Carmichael petitionpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 5 June 2015
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Summary
A post mortem has found former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy died of a "major haemorrhage" that was "a consequence of his battle with alcoholism"
Mr Kennedy's family say they have been "touched beyond measure by the outpouring of warmth" from all parts of the country and all sides of politics
Former Chancellor Lord Lawson warns David Cameron is unlikely to achieve anything of significance as he seeks to renegotiate the UK's EU membership
The public spending watchdog warns Whitehall has failed to plan properly for the implications of past and future cuts to civil service staffing
The High Court has ruled a delay in paying welfare benefits to two disabled people "unlawful"
Carmichael petitionpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 5 June 2015
Charles Kennedy 'touched many lives'published at 14.15
In a statement, Charles Kennedy's family say they have been "touched beyond measure by the outpouring of warmth" from all parts of the country and all sides of politics after the 55-year-old died suddenly at his home in Fort William on Monday.
Quote MessageThe pain we feel has been at least eased somewhat by the reaction of so many people across Scotland, the UK and beyond, and by the affection expressed by politicians across the spectrum. It has become all too apparent to us how much Charles meant to so many people and how many lives he touched."
Kennedy died from 'major haemorrhage'published at 14.07
Image source, APA post mortem has found former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy died of a "major haemorrhage" that was "a consequence of his battle with alcoholism", the former Liberal Democrat leader's family has said.
Quote MessageUltimately this was an illness Charles could not conquer despite all the efforts he and others made."
Merkelpublished at 13:47
Grexitpublished at 13:46
Blears on scrutinypublished at 13:31
Surveillance lawspublished at 13:31
Labour's manifesto launch revisitedpublished at 13:30
Allegra Stratton
Newsnight Political Editor
Image source, AFPToday's Guardian , externalcontinues its excellent series on what went wrong for Labour in the last year. My former colleagues in room 15, the room on the Burma Road (or press corridor in parliament) inhabited by the Guardian, are on superb form and if you haven't read some of their journalism in recent days, do: it's brilliant shoe-leather reportage.
This morning Rowena Mason confirms what I reported on the morning of the Labour manifesto launch: that its manifesto was overhauled just days before that launch.
Read the full post on Newsnight Live.
Michelle Obama to visit UKpublished at 13.25
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Michelle Obama met students on her previous visit to London
US First Lady Michelle Obama is to visit London to highlight her efforts to boost girls' education across the world.
The visit, later in June, is part of the Let Girls Learn initiative.
It comes six years after she delivered an emotional address to pupils at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Islington, North London.
Mrs Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, and daughters Malia and Sasha, will accompany her on the trip.
#milifandompublished at 13:02
The Daily PoliticsAbby Tomlinson, who was behind the Milifandom movement during the election campaign, says she wanted to make it clear the then Labour leader was a "good man" with a sense of humour.
The teenager tells Andrew Neil she thinks Mr Miliband was "demonised" by the media. Milifandom, she says, was supposed to show that image was distorted.
She says she was heartbroken by the election result, but thinks the movement made a difference. It showed teenagers do actually care about politics, she adds.
Two MPs say they will accept pay risepublished at 12:52
The World at One
BBC Radio 4Two Conservative MPs have told the World at One they will accept the pay rise recommended by IPSA, and criticised other MPs for seeking to undermine its decision.
Andrew Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, said there is now a danger of "a race to the bottom where's it's just a hair shirt competition," unless pay is improved. He added that backbenchers like him were disappointed that "it tends to be people in the cabinet or shadow cabinet who are saying that they wouldn't take it, and give it to charity" when "they're on twice as much as a backbencher".
Mr Bridgen told reporter Becky Milligan that he has to subsidise his hotel bill by up to £50 a night when he stays in London, because there are not enough rooms available at the price of his Parliamentary allowance.
Fellow Conservative MP Mark Field agreed that MPs should accept IPSA's recommendation, arguing that it would be "playing with fire" to reject the judgment of an independent body on the matter. He also accused some of the Labour leadership candidates of "playing to the gallery on this issue".
