“New Conservative MPs have accused David Cameron of withholding jobs in an attempt to bounce them into campaigning to remain in the EU. None of the 74 Tories who arrived in the Commons more than nine months ago are working for a minister. They noted, however, that many MPs elected in 2010 had won a job as a parliamentary private secretary to a frontbencher by this point in the coalition government’s first year.” – The Times (£)
Campaign:
Courts:
“As a voting recipient of noisy advice from politicians and commentators, I am starting to resent the snarling tone of “Project Fear” on both sides. It feels as if we, the electorate, are diminished, treated like unreasonable children who will stay in bed only if Nanny conjures an imaginary monster underneath it. It is the political equivalent of hellfire preaching: ludicrous, bullying, belittling.” – The Times (£)
>Yesterday:
“Millions of middle class savers could have their pensions raided by George Osborne, even though he made no mention of doing so in the Tory election manifesto, a key ally admitted yesterday… Cabinet Office minister Matthew Hancock said Mr Osborne was not bound by last May’s manifesto, which suggested that curbs on tax breaks would be limited to top earners paying the 45p tax rate, who bring in more than £150,000 a year.” – Daily Mail
Cabinet Office:
>Today: Craig Mackinlay MP in Comment: How to encourage pension saving, and reduce the deficit at the same time
“On the railings of Richmond House in Whitehall hangs a lopsided strip of cardboard that reads, in multicoloured letters, “You just failed the NHS, JH, not us.” In his spacious ministerial office, two floors above, Jeremy Hunt, currently a hate figure among junior doctors for imposing on them a contract he says they will come to appreciate in time, is explaining that vilification comes as no surprise to a health secretary.” – The Guardian
>Today: Judy Terry in Local Government: Health and Wellbeing Boards are failing to champion patients
“Nato officials and political leaders from across the alliance are “deeply concerned” over the opposition Labour party’s wavering support for Britain’s nuclear weapons, according to defence secretary Michael Fallon. He claimed senior figures in Nato as well as his counterparts in European ministries had raised the issue of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, his attitude towards Nato and the question of nuclear arms repeatedly at the meeting of alliance defence chiefs in Brussels last week.” – FT
“Jess Phillips, the outspoken Labour MP, has refused to apologise for accusing David Cameron of “colluding with child abusers”. The Birmingham Yardley MP is furious that the Government has decided against making sex and relationship education compulsory in all schools.” – The Independent
“Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has called on the BBC to give as much network coverage to devolved elections as the broadcaster has to the US presidential campaign. Ms Wood has written to James Harding, the BBC’s director of news and current affairs, to stress the importance of elections to the National Assembly to the people of Wales.” – Wales Online