Dilley's Digest: Your look at the political week ahead

Firstly, let me thank Tim Gatt @timgatt (well worth a follow - he's a top Sky News type) for that title, as used in last week's retweet.

Usual health warning!
This is not an extensive list of everything that is happening, but you have got all the flash-points, plus quite a bit more.


Monday:

It's Defence Questions in the Commons today, followed by the Health and Social Care Bill, which gets it's Second Reading.

Oona King, the former MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, de-elected by the public in 2005 when George Galloway took the seat with a majority 723 is to be introduced to the Lords... one of many who re-enters Parliament after being booted out by the electorate. Sir Gulan Noon and Jennifer Randerson are also introduced... PLUS it's day 15 of the Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Bill, so don't expect an early rise!

The IFS has a report out today suggesting that rich people will lose more in April when 750,000 people are nudged in to the higher tax rate.


Tuesday

Immigration Minister Damian Green will be speaking at an event with Helen Goodman, and representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers on the future of criminal justice and policing. I'm sure following his wrongful arrest in 2009, he'll have a thing or two to say to them.

The Political and Constitutional Reform Committee will be in session taking evidence on the tricky issue of voting for prisoners. The Tory Leadership is of course loudly hinting to backbenchers that they must feel free to stop proposals going through that would allow all prisoners who are sentenced to less than four years to have a vote.

Baroness Pauline Neville Jones will appear before Keith Vaz's Home Affairs Select Committee to clarify last week's confusing announcement. The Home Secretary announced one week ago today that 28 day detention will be reduced to 14 - but in serious cases it can still be 28. In other words, 28 days remains... no? Control Orders are to be replaced with something similar, but we're not sure what it's going to be called yet. The only alteration will be monitored access to mobile telephones and computers. The bottom line here (and I could write thousands of words on this) is that on the face of it, the shake up leaves most of the current provisions, such as section 44 stop and search, in place, but the powers will just be known as something else. This will be a really interesting session. Try and catch it.

It's Foreign Office Questions in the Commons - and later, it's the fifth day of a Committee of the entire House on the European Union Bill.

The Former Joint Chief of Staff Sir Jock Stirrup is introduced to the Lords today, in time for day 16 of the Parliamentary voting and Constituencies Bill. Under current legislation, if the Government doesn't get the Bill passed, and the Queen's sign off by February 16, the referendum can't take place on May 5th, which would be a disaster for the Coalition. Fear not though loyal fans of the Cleggolition, I'm sure they'd force through a one line Bill changing the law.

Lending figures to individuals for the month of December are released today.


Wednesday

It's PMQ's today of course, and Afghanistan is likely to feature given the Labour Leader's trip to Afghanistan alongside Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy at the weekend. We note of course that Mr Miliband told Soldiers that Afghanistan is not an issue for Party Politics, but that "it is right" that this is not a war without an end.

The National Audit Office has a report out on NHS procurement.

*** FLASH POINT **** Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is up before Chilcot's Iraq Inquiry! What did he know, and when did he know it? **** FLASH POINT ****

It's day 17 of the Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Bill! (PINCHES SELF TO WAKE UP).

Jim Devine is up before Southwark Crown Court, charged with offences under the Theft Act. Today is expected to be the first day of the former Labour MP for Livingston's Trial. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.


Thursday

It's Environment and Rural Affairs Questions in the Commons, followed by Business Questions to Sir George Young (Leader of the House).

The Public Bill Committee takes evidence on the Localism Bill.


Friday

Prime Minister David Cameron attends the European Council along with European Heads of State.

It's a sitting Friday - with the Green Party's Caroline Lucas amongst the lucky members who get to debate their Private Members Bills. Her's is on Consumer Credit.

Insolvency Statistics for Q4 of 2010 are out.

Today is the deadline for free accreditation to attend the Liberal Democrats Spring Conference.

In praise of Vince Cable / Nimrods

Vince Cable deserves much praise for speaking at the Press Gallery Lunch today. He took numerous jokes about his pre-Christmas comments with good grace, and even cracked a few himself.

I said on this blog that Vince Cable SHOULD have cooked his goose by attacking the PM and the Coalition GOvernment, but the fact is, he remained, and today Cable told journalists that he's waited 30 years for power so he's not about to give it up.