You can hear more on the World at One on Radio 4.
Sturgeon calls for unity over cutspublished at 12:48
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged all parties in the Scottish Parliament to come together to fight the UK government's proposed cuts.
Her call came the day after it was announced Scotland would face a £176.8m cut in public spending this year.
Chancellor George Osborne announced a £3bn cut in UK departmental budgets for 2015/16 and the knock-on for Scotland.
In a letter to the four opposition leaders, Ms Sturgeon said the parties "must speak with a united voice".
Quote MessageI hope that you will agree with me that all parties in Scotland must unite in making clear to the UK government that it is unacceptable for reductions to be imposed on this year's Scottish Budget."
'Islamic State' strikes?published at 12:46
The Daily Politics
Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski says the prime minister needs to look at limited strikes on so-called Islamic State (IS) militants. We could bomb IS installations and their camps in parts of Libya, Mr Kawczynski says. The UK can't allow the situation to continue as it is, the Shrewsbury and Atcham MP adds.
But Sue Cameron, from the Telegraph, isn't convinced. She says recent history shows bombing is not a way to gain control of territory and restore order to a country.
Seagull researchpublished at 12:33
The Daily Politics
Don Foster, the former Lib Dem MP, has been talking about the scrapping of research into urban gulls. The £250,000 programme was dumped yesterday as part of spending reductions announced by George Osborne, despite only being announced his March Budget.
Mr Foster - who campaigned for the money when he was Bath's MP - says 150 constituencies are seriously affected by problems caused by seagulls. A huge amount of money is being spent on protecting against them and it would be better to research ways of preventing these problems in the first place, he suggests.
Mr Foster, however, confesses the issue would not have been a red line for the Lib Dems had they been involved in post-election coalition talks.
Deficit approachpublished at 12:21
The Daily PoliticsIs Labour reformulating its approach to the deficit after electoral defeat, Labour’s Shabana Mahmood is asked. She says it is right for the party to take time to "reassess and work out where things were wrong". But the issue will be a priority for the new leader, whoever that may be, she adds.
Universal obligationpublished at 12:16
The Daily PoliticsCan the government give a guarantee the universal obligation will be maintained if the Royal Mail is in private hands, Andrew Neil asks Mark Field, highlighting that it is a particular issue in Scotland. Mr Field says he thinks that guarantee that will be made.
Government savingspublished at 12:16
The Daily Politics
Mark Field, the Conservative MP, says yesterday's announcement on a reduction in departmental spending - and the Royal Mail sell off - was to "assuage" any concerns in the markets.
Labour’s Shabana Mahmood questions what the cuts announced yesterday will mean. What will the impact on people on middle and lower incomes be, she asks.
Ms Mahmood won't say whether she is happy about the Royal Mail sell off, which was originally a Labour policy, but pledges her party will do its best to ensure the government gets a good price for its shares.
1975 result rerunpublished at 12:09
Quentin Letts on Ed Miliband's Commons returnpublished at 12:07
In today's Daily Mail, sketch writer Quentin Letts looks back at Ed Miliband's speech in the Commons yesterday - the former Labour leader's first since his he stood down from the position.
Quote MessageThe oration was well delivered, earned laughter in the right places, was heard with respect and immediately won praise from former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke"
You can read the recap here, external.
Political chat from noonpublished at 11:59
The Daily PoliticsAndrew Neil is joined by Hugo Rifkind and Sue Cameron for Friday’s Daily Politics, and they will be looking at Nigel Lawson’s comments about what David Cameron is likely to achieve, or not, in negotiations with the EU.
They will look at the economy with Labour’s Shabana Mahmood and Conservative Frank Field, while former transport minister Stephen Hammond, who supports expansion at Gatwick, and Rob Gray, of the Back Heathrow campaign, will talk about airport expansion.
Back in March, Don Foster spoke to the Daily Politics about research into urban gulls. The former Lib Dem MP is back to talk about the issue after the programme was scrapped yesterday. Watch his previous Daily Politics film.
