6pm WATCH: The speech that beat the Government: Mark Reckless proposes a cut in the EU budget
4pm David Morris MP on Comment: Hitachi bring new hope for British nuclear
3pm Local Government: If Lord Heseltine wants planning decisions within six months then we need to leave the EU
2pm Colunnist Andrew Lilico: Engaging properly with the Europe issue will build political capital; not doing so will use it up
12.45pm MPsETC: The thirteen Tory MPs who abstained last night include Graham Brady, Liam Fox and Charles Walker
11.30am ToryDiary: Nick Clegg and David Lidington make the economic argument for staying inside the EU
ToryDiary: Ten snap reactions to yesterday evening's EU budget Government defeat
On MPsETC, Philip Cowley and Mark Stuart of Nottingham University: Key facts on the size and nature of last night's Tory budget rebellion
Also on MPsETC: Martin Callanan MEP's monthly report focuses on the Strasbourg Circus and the EU budget debate
***
Columnist Andrew Lilico: On Localism, Lord Heseltine is interestingly wrong
Joe Armitage on Comment: The NIMBYs are wrong. Young people need more housing. We want more homes to buy
John Bald on Local Government: The teaching of handwriting is in a dreadful state
MPsETC:
63 Tory MPs from all wings of party join new Blue Collar Conservative group
The Deep End: Neo-monetarism – the most important economic theory you’ve probably never heard of
WATCH: Hurricane Sandy disrupts US presidential campaign
Cameron's Halloween Horror. Nightmare on Downing Street. The Government is defeated on the EU budget. The Reckless/Pritchard amendment demanding a cut is carried.
"David Cameron suffered a humiliating Commons defeat last night as Tory rebels joined Labour to demand he fights for a cut in EU spending. He had indicated he would use Britain’s veto unless Brussels agreed to limit its budget increases to the level of inflation.But this did not satisfy the Eurosceptics in his party, who insist on a real-terms reduction. In the first major defeat of Mr Cameron’s premiership, a total of 53 Tory backbenchers voted with Labour, which was accused of cynically shifting its position on EU spending earlier this week to embarrass the Prime Minister." – Daily Mail
Trick or treat? Cameron retreats during PMQs…but to no avail…
"At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Cameron told MPs: “At best we would like a cut, at worst a freeze. I am quite prepared to use the veto if we do not get a deal that is good for Britain.” Labour leader Ed Miliband accused him of “throwing in the towel” over a cut before negotiations had begun. But Tories accused Labour of hypocrisy for backing a cut after presiding over EU budget rises while in government. Mr Cameron said Mr Miliband was “playing politics, not serving the country”." – Daily Express
Reckless and Pritchard spook the Government…
"Mark Reckless, one of the leaders of the Conservative rebellion, told MPs that Mr Cameron’s plan would increase the UK’s net contribution to the EU from £9.2 billion last year to £13.6 billion in 2020. “We simply cannot, cannot afford that,” he said. Mark Pritchard, another rebel leader, said money sent the EU should be spend in the UK instead. He said: "Are we going to continue to ask families up and down this country to stop putting new shoes on their children's feet while we fill the very large Mercedes fleet of Brussels?” – Daily Telegraph
…Tony Baldry summons up the ghost of the Maastricht revolt…
"Tony Baldry hit back: “If this party hopes to be in government after the next election, it has got to get a grip and start supporting the PM.” Mr Cameron now faces the embarrassment of attending the EU budget summit on November 22 and 23 in defiance of the Commons. But Downing Street last night insisted he will NOT change his position and will press on with a real-terms freeze — which means a cash hike of around 2 per cent to keep up with inflation." – The Sun
…Witch way now for the Whips?
"It was a blow to the new Chief Whip, Sir George Young, who suffered his first defeat less than two weeks after taking over from Andrew Mitchell. The Government had succeeded in winning the backing of Welsh nationalists but that was not enough to offset the sizeable Tory revolt…Downing Street said that Mr Cameron would take note of the vote. “We hear absolutely what Parliament has said,” said an aide. Mr Cameron wanted EU spending brought down but he differed with Tory rebels about how best to pursue this, No 10 said." – The Times (£)
Skeleton policy: Hague dispatched to calm rebels
"Senior Conservative MPs, who stopped short of joining 53 Eurosceptic rebels in the division lobbies, served notice that they will turn against the government if Cameron refuses to harden his position – that it must at least be frozen in real terms – at an EU summit later this month. Downing Street moved to reach out to the rebels by dispatching William Hague to declare that the government would "take note" after 51 rebel Tories – plus two tellers – joined forces with Labour to defeat the government by 307 votes to 294, a majority of 13." – The Guardian
Today: Osborne goes on the Today programme to hold the line
Other EU budget news:
Comment
> Today:
>Yesterday:
Cameron to hold UN poverty meeting in Downing Street today – BBC
Peter Oborne: Here comes the Coalition's next crisis – the Autumn Statement
"Here are the facts: it is impossible simultaneously to cut public spending and not cut it. You cannot advocate debt reduction targets and abandon them at the same time. So Mr Osborne has nowhere to hide. Either he must give in to the Lib Dems, or the Lib Dems must give in to him. At the moment, neither party is giving an inch. Probably, the Government will survive for the time being – and it has certainly defied the odds so far – but this cannot be quite relied on. The Coalition will indeed last to 2015, one Cabinet minister told me, “but only so long as we can get through the Autumn Statement”." – Peter Oborne, Daily Telegraph
