Friday 9th May 2008

Reading Desk: Sonia Sodha writes about the the recently released 'Those Who Can?' report from the IPPR

Crewe & Nantwich: Goodbye to Gwyneth

Where now for Labour?

"The government must admit it has made mistakes if it wants to reconnect with the voting public, Cabinet minister John Denham has said" - BBC (full text of the speech here)

Yes, I lost. But still Labour must learn from London - Ken Livingstone, Guardian

New Labour is finished. The fight is over what replaces it - Seumas Milne

Denis MacShane publishes new Progress pamphlet on the future of the European left - Progress (pdf)

"Labour chiefs have until the end of this month to plug a £4 million hole in the party’s finances and avert the possibility of a formal declaration of bankruptcy" - Tribune

"Labour is in emergency talks to renegotiate more than £10m of loans from wealthy businessmen to prevent itself running out of money" - FT

"A second attempt to install a Downing Street-anointed candidate as Labour’s general secretary is to be made following the withdrawal of David Pitt-Watson.

Ray Collins, assistant general secretary of the union Unite, emerged as a runner early this week after the City financier’s announcement the day after the local election poll" - Tribune

Scottish referendum

"A row between Gordon Brown and the leader of the Scottish Labour party over an independence referendum intensified yesterday, amid deepening confusion over government policy towards a vote. As the Tories accused Labour of endangering the UK's future, Wendy Alexander appeared to defy the prime minister by intensifying demands for an immediate poll" - Guardian

"Alex Salmond yesterday dismissed Wendy Alexander's call for an early referendum on independence as the beleaguered Scottish Labour leader was ridiculed by all the party leaders in the Scottish Parliament over the chaos which has engulfed her party" - Times

"Gordon Brown and Wendy Alexander, Labour's leader in Scotland, have been taunted by political opponents over their split on whether Scotland should hold an early referendum on securing independence from the United Kingdom" - Independent

The Big Question: What would Scottish independence mean, and how would it work? - Independent

Scottish independence: too much, too late - Leader, Times

ASBO issue rates falling

"The slow death of Tony Blair's flagship measure against antisocial behaviour, the asbo, was confirmed yesterday by official figures showing the number of new orders issued had dropped by 34%" - Guardian

"One of Labour’s main policies to tackle yobbish disorder is facing a slow death after figures published yesterday showed a sharp drop in antisocial behaviour orders" - Times

Housing

"The Prime Minister is planning to extend shared equity schemes to make home-owning more affordable for first-time buyers as part of a range of measures aimed at helping those hit by the credit crunch" - Independent

NHS reform

"Plans for the biggest reorganisation of the NHS since 1948 will not require any controversial hospital closures until well after the next general election, according to proposals being unveiled by the government today. Lord Darzi, the health minister, will set out ground rules for NHS reform over the next 10 years, including a promise that no services will be withdrawn until new and better facilities are in place" - Guardian

Abortion Limits

"Survival rates for babies born before 24 weeks are extremely low and getting no better in spite of medical advances, according to an authoritative study which will be published today" - Guardian

Resist the medievalists. Women's right to abortion is a private matter - Polly Toynbee, Guardian

Abu Qatada bailed

"The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, last night expressed her "extreme disappointment" at the decision yesterday by three high court judges to order the release of the radical preacher Abu Qatada, who has been described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe" - Guardian

Brown furious as ITV asks about sick son

"An apparent attempt by Gordon Brown to show his "human side" led to a furious row yesterday between Downing Street and ITV after the Prime Minister was questioned about his youngest son's struggle with cystic fibrosis" - Independent