I tweeted earlier that I was surprised to see a story emerge that "critics" have hit out at an un-PC joke told today by the Business Secretary. The joke wasn't particularly timed well, but is an adaptation of one of the oldest jokes going. Mr Cable asked how you tell a dead banker in the road from a dead cat, before answering "There are skid marks around the cat".

......

My initial feeling on the Nimrods was echoed in Westminster this evening, with MP's furiously complaining that we are paying out of pocket to scrap our 4 Billion Pound fleet. It's criminal!

.....

I've been promised a particularly juicy document in relation to a certain unpopular war, that would call in to question the evidence of a certain person who has made certain assertions at a certain inquiry, headed by a former senior Civil Servant. Better still, I've been promised that document before anyone else.. so once I have the document (likely to be next week), and once I've stood it up, you'll hear about it here first.

evening' all!!


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Ed Balls: "Ed has always been one of my good friends" - Read the Transcript

I interviewed Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls for talkSPORT earlier, and asked him a question I really wanted him to answer. Here's the transcript:

SD - Can I ask you how the Miliband-Led Economic Coalition is going?

EB - It’s going very, very well. . Ed and I have worked together for eighteen years, and …

SD - Blissful years or not?

EB - Look, it’s a funny thing politics because you read in the newspapers sometimes, people say you know, because we were leadership contenders, we must have had a tough time here, or a tough time there. Actually Ed’s always been one of my good friends, and we’ve rarely had a difficult moment. We’ve certainly never had a big blazing row, and we are friends, but we’re also, you know, don’t want to be clichéd, we are sort of all in this together erm…

SD -It is kind of healthy isn’t it that you have professional disagreements. Surely you would admit to having professional disagreements now?

EB - To be honest, it’s a bit early days, but in the Treasury, all those years, we didn’t really have big disagreements. We had some disagreements in the leadership election, but that’s part of the point. You have to set out different positions and debate things through. Ed and I both know we have a massive responsibility, not just for the Labour Party. The Country wants to believe there’s a better way, and they’ve got to be persuaded that Labour can have a fair and credible way, then the Country knows, slamming on the breaks is not a credible economic policy. Labour’s got to show there’s a better, fairer way. That’s our collective responsibility. Ed and I will do it together.
....

Ed Balls is a great communicator, and slicker than Billy Crystal in cowboy gear. If Ed Miliband is smart, he'll keep him sweet!.

How Gerry Adams can resign without taking a Royal Office of Profit

Michael Crick has written a genuinely excellent piece on Gerry Adam's resignation from Parliament. You can read that here - http://bbc.in/hvBP2Y , but as I tweeted earlier, I am entirely confident that the reason Mr Adams seems able to dance around the usual stipulation that MP's cannot merely resign their seat, but instead are by tradition required to take a Royal Office of Profit - such as Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds is because he's only very technically an MP in the first place.

Sinn Fein MP's, by agreement are allowed to represent their Constituencies as the duly Elected MP for their area, but only outside of the debating Chamber. They are not paid a salary for this job since they refuse to do 'the Queeny bit', but they are paid certain allowances. This has, to date been the most effective way of getting around the odd situation where Republican Members cannot take their seat in the Chamber.

DID YOU KNOW (for my non politico readers) that MP's are not paid until they are sworn in?

... And so, since Gerry Adams has never signed in as an MP, he does not need to follow the normal Constitutional processes that others who have "done the Queeny bit" .


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Your look at the week ahead in Westminster! Read it!!

Before pressing on with my look at the week ahead, I just wanted to say how weighty Miss Harman's comments were on Andy Coulson and phone tapping today. I know that the Deputy Leader of the Labour party speaks with some authority when it comes to criminal offences involving mobile telephones.


Monday

General Sir Richard Dannatt and Ray Collins will be introduced to the House of Lords, just in time to join in on a Committee of the House on the Parliamentary voting system and Constituencies Bill. Lucky old them... Meanwhile in the Lords, Yvette Cooper will be at the dispatch box for Home Office questions - the first time since taking the job last Thursday. Later, the House will sit in Committee on the European Union Bill.

Also tomorrow, the trial of Lord Taylor of Warwick is expected to conclude, but this will obviously depend on how things progress.



Tuesday

Peliminary GDP Estimates are out, as are Public Sector Finance figures.

Westminster Hall debate on the Chilcott inquiry. I'm told the Blair / Bush memo will feature in conversation.

Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt is speaking at a Social Market Foundation Event, and naturally, he'll be talking about the Prisons system.

Cricketer Rachel Hayhoe-Flint is introduced to the Lords.

In the Commons, Andrew Lansley will be at the dispatch box for Health Questions. This should be firey after last week's health packed agenda... And Thomas Docherty presents his Firearms Amendment Ten Minute Rule Bill. Then, the House will sit in Committee on the European Union Bill.

Trevor Phillips and Equalities Minister Lynn Featherstone will be up as witnesses before the Home Affairs Select Committee discussing.. yes, equalities. Later, the Committee will hear from Commander Bob Broadhurst, and the Acting Commissioner for clarification on previous false statements that the Met did not have undercover Officers amongst protesters at the Student Protests.



Wednesday

David Cameron is scheduled to appear in the Commons for PMQ's. Here's hoping for a more lively exchange than last week. Later, the House will sit in Committee on the European Union Bill.

***** Tommy Sheridan will be sentenced in Scotland after being convicted of lying as part of his libel action *****

Caroline Flint, Shadow Communities Secretary appears at a "Reform" thinktank event on "the Big Society".

The Work and Pensions Select Committee will be in session on the Universal Credits White Paper.

There's a very interesting Hansard Society Debate entitled 'Whatever has become of the Mother of all Parliaments' with guest speakers Zac Goldsmith and Margaret Hodge... watch that one fellow political geeks!

... And Wednesday is the deadline for submissions to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on Football Governance. As a reminder, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson told me in an interview for talkSPORT that football is the worst governed sport in the UK. This is a significant Consultation deadline for sports fans since the Government are gearing up to build on the conclusion of this influencial Committee.



Thursday

Transport Questions takes place in the Commons with Philip Hammond at the dispatch box... and the Scotland Bill gets it's second reading!

I understand there will be a General Lifestyle Survey to be released looking at drinking and smoking.

... And nothing too interesting that I'm currently aware of for Friday. There's your run down of the week. It's not an exhaustive list, but there should be a good few flashpoints.

Why George Pascoe Watson should get the Coulson job

Given that I said on TV, on radio, and online that I thought David Miliband was the man for Labour Leader, I’m not sure whether George Pascoe Watson will feel too easy with my endorsement to succeed Andy Coulson as David Cameron’s Director of Communications, but endorse him I most definitely do.

If there is anyone alive who doesn’t know who George Pascoe Watson is, AKA GPW, or Geepers to some, he is currently a Senior Partner in Portland PR, and former Political Editor of the Sun. Indeed he was instrumental in the Sun’s decision to change political allegiance, and is known to be very close to the Prime Minister.

I will always be grateful to George for taking me under his wing when I joined the Press Gallery, and for his letter of reference and recommendation to the Deputy Serjeant at Arms when the time came for me to join the Lobby. Indeed I have spoken with senior Political Advisors and politicians from all parties, and they all tell me that George has taken time out of busy days to help them. His popularity within Parliament, and specifically amongst Journalists means that he’d slot in immediately and hit the ground sprinting.

TWO Specialist Operations Constables: ONE Suspended, ONE on restricted duties

Two Specialist Operations Police Officers have been served with disciplinary forms (163's).

The two cases are unrelated, but shows an interesting comparison in the way the Met deal with Officers.

An SO DC and an SO PC have both been braught in. The DC at the centre of the MRS AJ scandal has been suspended on full pay (had his warrant card taken from him), and the Specialist Operations PC has been placed on restricted duties.

Restricted duties means the Officer retains their warrant card, but are taken out of the evidence chain or contact with the public. Basically the PC will be working in an office somewhere.

"The Miliband-led Labour Coalition": A NEW *NEW* Beginning

Labour have announced the biggest coalition of political gainsayers since Nick told Dave 'I do'.

When Ed and Ed worked together in the treasury, they spent their time arguing like two brothers. A rather fitting analogy given how "not red" acts towards his real brother... but unlike the "two little boys", they were not "gaily playing".

Ed Balls undoubtedly has the respect of colleagues from all sides of the House when it comes to the economy, and indeed at the Treasury, Ed Balls was most definitely senior to his new boss.

Speaking on the BBC's Question Time Programme, Tony Blair's former Director of Communications, Alistair Campbell said that he's sure the two Ed's will have come to an arrangement.... 'Who fancies a curry'?