Alistair Burt warns of Dirty Bomb threat to Britain
"Tory Mr Burt will say: “Nuclear terrorism is a primary danger to Britain, a real and global threat. Such an attack was unthinkable just a generation ago. But it is now a possibility we need to confront.” He will add: “Nuclear material is becoming more available, there is more information about nuclear weapons on the internet than ever and global smuggling networks are thriving. Criminal cells operate across borders and continents.” – The Sun
"Martinet" Truss makes waves on childcare
"I asked one insider there how Ms Truss was getting on knocking the childcare commission into shape. He rolled his eyes, and said she'd swiftly gained a reputation as a "martinet". Her officials are finding this all rather hard to stomach. In fact, it's fair to say she's currently engaged in an all-out battle with her civil servants over her proposals, dreamt up before she joined the Government, to deregulate childcare. However, it's a battle that as things stand she looks like she’s winning, through sheer force of will." – Daily Telegraph
Pro-life campaigners fury at Soubry abortion counselling U-turn
"Plans to force women to undergo independent counselling before they could have an abortion were dramatically scrapped yesterday. Health minister Anna Soubry revealed that the Government now has no intention of changing either the law or guidelines on counselling – despite previous promises to consult on the issue. The move was met with fury by pro-life campaigners, who accused Miss Soubry of imposing her personal beliefs on government policy." – Daily Mail
Caroline Nokes MP: GP who said Marks & Spencer's 'overweight' real women are promoting obesity is utterly wrong
"The doctor seems to be confusing two very different issues here – an advertiser with the courage to kick the habit of using the same old stick thin or unattainable shape models or celebrities; and the high levels of the population who are classed as overweight or obese. She is equating health with appearance, which is utterly wrong. It is entirely possible for people who appear slim to have a higher than healthy percentage of body fat, and for the larger framed among us to lead a healthy and active lifestyle." – Daily Mail
After Hayes fights windmills, Davey fights Hayes…
"The Coalition was in turmoil last night over the future of onshore wind power, as furious Liberal Democrats demanded the new Tory energy minister is stripped of responsibility for renewable energy. Lib Dem Energy Secretary Ed Davey reacted with consternation after John Hayes, a sceptic on wind farms, told the Daily Mail that Britain has had ‘enough’ of turbines ‘peppered’ across the country." – Daily Mail
…And Charles Hendry warns of confusion consequences
'Charles Hendry warned that Britain risked losing investment in green technologies if the Government sent mixed messages over its commitment to renewables. Mr Hendry said that Britain could not have energy security without renewables and it was vital that ministers maintained “constructive engagement” with the industry. The Times understands that about 20 Conservative MPs have written to the Prime Minister urging him to stop ministers sending different signals to the City." – The Times (£)
> Yesterday: ToryDiary – John Hayes lets his rhetoric get away from Coalition policy — but does he have the blessings of the Tory leadership?
McLoughlin defends West Coast pricing
"Patrick McLoughlin, the transport secretary, defended the government’s attempt to get the highest price for the West Coast franchise, after it emerged officials had altered key data to keep the top bid in the competition, which was scrapped last month after the discovery of serious flaws. The extent of the problems became clearer as Mr McLoughlin gave evidence to MPs at the Commons transport committee for the first time since he cancelled the award to FirstGroup of a new contract to run the line, ahead of incumbent Virgin Rail." – Financial Times (£)
Heseltine follow-up 1) Hope from Heseltine for the beleaguered north – The Guardian's Northern Blog
Heseltine follow-up 2) Lord Heseltine’s review singles out aviation as an example of where bolder action is needed on economic growth – Times Editorial (£)
> Yesterday:
> Today: Columnist Andrew Lilico – On Localism, Lord Heseltine is interestingly wrong
IDS asks: What's the point of Boris?
"Iain Duncan Smith delivered a stinging rebuke to Boris Johnson’s Conservative leadership aspirations after the London Mayor approved a scheme to turn the Walthamstow dog track in east London into flats. A furious Duncan Smith asked “What’s the point of Boris?” and accused the Mayor of failing to show leadership following the decision to demolish the famous stadium, which featured on the artwork of Blur’s Parklife album." – The Independent
Scots given £1,594 more than the English, reveals Treasury – Scotsman
Gus O"Donnell says that migrant cap is ‘barrier to growth’ – The Times (£)
Britain probes £99 million aid to Uganda – Daily Express
Just half of 15-year-olds live with both parents – Daily Mail
Liam Fox's former adviser Adam Werritty won't face fraud charges – The Independent
And finally…Cameron mauled by rugby players over hooker claims
"A Downing Street reception for sports stars appeared to backfire after the Prime Minister claimed to have played the game as a younger man in the position of “hooker”. Guests, who included international rugby league players and coaches, immediately questioned the claim, suggesting that Mr Cameron was too tall and had the wrong haircut to have been a front row forward…Upon hearing that one of the players was a hooker, he replied: “I was that. It is quite tough in there, but it is a good work-out. You've got to watch out for your ears.” – Daily Telegraph
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