The Daily Politics

Kate Hoey, from Labour Leave, says the group's campaign is game playing for a July EU referendum, but she adds it will more likely be in September.

Are any shadow cabinet members thinking about campaigning for an EU exit? "One or two," she says - but won't name names.

David Cameron could come under renewed pressure to sign up to an EU refugee quota in March, when Brussels is expected to unveil a replacement for the Dublin agreement.

The BBC's Ross Hawkins writes: The UK could opt out of any new EU scheme to deal with refugees. So why does this matter in Westminster?

First, because if the Dublin agreement is scrapped Britain may not be able to return refugees to other EU nations.

That could mean more people settling in this country, although the numbers may be modest compared to overall migration.

Second, because the timing could be very awkward.

Imagine this: February, and David Cameron seals an EU deal which he says resets Britain’s relationship, tipping control away from Europe.

March, the European Commission unveils a new plan to disperse refugees across the continent and asks the UK to take part.

However much some campaigners might try to talk about other issues, that could rapidly centre the referendum fight on the fate of refugees and levels of immigration.

Read more here

House of Commons
Parliament

The DUP's Sammy Wilson asks the secretary of state if she agrees that a vote to leave the EU would help the Northern Irish economy and release £18bn for public services.

Theresa Villiers refuses to be tempted to a response and says that EU membership is a "matter for everyone" in the country to decide when they vote in the referendum.

The Daily Politics

Labour MP Kate Hoey, a Eurosceptic MP who co-chairs Labour Leave, is asked how many of the party's MPs back leaving the EU.

"We are in a minority in the Parliamentary Labour Party," she concedes, but adds that there is "huge support" among the Labour grassroots and supporters. 

Pressed to give a figures, she reckons about 25-30 Labour MPs. But she says it's "irrelevant" as "this referendum will not be won to leave the EU by MPs".

Owen Smith, Labour shadow cabinet minister, says he hopes Labour will have a whipped vote on the EU, but Ms Hoey questions why. "It's democracy out the window," she says.

The Daily Politics

Shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith says Labour is "more comfortable" with the notion of targeting pension tax relief for the wealthy.

Put to him that Labour didn't do it when it was in power, he says he wasn't in government then but concedes it could've done more.

"It is something worth looking at," he says, but adds that Labour will look at the way the government uses the money the move would save.

The Daily Politics

Treasury minister David Gauke dismissed as "speculation" reports in the Daily Mail that 1.5 million people could lose out on what it is calling a "stealth tax raid to punish prudent savers" in the March Budget.

Mr David Gauke argued that no decisions have been taken yet. Any new measures would be announced on 16 March, he said.

"Nobody wants to punish anybody", he adds, but says it's right that pensions tax relief is reviewed.

Commenting on today's unemployment figures, shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith said it was welcome that more people are in work but "low pay remains a crisis for millions".

The elections watchdog, the Electoral Commission, has published data showing the amount spent by political parties during the 2015 general election campaign.

The Conservatives topped the list, spending more than £15.5m compared to Labour's £12m.

The Lib Dems spent £3.5m, UKIP almost £2.9m, SNP almost £1.5m and the Greens £1.1m.

Image source, Electoral Commission

The six parties spent a combined total of £36,662,363 on campaigning at 2015 election, compared to £30.9m in 2010, according to the watchdog.

Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

The chief inspector of prisons, Nick Hardwick, threatened to suspend prison inspections in England and Wales over a dispute with the Ministry of Justice. 

Mr Hardwick said the department was trying to control the watchdog's weekly spending and which inspection staff he deployed. 

In a letter to the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Richard Heaton, in December, Mr Hardwick said there was a "lack of understanding" about the Inspectorate's need for independence. 

Mr Hardwick wrote:

Mr Heaton replied a week later saying Mr Hardwick did not need to submit a weekly application for spending on outside, "associate" staff, and spending for those roles had been approved until the end of the financial year.   

Mr Hardwick repeated his concerns about the need for independence at a Justice Committee hearing and called for a protocol to be agreed between the Inspectorate and the Ministry of Justice. 

He also revealed there' had been some "robust" conversations with Chris Grayling, when he was justice secretary. Mr Grayling, now the Commons leader, called Mr Hardwick to discuss inspection reports that had been published on which "he had a view".

Image source, Family photo

Two urgent questions are set to be asked in the Commons after Prime Minister's Questions ends at 12:30 GMT.

The first is from Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, John Woodcock, on the case of toddler Poppi Worthington and the response of Cumbria police. 

The second is from Labour's Andy McDonald on the treatment of asylum seekers in his Middlesbrough constituency. 

The Guardian

What do Manchester United and the Labour Party have in common? Quite a lot, according to former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell., external

He says the two institutions enjoyed more than a decade of success under "strong, charismatic leaders", but have since struggled to maintain their winnings.

"The thing they botched was the succession," he writes, and concludes:

Civilian "specialists" will help police solve cybercrime under an expansion of the role of volunteers in England and Wales, the home secretary has said.

BBC News Channel

Commenting on the UK fall in unemployment, Employment Minister Priti Patel told BBC News:

She added that 75% of jobs created are in full time work. "We have got more women in work, more young people in work."