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MPs ready to vote on AV referendum – 8 in the morning, February 9th

8amBy Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* As many as 40 Labour MPs will rebel on the AV vote today, though the PM is still expected to win it.

* In Afghanistan, the number of British dead is now higher than that in the Falklands, after the loss of three more soldiers over the past few days.

* Banks still aren’t lending at acceptable levels, in spite of Treasury pressure, reports the Independent.

* A new Populus poll today points to the increasing likelihood of a hung parliament.

* People who inform on benefit cheats could be given a share of the resulting savings to the state under proposals being examined by Labour’s manifesto team, the Guardian reports.

* And a £20,000 levy on estates is being considered by Labour to pay for social care plans.

* One of the world’s leading economists, Nobel prize winning Joseph Stiglitz, has urged Gordon Brown to continue spending and reject cuts.

* Just 44% of Americans now approve of Obama’s presidency, while 47% disapprove, a new poll shows.

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.

View all articles by Alex Smith
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