“The European Parliament has emerged as the biggest threat to David Cameron’s renegotation deal with the EU – with MEPs threatening to block any plans that could lead to an ‘à la carte’ Europe. Martin Schulz, the Parliament’s president, warned many MEPs now wanted Britain out of the EU and said that Britain was ‘testing the patience’ of his colleagues with its ‘continuous demands’.” – Daily Mail
Referendum:
UKIP:
Courts:
“With this crafty compromise, the EU has thrown Britain a lifeline, and it should be firmly grasped. Mr Cameron secured a better offer than many, myself included, would have predicted. I doubt it can be improved upon, even after another self-inflicted British wound in the form of a lost referendum.” – FT
>Today: ToryDiary: Special survey: Now that there are draft proposals published, how do you intend to vote in the EU referendum?
>Yesterday:
“Middle-class workers face having £100 stripped from their take-home pay to fund a Government tax raid on pensions, the Mail can reveal. Officials are considering drastic cuts to savers’ pension tax breaks, and could act in next month’s Budget.” – Daily Mail
“Theresa May has admitted she feared she had “created a monster” in Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales. The Home Secretary admitted a number of instances had given PCCs a “bad name”, but revealed the government intends to extend after May’s election. The posts were introduced by Ms May in 2012 in an attempt to increase accountability in policing and give the public a say in how forces are run.” – Daily Telegraph
“Charities in receipt of Government grants will be banned from using these taxpayer funds to engage in political lobbying, The Telegraph can disclose. A new clause to be inserted into all new and renewed grant agreements will make sure that taxpayer funds are spent on improving people’s lives and good causes, rather than covering lobbying for new regulation or using taxpayers’ money to lobby for more government funding.” – Daily Telegraph
“The new Act will enable us to tackle abuses more effectively. It will also close absurd loopholes such as the fact that, until now, people with terrorist convictions have in theory been able to run charities. The law will help us in our crucial counter-terrorism work, along with countering fraud and protecting the vulnerable.” – Daily Telegraph
>Today: ToryDiary: Hancock needs a plan to enforce the spirit of new charity rules
“There were no knock out blows, but for the first time we saw how Goldsmith can still win this race. As things stand Khan remains the favourite, but if the Tories can successfully portray Khan as untrustworthy and dishonest, while portraying their own man as principled and honest about the problems facing London, then there’s still a chance they can edge this contest.” – Politics.co.uk
>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Goldsmith and Khan clash in TV debate
“Jeremy Corbyn’s allies are touting John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, as Labour’s next leader in the event of a snap leadership contest before the next election. Ken Livingstone, the former London mayor, said that Mr McDonnell, 64, was the obvious candidate to take over should the current Labour leader be “pushed under a bus”. It is a sign that the left of the party is already considering its options should Mr Corbyn not lead the party into the next election.” – The Times (£)
“Muslim women say that they were blocked from standing for the Labour party and accused officials of turning a blind eye to discrimination. They claim that male Muslim Labour members in Peterborough and Birmingham prevented local women from representing the party at council elections.” – The Times (£)
“A host of Labour MSPs, including several senior figures, are likely to lose their seats in May’s Scottish elections after being stripped of their protected status on the party’s regional lists. About eight sitting MSPs could lose their seats after the Labour leader, Kezia Dugdale, forced through an open selection process to replace underperforming MSPs and make others defend their seats.” – The Guardian
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: What a good Scottish Tory result looks like