abuse the Commons expenses rules without actually breaking them (see my posting yesterday), let us not forget the House of Lords. Who remembers that four of their lordships were subject to a newspaper sting reported in January this year, which alleged they were prepared…
Jon Snow
Last night France’s finance minister talked to us on Channel 4 News. So did China’s ambassador to London. They were both in their individual ways impressive. They were both women too. In 2009, well into the 21st century, it is still rare to interview women, even on a programme as enlightened as ours!
Jon Snow
MPs have only themselves to blame. They have had decades to sort themselves out and bring themselves, first, into the 20th century, and latterly, into the 21st century. Their expenses regime, which they alone vote on, brings politics into considerable disrepute. Unfortunately for her, Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, has been the fall guy.
Jon Snow
In these days of the gathering credit crunch consequences and the recession or depression, is it my imagination or is morality coming back into play? Three instances in a week. The cascade of lords “on the take”, who told a Sunday newspaper they were prepared to influence legislation in return for money, may prompt a…
Jon Snow
The story of the four lords a-leaping (for allegedly offering to affect legislation in return for cash inducements) prompts all sorts of questions about the upper house of our legislature. The House of Lords prides itself on the quality of debates, and I’m the first to accept that there are some amazing brains in there,…