“The prime minister will not take the plan off the table when he holds talks over dinner at a summit on Thursday night, but will make it clear that he is open to alternatives, Downing Street sources said. Last night critics seized on the “climbdown”, with one minister saying: “There is nothing left to hide behind.” The prime minister had put the four-year ban on tax credits for migrant workers at the heart of his renegotiation of EU membership ahead of the referendum he has promised to hold by 2017.” – Sunday Times (£)
“He wants to outlaw the possession of high-powered assault rifles — and back the move with the biggest-ever crackdown on the illegal firearms trade. The PM will outline his proposals to tackle IS to fellow leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. Mr Cameron will call for greater sharing of ballistics data across the 28 EU states, and a plan to improve firearms intelligence in the western Balkans — with tougher laws and action to take weapons out of circulation.” – Sun on Sunday (£)
“It is understood that Oliver Letwin, who advises David Cameron on implementing policy, thinks reforms could be introduced as secondary legislation rather than as a fresh Act of Parliament. Mr Letwin’s idea means radical changes to England’s higher education system could be passed with little parliamentary debate and no amendments, such as reducing or abolishing tuition fees, that could embarrass the government. Sources said this has angered Jo Johnson, the universities minister, who believes reforms must be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny. “ – The Independent on Sunday
“Jake Berry, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen and a ministerial aide in the Treasury, thinks firms that help consumers switch supplier could pay for the right to include their marketing in the letters. They would bid around £1m for the contract to be the Government’s “preferred switching partner” in a a deal that could last three years. Such firms would stand to gain millions of pounds from pensioners, many of whom are unaware that they can switch to a cheaper electricity supplier by post rather than via the internet.” – Independent on Sunday
“Some people say we should stay out of manned flight. But there are still things that can only be accomplished with human ingenuity. The last American astronauts on the moon travelled 17 miles in their lunar buggy during three days there; so far the American Mars rover has travelled only seven miles in three years on the Red Planet — though Europe’s Mars rover, largely designed at Stevenage, Hertfordshire, will do better. Living for a long time in the space station is a necessary precursor to a mission to Mars. But I believe the next step is a lunar base. The discovery that parts of the moon have ice changes everything. A lunar base is the ultimate insurance scheme preserving as much of our planet’s DNA as possible. “ – Sunday Times (£)
“The move by Ray and Alison Johnson, whose son Elliott committed suicide in September, is a major blow to Tory chairman Lord Feldman’s hopes of avoiding the sack over the matter. The Johnsons said they did not trust David Cameron’s claim that the inquiry by the lawyers chosen by the Tories to investigate their son’s death was ‘independent and transparent’. As a result the family will refuse to give evidence – and they appealed to other activists bullied by Mark Clarke to give evidence to the Johnsons’ lawyers instead.” – Mail on Sunday
“The culmination of more than 20 years of fraught UN climate talks has seen all countries agree to reduce emissions, promise to raise $100bn a year by 2020 to help poor countries adapt their economies, and accept a new goal of net zero emissions by later this century. Formally adopted in Paris by 195 countries, the first universal climate deal will see an accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels, the growth of renewable energy streams and powerful new carbon markets to enable countries to trade emissions and protect forests.” – Observer
Corbyn will make his first concrete move to strengthen his power over rebellious MPs next month by “consulting” on plans to give new control over policy to his army of supporters. In a private meeting in Parliament on 9 December, Mr Corbyn’s aides told MPs that the influential National Policy Forum – set up by Tony Blair to get a grip on policy-making – would be overhauled and replaced by a new system.” – Independent on Sunday