16th March, 2010, 8:19 am Cabinet contenders: departmental debates confirmed – 8 in the morning, March 16th Alex Smith Share this article: By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982 * Peter Mandelson will debate Ken Clarke on business, and other cabinet ministers will also discuss policy on live TV debates with Andrew Neil in the weeks before the election. * The number of ministers should be cut by a third, reports parliament’s public administration committee. * The European Commission has warned that the UK is not on course to cut its deficit in line with EU rules by a deadline of 2015. * Last minute talks between Unite and BA are unlikely to have led to the strike being called off. * Ladbroke’s outgoing boss has tipped Labour to have most seats in parliament after the general election. * “Politician, scholar, football fan, reader, writer, storyteller, husband, stepfather and loyal friend”: Michael foot is laid to rest in London. * Liberal Conspiracy says the “splintering of Stoke’s working class eventually found expression in its politics” and reports on Labour’s collapse there. * The Guardian asks: Why isn’t every company like John Lewis? Alex Smith Alex is the founder and CEO of The Cares Family. He was editor and first director of LabourList in 2009-2010, during which time he established the site as the number one Labour blog, and later an aide to Ed Miliband. @alexsmith1982 View all articles by Alex Smith Subscribe to our daily email More from LabourList News Union leaders dismiss Farage invitation to affiliate to Reform UK Union leaders have rejected an invitation by Nigel Farage to quit Labour and affiliate with Reform UK. In… Daniel Green 9th June, 2026, 2:32 pm Analysis The difference Labour makes in your community In the rough and tumble of Westminster politics, the equally important world of the council chamber can often… Daniel Green 9th June, 2026, 10:00 am Columnist ‘Delivering in local government: How Labour is building a better Britain everywhere’ Welcome to our new weekly guide to how Labour Councils up and down the country are helping to… Paul Dimoldenberg 9th June, 2026, 6:00 am
Alex Smith Alex is the founder and CEO of The Cares Family. He was editor and first director of LabourList in 2009-2010, during which time he established the site as the number one Labour blog, and later an aide to Ed Miliband. @alexsmith1982 View all articles by Alex Smith
News Union leaders dismiss Farage invitation to affiliate to Reform UK Union leaders have rejected an invitation by Nigel Farage to quit Labour and affiliate with Reform UK. In… Daniel Green 9th June, 2026, 2:32 pm
Analysis The difference Labour makes in your community In the rough and tumble of Westminster politics, the equally important world of the council chamber can often… Daniel Green 9th June, 2026, 10:00 am
Columnist ‘Delivering in local government: How Labour is building a better Britain everywhere’ Welcome to our new weekly guide to how Labour Councils up and down the country are helping to… Paul Dimoldenberg 9th June, 2026, 6:00 am
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