Lobby Hacks are revolting

No, this isn't a general observation about colleagues, but rather a reference to a recent tweet. I've been joking with Labour Shadow Cabinet Members whenever I've been interviewing them today that "I refuse to call it a Tory-led Coalition", but I find that fellow Broadcast Media colleagues are going out of their way not to take any notice of Tom Baldwin's email asking us to change our language to fit the current Labour High Command dictum. Indeed as Tom might say, we are @making a choice@ not to.

.....

Conservative MP's are more upset than ever after Mr Speaker Bercow told a Constituent that he agrees with the fox hunting ban, and after he hit out at the PM's plans to reduce the size of Parliament.

Conservative MP's are screaming that the Speakers Office is compromised, and unlike previous grumbles, higher profile Members are openly discussing what they perceive to be unbalanced conduct on the part of the Speaker.

There is a lot of strong feeling on this matter. For my part, I respect the Speaker of the day, whoever that may be... But regardless of what individual members may think, there is absolutely no way that the public would understand any attempt to unseat him... so moan all you wish (and I'm not saying they're right or wrong to do so), Mr Speaker Bercow isn't going anywhere just yet.

....

I understand City AM's Capitalist Diary Column is to mention my fist in mouth moment with Eric Illsley (See below). Looking forward to that.

Andy Burnham: ‘Why the Tory-led Government phrase is justified'

I interviewed Andy Burnham for Talksport Radio this evening on the subject of the Educational Maintenence Allowance, which is Labour's Opposition Day Debate tomorrow... but whilst I was at it, I asked Andy (and I do love Andy by the way, for the avoidance of doubt) about this awful, and in my view childish expression 'Tory-Led Government'. I'd like to claim to have interviewd Andy after the 'Spinners' letter found it's way in to the public domain, but actually, this is a particular hobby horse of mine, and so I threw it in at the end of my interview.

Sean - There’s an awful lot of effort within the Labour Party going in to making sure Members refer to the Tory-Led Government. Do you not worry as a Member of the Shadow Cabinet that this lets the Liberal Democrats, a significant part of the Coalition, even if only a junior partner off the hook?


AB - I think the opposite is true in some ways. Mr Cameron Manoeuvred Nick Clegg in to the firing line in 2010, and he took all the flack for everything the Government was doing… and yes he does deserve a lot of flack because I think he’s sold out his principles has Mr Clegg, but actually I think it was Mr Cameron who was being let off. He was deflecting all of the criticism away from him, and in fact, what we are seeing with this Government is a fairly right wing Tory Government, traditional Tory Government that’s kicking away support from ordinary working class kids, that’s now ripping in to our National Health Service. You know they’re doing all the things we would expect of tories.

My embarrassing encounter with Eric Illsley a few moments ago

I just had one of those moments that only blindness can excuse.

I was in conversation with my pal and yours, Tony Grew @ayestotheright) , and as we were walking to a Press Gallery function for Government Special Advisors and the Number 10 Press team, I said,,

"I cannot believe that Eric Illsley, a convicted Thief is to be given a Royal Office of Profit, and NOT ONLY a Royal Office of Profit, but the Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds! He'd nick everything".


And yes, he was RIGHT beside, and behind me all the time.

Oops!

Equality for some

I am pleased to hear that Martyn Hall and his civil partner Steven Preddy have each been awarded £1,800 compensation after being REFUSED access to a hotel in Cornwall.

This Ruling is to be welcomed, and what I’m about to say should not distract from this point.

I just think it’s a shame that equality laws are so messed up in this Country that Mr Hall and Mr Preddy do have access to justice, but as a Guide Dog Owner, there is, in practical terms, absolutely nothing I can do when I am refused access to hotels and other such places.

The Equalities and Human Rights Commission backed this case all the way (and so they should), but I have found them to be as much use as a profolactic dispencer in the Vatican. I don’t bother to call them any more. They are useless,and equality laws are toothless for some.

Coming up in Politics this week

I've been prepping for a political review / week ahead with Matt Forde on talkSPORT. Here are some of the flashpoints coming up.

There's a noteworthy event regarding public services tomorrow - but I'll let you know about that after midnight.

Nick Clegg will also be speaking tomorrow - and announcing that paternity leave is to be extended to ten weeks... currently it's two, although Labour legislation comes in to effect within months that would allow Dad to take leave instead of mum. Theoretically, after April, Dad could be on PAID leave for ten months.

