Summary

  • David Cameron outlines plans to tackle child sexual exploitation, but Labour says they don't go far enough

  • Oxfordshire serious case review highlights extent of child sexual exploitation problem

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sets out her economic strategy, with a focus on tackling inequality

  • Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt delivers a statement on maternity services at Morecambe Bay

  • There are 65 days until the general election

  • Rolling political news, including key moments from Today, Breakfast, Daily Politics and Newsnight

  1. Netanyahu speech to US Congresspublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    Benjamin NetanyahuImage source, AFP/Getty Images

    We're going to divert away from UK politics for a mo and bring you news from the US where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is addressing the US Congress right now. He starts by saying he regrets that his visit to Congress - his third speech to Congress - appears "to have become political". That was never his intention, he says.

    He adds the US has always stood by Israel, a statement which receives its first standing ovation.

    He begins his speech by praising US President Barrack Obama, telling Congress Mr Obama has been a friend to Israel in many ways - some of which are known, some of which are unknown and some of which may never be known.

  2. Falkland book warspublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    Earlier today Conservative backbencher Michael Fabricant called on ministers to reject a book, 'Malvinas Matters', sent around to MPs by the Argentinean ambassador. 'Malvinas', of course, is their name for the archipelago we know as the Falklands. The book, Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire said, "seeks to discredit the Falkland Islanders' right to their own future". Now Damian Green MP has taken to Twitter, external to deliver his own diplomatic response: "Mine went straight in the recycling bin."

  3. Not just china platespublished at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    BBC News Channel

    Marilyn Hawes

    Marilyn Hawes, founder of the Enough Abuse UK charity, has been voicing her concerns about today's proposals to extend the new criminal offence of "wilful neglect" of patients to children's social care, education and elected members. "Whose duty of care is it?" she asks on the News Channel. "Who now must provide the correct training so that people can recognise the behaviour of the abuser and the behaviour of the abused? How do you prove wilful neglect?" She says the number of apologies she's heard "sickens" her. Ms Hawes adds: "Quite frankly I think it's time people realise they're not apologising for breaking someone's china plates - you've broken a child's life."

  4. Postpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    Matthew West
    Politics Reporter

    Right time for a shift change. Thanks to Alex and Victoria for what has been some pretty comprehensive coverage. Myself and Angela will be here to guide you through to midnight. Don't forget you can get in touch by emailing politics@bbc.co.uk or you can tweet us @bbcpolitics, external.

  5. Compulsory ID cards and votingpublished at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Labour peer Lord Maxton argues that the best way of ensuring full voter registration and increased voter turnout is a "compulsory ID card with biological identifier" which will speed up identification and allow electronic voting form home.

    Cabinet Office Minister Lord Wallace of Saltaire says this type of ID card "may be coming" but that the "large question" about "how much data the government already has on citizens and how much it is able to pool that data together" must be answered first.

  6. Chuka Umunna's strategic Brazilian friendpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    New Statesman

    Co-authoring articles with South American politicians is not exactly a mainstream tactic for British frontline politicians. But that is what shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has done, penning a blog for the Staggers, external with Brazil's minister of strategic affairs, Roberto Mangabeira Unger. The article doesn't focus much on Brazilian affairs, instead outlining the details of Labour's 'plan for prosperity' out this week. "Only by joining inclusion to innovation - and so raising productivity across the economy - can Britain assure its future," they write.

  7. David Cameron on Oxford casepublished at 15:36 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    "The most important thing, apart from all the policy changes and the legal changes, is this is a big change in culture. We need to say loudly and clearly abuse of children under the age of 16 is wrong. It's not consent, it's not normal relations, it's wrong and we have to be intolerant of it and not walk on by as happened in too many cases in the past."

  8. Danny Shaw, home affairs correspondent for BBC Newspublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    tweets: , externalPaul Gambaccini "enthusiastically" supports 28-day bail limit. Says only reason for delay is to "get someone else to accuse you" #yewtree

  9. Harris stripped of CBEpublished at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    Rolf HarrisImage source, PA

    Disgraced former children's entertainer Rolf Harris has been stripped of his CBE, an official announcement in the London Gazette states. , externalHarris was convicted last year of indecent assaults, including one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter

  10. Danny Shaw, home affairs correspondent for BBC Newspublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    tweets:, external Paul Gambaccini says he lost £200,000 in income/legal fees after being arrested over sex offences allegations for which he was never charged

  11. Health Secretary Jeremy Huntpublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    tweets, external: Pleased #kirkup found new Chief Inspector regime means CQC fit 2 spot poor care 'for first time'. M.Bay legacy must be lasting culture change

  12. Oxford exploitation reportpublished at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    A re-cap: More than 370 girls may have been the victims of child sexual exploitation in Oxfordshire over the past 15 years, a report has said. Both police and council officers are accused of not recognising that the girls were victims of crime and ignoring girls' and families' complaints and pleas for help. Thames Valley Police has apologised to victims and their families, saying the force is "ashamed" of its shortcomings. The key points of the report are here.

  13. Danny Shaw, home affairs correspondent for BBC Newspublished at 15:02 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    tweets:, external Monitoring @CommonsHomeAffs where we're expecting to hear from Paul Gambaccini and his lawyer Kate Goold on Govt plans for police bail

  14. 30 years ago today...published at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    The Mirror

    1984 miners' strike

    Labour veteran Dennis Skinner is in today's Mirror, external writing about his thoughts and feelings 30 years ago today - when the miners' strike finally came to an end. It was, he writes, "one of the saddest [days] of my life". Even after the passage of three decades his anger against Margaret Thatcher and her government has not abated. "The legacy of what Thatcher did survives 30 years later in low pay, zero hours contracts, casual employment and insecurity," Mr Skinner says. "Thatcher was responsible for social breakdown. We're paying the price of her vindictiveness."

  15. Parliament Archivespublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    tweets:, external Did you know...#WinstonChurchill asked #LloydGeorge to be part of his war cabinet #WW2 More at LivingHeritage , external

  16. Sandra Laville, senior correspondent for the Guardianpublished at 14:56 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    tweets:, external A police officer in desperate email to bosses asked how many more times did she have to raise concerns before one of girls was found dead

  17. 'Consequences for failure'published at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    David Cameron

    David Cameron has insisted he will end the "walk-on-by culture" that he says has blighted child sexual exploitation cases for too long. Speaking after today's Downing Street meeting, he insisted the role of the government was to "bring everyone together and make sure the lessons are being learned, and any legal changes that are necessary are passed". The prime minister defended the government's efforts so far, but said that "if professionals fail there needs to be consequences". And he added: "In the end, all the legal changes we make… none of that is a substitute for a healthy dose of common sense, rolling up your sleeves, getting stuck in and putting an end to this abuse."

  18. Cycling safetypublished at 14:52 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Vice President of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Lord Jordan uses the first question in today's House of Lords to highlight the recent YouGov survey commissioned by the society, which found 68% of people would support more safe cycle routes in their area, compared with just 16% against.

    Of 2,169 adults surveyed, 58% said they never usually cycled, but 39% said they would cycle more often if the roads were made safer.

  19. Norman Smith, BBC News assistant political editorpublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2015

    tweets:, external We need to end walk on by culture over child abuse says David Cameron