Politics Summary: Friday, June 25th

The Guardian‘s front page focuses on the first cracks in the coalition as Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes warned that “curbs to pensioners’ allowances may threaten coalition”. Although Hughes outlined his support for harsh budget measures to help deal with Britain’s weak public finances, he said: “If there are measures in the finance bill where we can improve fairness, and make for a fairer Britain, then we will come forward with amendments to do that because that is where we make the difference.”

The Times reports that Mr Hughes’ remarks came after Iain Duncan Smith said the affordability of winter fuel payments was “something I have to look at”. A Lib Dem spokesman appeared to issue Hughes with a slap down: “He was referring to a hypothetical situation. Given that fairness has been built into the budget there are no plans to lay any amendments.” Ed Miliband said: “It takes a long time to establish an honourable political tradition. But it takes a very short time to destroy it. Are [Lib Dems] still the party of Keynes, Beveridge and Lloyd George?” Left Foot Forward last night urged “progressives of all stripes … [to] help Mr Hughes with his mission”.

The Financial Times sets out the potential battle brewing at the G20 meeting in Toronto over fiscal strategy. The paper reports that the US has appeared to place more weight on the need to keep demand going in the short run, with most of the rest of the G20 – especially the Europeans and Canadians – preferring to emphasise rapid deficit reduction. Last night, US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner told the BBC, “Europe can make a choice to put in place the reforms and policies that will provide the possibility of stronger growth rates in the future”. The Guardian quotes David Cameron saying, “This weekend isn’t about a row over fiscal policy. We all agree about the need for fiscal consolidation. For me this G20 is about putting the world economy on an irreversible path to recovery.” The Times report that the Prime Minister has called for the G20 meeting to focus on “fresh thinking and renewed political leadership to achieve a global trade deal that would lift millions of people out of poverty”.

The Times reports that “28-day detention powers to be extended in terror fight”. The 28-day limit, introduced by Labour under the Terrorism Act 2006, expires each year unless it is approved by Parliament. Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said the provision was a “temporary measure and one that we will be looking to reduce over time”, but did not commit to an end date. David Davis, who held the shadow post for five years until 2008, said: “There have been no cases in the last four years where it has been necessary to go beyond 21 days . . . This extension is therefore unnecessary and regrettable.” Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: “The coalition has bound itself together with the language of civil liberties. Now it must reduce the longest pre-charge detention period of any Western democracy.”

The front page of the Financial Times details how “fears force immigration cap rethink”. The paper reports that Michael Gove, education secretary, and David Willetts, universities secretary, are among those who have warned that a rigid cap could call into question the coalition’s claim that “Britain is open for business”. The paper says the move is “surprising … given that it was one of Mr Cameron’s most popular policies at the election.” One Lib Dem insider told the paper: “We lost thousands of votes to the Tories because of this policy – it was very popular …  It’s rather ironic to hear some of them criticising it now for exactly the same reasons we criticised it during the election.”

The Times‘ front page reports that the “retirement age may be raised every five years”. The paper reports that it would mean that in just 25 years time the pension age will have risen to 70, affecting all workers now aged 40. It is estimated that, by automatically pushing back pension entitlement as the population ages, up to £13 billion a year would be recouped. A similar system of linking retirement to life expectancy is being explored in Denmark, where the pension age will rise from 65 to 67 between 2024 and 2027. But the Guardian outlines that the move was criticised by unions and charities as “class war” and a plan to make pensioners “work till they drop”. The Express front page details “outrage over ‘work till 70’.” The paper quotes John Cridland, deputy director general of the CBI, warning that the move would cause “significant practical problems for employers”.

8 Responses to “Politics Summary: Friday, June 25th”

  1. Sean Brennan

    RT @leftfootfwd: Politics Summary: first cracks in the coalition; G20 battle over fiscal strategy; 28-days later http://bit.ly/cTmGDR

  2. Hitchin England

    Politics Summary: first cracks in the coalition; G20 battle over fiscal strategy; 28-days later http://bit.ly/cTmGDR via @leftfootfwd

  3. Robert

    My god he sounds and looks like a Tory, feathering his bed just in case Cable and Cleggie have heart attacks, or die from licking the asses of the Tories.

    But is that worse then sucking up to Browns and New labours back side, maybe not

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