Sunday Live - Cuts Special 

October 15, 2010 9:08 PM - Written by Adam Boulton

As the most crucial week yet looms for the Coalition Goverment - We've a special focus this sunday on the Spending and Defence reviews. Amongst those giving their views live this sunday: the Foreign Secretary William Hague, Labour's John Denham, Bronwyn Curtis, Irwin Stelzer, Sir Richard Dannatt and Lord West.

In Sunday Sport Andy Gray previews the Merseyside Derby, and Liverpools latest ownership deal....

Caption Competition 

October 15, 2010 3:13 PM - Written by Sara Mojtehedzadeh

Our Westminster office saw a few good Arnold imitations this week and even David Cameron got in on the action, claiming that the Governator was going to help him “terminate the deficit”.

Can you one up the PM?

arnold_schwarzenegger david_cameron david_cameron sara_mojtehedzadeh

Clegg Doles Out The Sweeties 

October 15, 2010 10:11 AM - Written by Joey Jones

At the end of one of the most uncomfortable weeks of his career, Nick Clegg returns to what he enjoys - talking about fairness, and trumpeting the fulfilment of another key part of the Lib Dem wish-list: the pupil premium, with additional funding for underprivileged children to attend nursery free from age two.

Labour, as one might expect, are dubious- with Andy Burnham wondering whether the announcement might be "too good to be true."

The timing does allow scope for scepticism. After all,...

'The Lady's Not For Returning' 

October 14, 2010 7:19 PM - Written by Jon Craig

The guest of honour may have been missing. But many of Lady Thatcher's friends were determined to have a good time at her 85th birthday party anyway.

One or two guests - including former Sun editor Kelvin Mackenzie - didn't know Maggie was poorly with the flu when they arrived in Downing Street for her party.

"Well, there's still free drink!" Kelvin told me when I broke the news to him. And then he turned on his heels and bolted through the front door of No. 10,...

margaret_thatcher jon_craig

Laws Spills (Some Of) The Beans 

October 14, 2010 12:56 PM - Written by Joey Jones

It was a bit strange for me watching David Laws give evidence about the formation of the coalition government.

I spoke to Laws as part of the research for a book Adam Boulton and I have written (available soon in all good booksellers!), so while much of what he told MPs sounded familiar to me, I am not sure whether it is news to the public at large....

david_laws coalition_government joey_jones

Revolving Black Door 

October 13, 2010 6:36 PM - Written by Adam Boulton

Thursday will be busy for the Prime Minister and the Number 10 doorman. Three very different tough guys are on the Downing Street guest list.

US General Petraeus, supreme NATO commander in Afghanistan, who'll be bringing more information about the death of the British hostage Linda Norgrove.

Movie star and outgoing Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And finally, the Iron lady herself, Margaret Thatcher, not to mention 150 of her keenest admirers, invited to celebrate her 85th birthday....

arnold_schwarzenegger margaret_thatcher general_petraeus adam_boulton

Miliband's First PMQs: Video Analysis 

October 13, 2010 4:03 PM - Written by Joey Jones

Ed Miliband made his debut at Prime Minister's Questions today - Joey Jones replays the best bits and offers his analysis of the Commons clash.

PMQs prime_ministers_questions ed_miliband david_cameron joey_jones

Risky Business 

October 12, 2010 2:58 PM - Written by Sara Mojtehedzadeh

Last summer, I taught a summer school course on politics at the London School of Economics for secondary school students preparing for university. As part of my curriculum, I invited a prospective MP to speak to them about his experiences in public life and politics. The lecture, however,...

tuition_fees university graduate_tax Lord_Browne Vince_Cable Sara_Mojtehedzadeh

Bye Bye Byford 

October 12, 2010 12:11 PM - Written by Adam Boulton

The Director General of the BBC Mark Thompson announced this morning that his number two, Deputy Director General Mark Byford, is to walk the plank from his £450,000 p.a. job as part of the BBC's cost cutting measures.

Byford, a genial Yorkshireman well liked in media circles, has been at the corporation since 1979.

As DDG he seemed to have the human touch his superiors sometimes lacked, and he ran the show in 2004 when Greg Dyke was forced out by the David Kelly row....

adam_boulton mark_thompson mark_byford bbc

Crisis At Cameron's First PM's News Conference 

October 11, 2010 3:27 PM - Written by Adam Boulton

David Cameron has given no commitment to hold 'regular' or 'monthly' news conferences, unlike his two immediate predecessors. So four months after his election this was his first extended live session taking open questions from the Westminster press corps.

Some things were different....

david_cameron conservatives adam_boulton