4.45pm MPsETC: Prime Minister's statement on the EU budget deal
2.45pmToryDiary: David Cameron's good press – on the continent
2pm Paul Abbott on Comment asks: Where is the 38 Degrees campaign on Mid Staffs?
1pm Dr James Mumford on Comment: Dilnot reforms ignore the most vulnerable
11.45am LeftWatch: Ed Miliband's relationship with the far left
Tory Diary: The Conservatives should not be increasing Inheritance Tax
Grant Shapps on Comment: Eastleigh residents deserve an MP they can trust, who is on their side
Also on Comment George Freeman MP: www.littleplatoons.com — Why we must unleash the little guys to drive economic recovery
Local government: Labour councillors repudiate Labour Government's centralism
The Deep End: Incredibly stupid questions of our time: No. 1 – Is immigration good or bad for Britain
Paterson to brief MPs on "criminal substitution of beef with horse"
"Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is to update MPs on the latest developments in the horsemeat scandal. He has already said a moratorium on EU meat imports, which has been called for, was not allowed under EU rules. In France, the government has summoned meat industry representatives to talks and some ready-meals were withdrawn after horsemeat was found in some beef-labelled foods sold in Europe." – BBC
The Government plan to freeze Inheritance Tax threshold at £325,000
"George Osborne, the Chancellor, will announce that the level at which inheritance tax becomes payable will be frozen at £325,000 until at least 2019 to fund reform of the social care system. The decision will mean that the owners of an average home across much of southern Britain and large areas elsewhere will be liable for inheritance tax. Critics said it was effectively a “double tax” as it was a levy on assets already raided by the taxman and accused the Treasury of “picking people’s pockets”." – Daily Telegraph
Government looking to deter Romanian and Bulgaria immigrants
"Officials are examining whether changes can be made to the benefits system to make Britain less attractive, as a large influx could undermine efforts to reduce net migration to under 100,000 by 2015.
They are considering restrictions on access to the health service." – The Times (£)
An independent Scotland would have to reapply to international bodies
"Two leading lawyers have told the UK government that an independent Scotland would be forced to renegotiate its EU and UN membership from scratch, in a process that would take years to complete." – The Guardian
Tim Montgomerie says the Conservatives must talk about the family – not just economics
"Politicians should be able to agree that we do more to combat the debt and addiction problems that drive families apart. We should align ourselves with nearly every other developed country and recognise marriage in the tax system. More controversially, we need to consider making divorce harder for couples with children." – The Times (£)
Oliver Letwin to set out alternative to statutory press regulation
"Plans to create an independent press regulator backed by royal charter will be set out on Tuesday by the Conservatives. Labour and the Liberal Democrats have backed the statutory underpinning of media laws proposed by Lord Justice Leveson…Oliver Letwin, the Cabinet Office minister, will detail the Tories' alternative proposals tomorrow." – The Independent
MPs say Overseas Aid still being given to poorly performing bodies
"MPs on the Public Accounts Committee have called on the Department for International Development (DfID) to point “its funding gun” at the organisations’ heads and demand that they immediately improve the performance of their Third World programmes." – Daily Telegraph
Lib Dem candidate for Eastleigh – BBC
John Redwood calls for a Budget to end private secor austerity
"The next budget should lift the squeeze on the private sector, to encourage the private sector led growth the economy needs. This in turn could increase the amount of tax revenue brought into the Exchequer at a time of high public spending. The aim should be to set tax rates that maximise the
revenue. 50% Income Tax cuts the revenue. 28% CGT cuts the revenue. Pushing too many into the 40% tax rate cuts consumption in the economy." – John Redwood's Diary
Budget summit in Dorneywood to prevent "omnishambles" repeat – The Independent
NHS targets went too far – Andy Burnham in The Guardian
MPs call for more pensions competition – Financial Times
Most voters now consider the Conservatives a divided party – The Sun
EU laws block deportation of rioters – Daily Mail
Boris Johnson calls for action against urban foxes – The Times (£)
And finally…Nick Clegg gives up smoking – again
"Liberal Democrat leader Mr Clegg told Sky News: "I'm off the ciggies again. I've been on and off the fags enough not to make bold predictions. But I'm off them at the moment." – BBC
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