Summary

  • Labour says Ken Livingstone will not have a formal role in its defence review, which will consider policy on Trident

  • Shadow defence secretary Emily Thornberry says the review will be based on evidence and will aim to publish its interim findings in June

  • Jean-Claude Juncker says agreement on the UK's EU re-negotiations is likely next month

  • More than a million benefits claimants may be facing destitution after disappearing from the welfare system, Labour ex-minister Frank Field claims.

  • Head teachers warn the system for creating new school places in England is fragmented and confusing, risking harm to children's education

  1. Sugar tax needs stronger casepublished at 15:39

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    The sugar tax is being discussed in the House of Lords. Lord Brampton, health minister, said the reduction of sugar was a "critical" part of the government's plans to tackle obesity, however he said a "stronger case" must be built with the public before a tax on sugar can be built in the same way as alcohol or cigarettes. He said the government was considering all options.

  2. Labour MP defends parliamentary time on English national anthem billpublished at 15:30

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  3. Labour MP Dan Jarvis criticises online vote for Tridentpublished at 15:25

    Divisions within the Labour Party continue as Dan Jarvis criticises the use of online polls to get members' views of issues.

    In an article written for the New Statesman, external he said using the "odd online poll" excludes those without the internet. 

    Jeremy Corbyn has recently hinted the party would hold an online vote to gather individual views on the renewal of Trident, the UK's nuclear weapons system. 

    Mr Jarvis acknowledged that "old party structures need to change and become more flexible" and notes that social media was needed to keep newer members engaged.  

    Quote Message

    But we need to make sure that our members can contribute fully, beyond the odd online poll. These short-circuit institutional checks and balances on those in power, they lead to poorly designed policy, and if they are conducted online, they exclude those without access to the internet."

  4. Smith Commission 'rushed through without consideration of tax practicalities'published at 15:18

    Nick Eardley
    BBC Scotland Westminster correspondent

    The Smith Commission deal agreed after the Scottish referendum was rushed through without full consideration of the practicalities of devolving some taxes to ministers in Edinburgh, an expert has been telling MPs.

    David Heald, Professor of Public Sector Accounting at University of Glasgow, told the Scottish Affairs Select Committee there was great pressure for more tax powers for Holyrood after the referendum. But because the implications were not fully considered, politicians and officials were now coming late to difficulties, he added.

    Scottish and UK ministers are currently in talks over the financial deal that will underpin the Scotland Bill – known as the fiscal framework. UK government sources are confident a deal will be done next month, meaning it can be approved before the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

    But David Phillips from the Institute for Fiscal Studies also told the committee it would be impossible to design a perfect system. He warned principles designed to make sure neither the UK or Scotland purses lose out as a result of the deal were inconsistent.

  5. Labour MP criticised for tweet about David Cameronpublished at 15:05

    Dawn Butler, Labour MP, has been criticised for a tweet she sent claiming David Cameron is "sh***ing all over the working class". 

    She was swiftly reminded of the amount she overclaimed in expenses on rent and for a bathtub in her previous stint as an MP during the expenses scandal.

  6. In full: David Mundell's statement on coming out as gaypublished at 14:55

    Quote Message

    New Year, new start! I have already set out my political priorities for the year and now I am setting out my personal one. Having taken one of the most important decisions of my life and resolved to come out publicly as gay in 2016, I just want to get on with it, and now, just like that, I have said it. How can it be both so easy and so hard to say a few short words?

    Quote Message

    In the end, it took just a couple of taps on a keyboard, yet at some points, in my mind, it was going to be harder than standing for election, speaking in the House of Commons or being cross-examined on television. I still cannot fully rationalise such feelings, but I know they are not uncommon, particularly in men of my age. Of course, everybody who gets to this point, has had their own journey.

    Quote Message

    I have certainly been on mine - conflicting emotions, of doubts and fears, but ultimately positive and uplifting, with an unstoppable direction of travel. Over time, I came to understand that, for me, the only way to be truly happy on a personal level is to acknowledge in public as well as in private, who I am.

    Quote Message

    I so admire the many people, young and old, who are doing this every day, uncertain of the reaction. I have been very fortunate and couldn’t have had more love and support from my family and friends. However, making this public is something I have had to do myself. I don’t know what the wider reaction will be, but I know it’s the right thing for me to do.

    Quote Message

    Other than the intensely personal and positive difference it makes to me, and the way I can live my life, my hope is that my coming out doesn’t change anything else about how I go about my work or how people treat me. Gender and sexuality should make no difference whether you are a Cabinet Minister or in any other walk of life and I hope that I can, in my own way, reinforce that message."