Lord Taylor of Warwick appears at Southwark Crown Court, charged with six offences (s17 of the theft Act), but is of course absolutely innocent until proven guilty, and IF proven guilty).

The Lords will be chewing over legislation to allow the government's planned AV referendum Bill - and a number of Peers will be introduced.

Tuesday sees Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the dispatch box taking questions at DPMQ's... this should be interesting. The CPI and RPI figures are out for December, and the OfGem Chief is up before the Energy and Climate Change Committee giving evidence on rising fuel prices.

Wednesday is obviously PMQ's, and the PM is in London for that... but by far the most interesting fixture in the Chamber on Wednesday will be the Opposition Day Debate on EMA. It seems Andy Burnham, and the Government's Access to Education guru Simon Hughes share some common concerns.

It's a sitting Friday this week, so Private Members Bills a-plenty... but the main focus (I'm sorry to tell backbenchers) will be directed over the road to the QE2 Centre where former PM Toony Blair has been recalled to give evidence to the Chilcott Inquiry.

... Oh, and the National Audit Office have a report out on reducing loss in welfare payments caused by customer error.

...

Apologies... I haven't really got the time to write this up nicely - but hope the flashpoints are helpful.

Why Labour should ditch their "Tory-Led Government" expression

It is commonly known that Labour Leader Ed Miliband has instructed all Shadow Ministers to refer to the Coalition only as the “Tory-Led Government”, and I am told by those in the know that the point is to “remind the public that the government are dominated by the tories” to counter suggestions by the Conservatives and Lib Dems that we have a more moderate, more considered set-up.

Now I really don’t care how politicians talk about each other, but., and rarely in my view, the public are noticing the phrase being used again and again (which is the idea of using the expression) but most of those who have mentioned it to me regard it to be contrived.

My personal observations on the Labour High Command instructing Shadow Ministers to use the expression are that speeches and answers to media questions seem too impersonal and scripted , and that the Liberal Democrats are part of the Executive, and the emphasis on the Conservative Party lets the Lib Dems off being held to maximum account. I know there’s a lot of anti-Lib Dem feeling out there following their support for tuition fee rises, and I acknowledge that the Lib Dems have a very reasoned argument about not having had any choice but to back-track on their pledge, but I think Mr Miliband may be missing a trick here.

Things Nick Clegg wishes he never said before the election #1

Nick Clegg's famous words on Tories hiking VAT and being con men:

"They're trying to pretend you can have something for nothing.

They're saying they're going to increase spending on public services, they won't tell you how they're going to pay for it.

They're saying they're going to deal with the structural defisit, They won't tell you how they're going to pay for it.

Now they say they're going to stop the increase in National Insurance, which of course everyone would like to do, but they won't tell you how they're going to pay for it.

This is voodoo economics, it's just funny money, it's trying to con people in to thinking that you can have something for nothing.

It's not serious. It's not going to work."

AUDIO REPORT: The Political Week in Review

This is the Political Week in Review, focusing on some of the bigger flashpoints, and compiled for the Matt Forde Show on Talksport.

Oldham East Report: The Runners and Riders

I compiled this report for Duncan Barkes (@duncanbarkes) on talkSPORT.



It's essentially an opportunity for all the candidates to be represented, all be it rather briefly.

I just love 'The Flying Brick' from the Official Monster Raving Looney Party. We got his permission to include the clip as it appears - so no stitch ups here!

I'm not Gary O'Donoghue: Watch the Ed Miliband Gaffe!

This is NOT me - it is Gary O'Donoghue from the BBC.



This is NOT Gary O'Donoghue from the BBC. It IS me!!!!



Indeed, other than the fact that Gary and I are both Parliamentary Lobby Journalists, the only similarity is that we’re blind.

Most frontline and backbench Politicians know who I am, not for any other reason but because I am a very active Member of the Lobby… so imagine how Ed Miliband felt when he made a “They all look the same to me” gaffe.



Don’t worry Mr Miliband. I do have a sense of humour. Just get my name right next time.

Looking at the Q&A then… I knew that Mr Miliband would not promise to reduce the rate of VAT, despite attacking the coalition for squeezing the middle and punishing the poor… and actually his answer on VAT is the right answer. It’s the right answer because no Opposition politician is in a position to start cutting revenue from the sidelines – but I felt it important to put his position in to context.

