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Left Foot Forward > Published by Will Straw, September 8th 2009 at 9:00 am

News summary: Tuesday, September 8th

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Welcome to any first time visitors clicking through from Iain Dale’s Diary or Tom Watson’s blog. Left Foot Forward officially launches on Monday, 14th September. From that point on we will email the daily news summary to subscribers. Sign up here.

Teaching Unions have spoken out as Ministers marked the opening of the 200th academy. Chris Keates of the NASUWT said: “There is no evidence to demonstrate that academies do any better or worse than the generality of schools.” Christine Blower of the National Union of Teachers, said: “A good local school for every child and for every community should be the Government’s aim.” Meanwhile, Paul Goodman MP argues in the Telegraph that Tory plans to introduce New Schools free for local authority control will face criticism from right-wing fans of selection and Conservative-controlled councils.

The Government should scrap Trident replacement say 63% of Lib Dem supporters, 61% of Labour supporters, and 48% of Conservatives. Only 35% of all voters support the scheme. Meanwhile, Polly Toynbee cites The Electoral Reform Society’s YouGov poll which shows that Labour would get a 17% boost if it gave voters an election day referendum on PR.

According to The Sun, “Dave’s dunked Duncan donut” following remarks last month that, “[MPs] have to live on rations and are treated like shit.” Alan Duncan responded to his demotion by saying: “This is a sensible decision. You have to be realistic about how difficult the expenses issue has been. What matters most is winning the election and David Cameron becoming the prime minister. I am very happy to get stuck into another job.” He is replaced by Sir George Young.

Marta Andreasen has resigned as UKIP’s treasurer in opposition to the chairmanship of Paul Nuttall MEP, a potential replacement to Nigel Farage as leader. She said, “I do not want to see funds being wasted, and the management of this party needs to wake up.”

And in the run-up to Barack Obama’s much-anticipated address to Congress tomorrow, the New York Times highlights a potential Senate compromise on healthcare that would impose fees on some sectors of the industry but not on individuals. Meanwhile, details of the President’s televised address to American schoolchildren emerged today. The low key nature of the remarks will disappoint Republicans who had attempted to paint the back-to-school speech as political “indoctrination.”