    David Mundell MP, Secretary of State for Scotland

  7. Tributes to Philip Webster leaving The Timespublished at 14:52

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  8. Don't overpoliticise junior doctor strikes says Labour ministerpublished at 14:45

    Shadow Cabinet Minister, Lucy Powell, has highlighted another area of division within the Shadow Cabinet - this time on the issue of the junior doctors' strike.

    The Shadow Education Secretary of State told the World At One on Radio 4 that is wasn't helpful to "overpoliticise" the strike.

    She also revealed she wasn't on the picket line yesterday, as fellow Labour MPs and shadow cabinet members were, but said she was, in effect, giving support to the strike via her husband who is a consultant in A&E.

    When asked explicitly whether she supported the strike she replied that she did but repeated she was keen that the dispute was not "overpoliticised".

    Ms Powell went on to say "doctors have a very legitimate argument with the government about patient safety and the future supply of doctors coming through".

    She added: "The NHS is in huge crisis and it is Jeremy Hunt's fault."

  9. Reaction to David Mundell coming out as gaypublished at 14:38

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  10. Tributes paid as Philip Webster leaves The Times after 43 yearspublished at 12:58

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  11. Watch: PMQs analysis with Laura Kuenssbergpublished at 14:05

    The Daily Politics

    Media caption,

    PMQs analysis with BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg

    BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg offers her thoughts on today's Prime Minister's Questions, which saw David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn clash over housing.

  12. Watch: Jacob Rees-Mogg opposes 'disuniting' English National Anthem Billpublished at 13:58

    Media caption,

    Watch: Jacob Rees-Mogg opposeses 'disuniting' English National Anthem Bill

  13. Watch: Labour MP introduces English National Anthem Billpublished at 13:55

    Media caption,

    Watch: Labour MP English introduce English National Anthem Bill

  14. Powell: Unhelpful to politicise doctors' strikepublished at 13:53

    The World at One
    BBC Radio 4

    Labour's shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said she wasn't on the picket line for the junior doctors' strike yesterday. 

    "I don't think it's helpful actually to over-politicise the strike," she said.

    The MP said she expressed her support via her husband, who is an NHS consultant. 

  15. Watch: SNP calls for return of post-study work visaspublished at 13:50

    Media caption,

    SNP MP Angus Robertson questions David Cameron over post-study work visas

    David Cameron faced calls from the SNP to reintroduce post-study work visas, during Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions.

  16. Watch: Jeremy Corbyn 'doesn't believe in Britain', says PMpublished at 13:45

    Media caption,

    PMQs: Jeremy Corbyn 'does not believe in Britain', says David Cameron

    David Cameron accused Jeremy Corbyn of not believing in Britain, during this week's Commons clash over the government's housing policy.

  17. MPs to debate English National Anthem Billpublished at 13:32

    MPs in the Commons voted to allow the English National Anthem Bill to be debated. The bill was introduced to the House by Labour's Toby Perkins. A second reading of the bill will be held on Friday 4 March. Just a reminder that these bills have no realistic chance of becoming law unless the government of the day decides to back it. 

  18. Cabinet support for David Mundellpublished at 13:25

    Education Secretary tweets...

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  19. Nationalism is 'disuniting' the United Kingdompublished at 13:20

    Jacob Rees-Mogg

    Jacob Rees Mogg, Conservative MP, opposed the idea of the English National Anthem Bill he said for "deep and serious" reasons. 

    He asked "what greater pleasure can there be for a true born English man or a true born English woman to listen to our own national anthem". He said the current national anthem was for the whole country and "linked" everyone to the Queen and invoked "loyalty".

    He said it was a matter of "pity" and "shame" that people preferred the St George's flag rather than the Union Jack. He said the UK had given up seeing itself as one United Kingdom and such expressions of nationalism were "disuniting".

    He said the song Jerusalem didn't make "patriotic pride swell up in us".

  20. 'X Factor style judging for new English anthem'published at 13:04

    Toby Perkins, speaking about the English National anthem, said Jerusalem was an "early favourite" and welcomed the enthusiasm of a group already campaigning for that particular song.

    Referring to a van than has been "driving round and round" Parliament Square with a van "blaring" out the song Jerusalem, he said that was one way to put people off of the song. But he welcomed the group's enthusiasm.

    Mr Perkins said the bill wouldn't choose the anthem, instead there would be a public consultation to decide, perhaps he suggested an "X-factor style programme" combining traditional and new song choices. 

    He said the issue of national identity was "a powerful one" and shouldn't be left to "fester".