On the issue of whether Ed Miliband believes David Cameron and George Osborne are liars, note that he stops JUST short of saying they are, then goes on to say THEY ARE!

This puts me in mind of a conversation I had with the Prime Minister last year. Whilst in Opposition, Mr Cameron said there was a thread of dishonesty in Mr Brown’s Premiership. At a monthly press conference, I asked him whether he thought Mr Brown was “dishonest”, he said “Look, I think there’s a thread of dishonesty running through this Premiership” but similarly stopped JUST short of using the word liar.

… And the public think Politicians are all the same!

Nanny State Insurance Reforms are alarming

The DFT are to introduce more red tape for motorists by forcing car owners to insure cars that are physically off the road, or else apply for an Off Road Notification, as currently exists with road tax. If motorists fail to follow new rules, they will be slapped with substancial fines.

The insurance industry backed logic is that uninsured drivers will have a harder time driving when these new rules come in to effect, but the move will undoubtedly cause headaches for totally decent members of the public who have cars that they don't physically use on the roads.

Currently, it's only an offence to have an uninsured car if you drive it on the road. This is why it's a moving traffic offence.

This is the latest in a series of (genuinely surprising) Nanny State interventions by a coalition of Conservatives, who traditionally believe in small government, and Lib Dems who traditionally believe in libertarianism.

This latest measure assumes criminality and further threatens the nature of Policing by consent.

Sub Judice & Contempt: Don't join Dishonest Dave in Jail!

David Chaytor has been Convicted and Sentenced for three counts of Theft by False Accounting. This means you can say he’s a criminal and he is dishonest till the cows come home. The case has been dealt with so enjoy yourselves with this one, but I am moved to jot a note about Contempt of Court and Sub Judice since fellow-tweeters are playing Russian roulette with their own livelihoods’, including tweeters I particularly like.

Broadcasters and Print Journalists receive legal training in what they can and can’t say about Court Proceedings, but alas, in today’s world of Twitter, Blogs and Citizen Journalism (all of which I support 100%), accomplished ‘publishers’ can find themselves in serious hot water, since new media platforms have the potential to influence Jurors or Witnesses, thereby preventing a person from receiving a fair trial.

The best advice I would give anyone is if you’re unsure about what you can say, don’t say anything at all.



Tweeters and Bloggers ABSOLUTELY can be held criminally responsible for their words, and in extremis, could be sent to jail… but nasty consequences aside, in a totally hypothetical case, would YOU really want to see a guilty person getting off because you tweeted a comment about them being guilty before a Court has had the opportunity to hear the case?

A few tips… if you do tweet about legal cases, do bear in mind that you should never publish comments on the guilt or innocence of an accused person. You should never discuss evidence in an active case, and you should be absolutely sure that if you are publishing reports of a Court Case, that there are no reporting restrictions in place.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, in the cases of other Parliamentarians who are before the Courts at this time, they have NOT been convicted of anything, and ARE therefore innocent.

This is quite a complicated matter, so my advice is to get advice. Don’t join Dishonest Dave in jail!

Why I take no pleasure in Dishonest Dave’s Jail Sentence

Today’s Sentence Is undoubtedly fitting for the crimes former Berry MP David Chaytor was convicted of.

If you’ve had your head in a cave, the first charge related to nearly £12,500 wrongly claimed for rent on a flat that he himself owned. In fact, he bought that flat in 1999 and paid the mortgage off in 2003 – so despite reports to the contrary, I doubt he can be too hard up. What makes this first crime so unforgivable is that he faked a Tenancy Agreement in his daughter’s name (she’s not called Chaytor obviously) so he could pocket the cash.

The second charge related to property once again. He had pocketed nearly £5,500 of our cash supposedly for renting the property from an independent Landlord. In this case, the property belonged to his Mother – but despicably, he pinched the money whilst his poor old mum was in residential care suffering with dementia.

The third charge relates to JUST under £2,000 in IT Support that was never provided. Chaytor rightly thought that the Fees Office wouldn’t raise an eyebrow when he faked invoices, but the Metropolitan Police were slightly more rigorous in their investigations and contacted the IT worker only to be told the bills were moody. As a point of interest, this final claim was never paid because dishonest Dave had already exceeded the maximum expense threshold for this type of expense, but the attempt was made, and the crime was committed with guilty knowledge and guilty intent.

