60 leading economists back Labour’s plan on spending – 8am, February 19th

8am

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* More than 60 leading economists have written a letter backing Labour’s decision to avoid spending cuts until next year.

* In a speech later today, Gordon Brown will call on the centre-left to unite behind Labour.

* The Tories have “shattered” political consensus over the planned high speed rail link from London to Birmingham.

* Harriet Harman leaned on the expenses watchdog to suppress revelations about MPs’ expenses, the Sun claims.

* Sir Thomas Legg has apologised to Huw Irranca-Davies for accusing him of owing for expense claims.

* The Treasury borrowed £4.3 billion last month – after a record slump in tax receipts.

* Tory MP Nicholas Winterton has said people in standard class on trains are a “different type of people” to those who travel in first class.

* In YouGov’s daily tracker poll, the Tory lead has been trimmed to 7%.

More from LabourList

DONATE HERE

Proper journalism comes at a cost.

LabourList relies on donations from readers like you to continue our news, analysis and daily newsletter briefing. 

We don’t have party funding or billionaire owners. 

If you value what we do, set up a regular donation today.

DONATE HERE