7.30pm ToryDiary: Was Osborne right to increase benefits by 5.2%?
5.15pm WATCH: John Prescott: "We are one of the leading countries that has achieved the Kyoto targets"
5pm Teatime newslinks including the latest on public sector pensions, the Eurozone, and Jeremy Clarkson
4pm MPsETC: New Conservative MEP Anthea McIntyre confirmed
3pm MPsETC: Tory backbenchers line up to support the Chancellor's Autumn Statement
1.30pm George Grant on Comment: John Baron MP has got it wrong on Iran
1pm WATCH: Danny Alexander: "I think there's genuinely a very good chance of reaching an agreement" on pensions
Noon ConHomeUSA: Today's top Republican and American political news
11.15am Luke de Pulford on Comment: We must demand greater accountability and deeper debate about the cost of abortion
9.30am ToryDiary: Grayling denies challenge drop to EU working time rules
ToryDiary: Osborne's ratings fall after Autumn Statement
Columnist Jill Kirby: On Tuesday, the Chancellor passed up the opportunity to present a radical new path to economic growth
John Baron MP on Comment: The West has got it wrong on Iran
Local Government: Most Council workers defy the strike
WATCH: Portuguese parliament approves 2012 austerity budget
David Cameron ready to give up on repatriating employment powers from Europe
"The Prime Minister will urge President Sarkozy tomorrow to end the uncertainties about the future of the euro as quickly as possible. Mr Cameron is ready to see the 17 eurozone countries agree tighter new rules without requiring the blessing of the 10 other members of the European Union, including Britain." – The Times (£)
Downing Street: Britain has entered a second credit crunch
"Britain has entered a second credit crunch, Downing Street said on Wednesday night, as America was forced to intervene to stop the eurozone crisis leading to a global financial collapse. … a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “Clearly there is a very serious situation in the financial markets at this time. We are experiencing a credit crunch and that central bank action is about trying to mitigate the effects of that credit crunch. They are ensuring they have the capacity to take action.”" – Daily Telegraph
David Cameron complains George Osborne is blocking the green agenda
"When David Cameron invited Dame Fiona Reynolds, the head of the National Trust, into Downing Street recently to talk about planning reform, little was resolved. When the meeting broke up, the prime minister is supposed to have said to her … that his hands were tied. That, on this, he couldn't really control the chancellor. … For many involved, the government's new planning proposals are an indicator of a wider attack by George Osborne on the green agenda." - Guardian
Tory grassroots want the Chancellor to make further cuts to spending – and taxes
"A survey of party members, by the ConservativeHome.com website for the Daily Mail, found that a big majority wanted the Chancellor to announce he was slashing spending faster in order to fund tax cuts. … 58 per cent of members believe the deficit will not be back under control by the time of the next election, with only 29 per cent saying it will be." – Daily Mail
Peter Oborne: George Osborne is a part-time Chancellor. This is unacceptable in a grave crisis
"On the one hand, Osborne is in charge of the national finances at a time of the gravest imaginable economic crisis; on the other, he is equally active and energetic as the chief strategist to the Prime Minister. … He cannot perform both of these roles with integrity because they are completely contradictory. Put simply, prime ministers like to spend, while it is the job of chancellors to save." – Peter Oborne for the Daily Telegraph
Pension talks between unions and government resume
Francis Maude: Public sector strikes were the last thing working families needed
"Union action was utterly irresponsible and untimely. We’ve been negotiating for almost 10 months non-stop and we’ve listened to concerns of public-sector workers. Earlier this month we put forward a more generous offer. And that offer ensures that changes will not affect anyone within 10 years of retirement. … Yesterday’s strike did nothing to change the fact that reforms are long overdue." – Francis Maude for the Daily Express
William Hague orders all Iran's diplomats out of Britain after student attack on embassy
Caroline Spelman warns of drought next summer – and plans for water rationing
"Arid conditions have hit central and eastern England since June, following the lowest rainfall since records began 100 years ago. In a report out today, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman will warn those conditions could continue into next summer and spread to the South East if there is a dry winter." – Daily Mail
Government considers a "tsar" for the elderly
"A new government “tsar” for elderly people could be appointed to protect the rights of pensioners and combat ageism in society, under plans being considered by ministers. … The health minister Earl Howe announced that the Coalition was considering whether a commissioner dedicated to protecting older people should be appointed in England." – Daily Telegraph
Nick Clegg faces Lib Dem unrest after committing his party to an extra two years of cuts
"Some Liberal Democrat ministers and MPs fear that the party's attempt to have a distinctive appeal at the next election will be wrecked by George Osborne's announcement in his Autumn Statement on Tuesday that planned spending will fall by £8.3bn in 2015-16 and £15.1bn in 2016-17." – Independent
'No' campaign outspent rivals by 60 per cent in AV referendum – Independent
Gay marriage threatens plan for Scottish independence
"The Scottish government will put its plans for independence at risk by alienating Christians and Muslims over proposals to allow “gay marriages”, a former SNP leader said yesterday. … A consultation on the proposal to allow such marriages ends next week, but SNP ministers have said that they are inclined to back the plan." – The Times (£)
Figures show Britons are increasingly being targeted under the controversial European Arrest Warrant – Daily Telegraph
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