Today’s Sentence lays testament to the tremendous public service done by Ben Brogan and the Daily Telegraph. They should hold their heads up high, knowing that serious wrongdoing has been exposed and prosecuted to the full extent of the law in the finest traditions of journalism, but somehow I cannot feel any glee or joy that a man of once good character and standing is spending his first night in custody, but neither can I feel too much sympathy for him. No doubt, at the time of writing, David Chayote is going through the indignity of naked medical examinations and full body searches, the embarrassment of having to be spoken down to by junior prison staff and fellow crims, and I am told he, in common with other first time prisoners, will spend most of the night in tears… and to cap it all off, he now faces an astronomical legal bill for his defence and prosecution… but I’m sure he can easily afford it!

As the expression goes, those who fly the highest, undoubtedly fall the hardest.

Chaytor: A suspended sentence IS on the cards

I spoke earlier with the excellent legal brain that is Jerry Hayes, @jerryhayes1 on Twitter by the way, and ran over the possibilities for David Chaytor's Sentence later. I should like to thank Jerry for his time.

David Chaytor has clearly admitted three very serious charges, contrary to s17 of the Theft Act 1968, namely Theft by False Accounting.

I stick by my prediction that he'll probably get a two year custodial Sentence, serve one, and do 11 months in an Open prison, however, the Sentencing Guidelines, which set down in black and white what Judges can, and in most cases must consider at time of Sentencing, says that the Judge MAY consider passing a Suspended Sentence, but if he does so, in this case, the term could not extend beyond a year - but the case could be made by Mr Chaytor's legal team IF they are able to prove that he didn't fiddle more than £20,000. I would personally be surprised if he doesn't do some form of time for his crimes, but it's POSSIBLE at least that David Chaytor could walk free, with many stains upon his "character".

Of course... the Judge will be acutely aware that Justice must be seen to be done, and so we wait with interest.

Nick Clegg Civil Liberties Speech later: DPM to announce Libel Law Reform

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who is celebrating his birthday today, will later make a major speech on Civil Liberties in which he will attack Labour’s record using extended detention as a stick to beat Mr Miliband’s Opposition with.

The Lib Dem Leader will be at pains to point out that Civil Liberties is not an issue that divides the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Indeed, as Dr Sean Gabb from the Libertarian Alliance told me in an interview for talkSPORT Radio, Conservatives with a BIG C would traditionally back the rights of the individual to the hilt.

In affirmation of his own Party’s policies on Civil Liberties, Mr Clegg will say,

“My Party spent years campaigning against the erosion of our Civil Liberties under Labour” And now, in Government, we are going to turn a page on that chapter, resurrecting the liberties that have been lost, embarking on a mission to restore our great British freedoms”.

So what does this mean? Certainly the DNA database, Trial by Jury and Control Orders will all get a look in when it comes to revisiting Legislation, but these things (probably fortunately) cannot be done overnight. Instead, Nick Clegg will promise to push on with his “wider project to resettle the relationship between the People and Government”.

… But the meat of today’s announcement will be found on Libel reformation. The Deputy Prime Minister will remind us that he made the case for reform “almost a year ago” in a speech to the Royal Society.

He will seek to assure genuine litigants that their rights are safe under the coalition,

“Of course individuals and organizations must be able to protect their reputations from false and damaging claims”

… But he will make it clear that British Courts must stop playing host to Libel Tourists, by which he means those with little to virtually no interest in Britain, but who currently exploit a loophole that allows Actions to be launched in the British Courts if material is accessible in the UK. For instance, if a Greek businessman accuses another of dishonesty on his blog, or on Twitter, the law as it stands allows business man 2 to sue businessman 1 in the British Courts, under the British Legal System because the material may be viewed in Britain. This is quite clearly ludicrous , and I think any right thinking man or woman would support the Deputy Prime Minister in seeking to end this absurdity.

Scientists and investigative Journalists are to be promised particular protection under the DPM’s Libel Reformation Proposals. The Bill, which will be published in Consultation form will offer a defence to Libel that words were spoken “in the Public Interest”, particularly in pursuance of exposing wrongdoing, or with the intention of improving medical care.

Some Political Birthday's on Fri & Sat

Happy birthday to Andy Burnham for tomorrow. He shares a birthday with the Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg.

There's got to be some kind of Coalition Party joke there, but think I'm too tired to find it. Feel free to have a go.

Your friend and mine Tom Watson (@tom_watson) celebrates his birthday on Saturday, and shares his big day with Elvis Presley, who WOULD, if alive, be 76.

... And a slightly less happy occasion for David Chaytor, who is sentenced tomorrow (Friday) at 10:30 for fiddling his Parliamentary Expenses. I have spoken with the Court Listing Department, and this is definitely set to go ahead.

A bad day to be David Chaytor

The former Berry North MP David Chaytor will be sentenced for four Counts of Theft by False Accounting later following his eventual Guilty Plea, which nevertheless came early enough to prevent a costly Trial at Taxpayer expense.

The Court are likely to recognise Mr Chaytor's early Plea, but there can be no doubt, the dishonest Offences he has admitted are most serious indeed, and include a totally fabricated Tennancy Agreement for a flat he himself owned, totally fabricated invoices for IT Support that was never delivered, and a totally dishonestly arranged property rental from his own mother, while she was in residential care.

A non-Custodial Sentence seems unlikely, but we await the Judgement of the Court.

*** UPDATE *** As Guido rightly points out, the David Chaytor Sentencing will be on Friday 7th. It was re-listed ***

Dick Turpin would blush if he robbed taxpayers this much!

We’re all in this together to sort out our mess of an economy”. This is what they tell us, but then why are so many of the increased revenue sources for the Government “structural changes” that by their nature must be permanent, rather than temporary?

Petrol is teetering around the £1.30 per litre mark, and diesel perhaps a few pence more. Personally I don’t drive or smoke, but I’m given to understand that a pack of 20 is in the region of £6, and whether you’re a smoker or a driver, VAT is going up to 20% on Tuesday. Is this what it’s like to be a member of Her Majesty’s ‘Squeezed Middle’?

The London Mayor Boris Johnson has hit out at his own Party Leader David Cameron, explaining that the 50p tax rate for upper earners must only be a temporary measure, but the Prime Minister is in an impossible political situation, (perhaps of his own making, perhaps not.) where he simply cannot decrease the tax burden on higher earners at the same time as slamming the poor.

There can be no doubt, that as with the previous Executive, the tax policies of this regime are hammering the poor in to oblivion. It is easy to skim every penny from those who can least afford it by moralising as to the perils of driving to the planet, the dangers of smoking to one’s health, or the general moralities of drinking, but it doesn’t take a great deal of brain power to see that by taxing these (some might argue necessities) sky high, and by increasing National Insurance contributions, and Value Added Tax, the people who will suffer the most are those who leave for work at 7am every day to earn a crust, and keep the Country on it’s feet.

If Chancellor George Osborne or Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg were here now, they would rightly sing from the rooftops that they have increased the threshold at which people start paying income tax, and repeat their aim to increase that figure to £10,000, and I both note and commend these endeavours, but you can raise the threshold to £15,000 if you like and it will still hardly mitigate penalising those same people by taxing their fags, booze and petrol quite so viciously.

I could expand further by attacking train ticket rises, council tax and child benefit policies, but I do recognise that running a Economy is not an armchair sport. It does seem however that we have the worst of all worlds where those on the lowest incomes are being hammered, where those on middle incomes are being robbed to such a level that Dick Turpin would blush if he were Chancellor, and where those on higher incomes, the job creators if you will are being taxed in a most uncompetitive way.

Surely something’s got to give?

We have been told that once the economy recovers, the taxpayer will reap the rewards of today’s ‘Age of Austerity’ as we move in to ‘an Age of Prosperity’, yet we’re told the VAT rate is a permanent “structural change”, that tuition fee rises “are here to stay” and that there’s no realistic prospect of train companies being pulled in to check. Indeed, the only ‘solid’ aspirations I am aware of is to increase the threshold at which people start paying tax to £10,000, and that the PM would like to revisit the 50p higher tax rate, but he can’t right now because (all together now) “we’re all in this together”.

So bottom line questions to the Government and the Opposition;

1) How will you decrease the tax burden once the economy has recovered?

2. Mr Miliband, you’re screaming from the sidelines about the VAT rise, so can we assume that you are committing to reverse the rise if you are ever elected?

3. What is the ’Squeezed Middle’ and to what extent are you responsible for squeezing them?