Home

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
Subscribe to our daily email

More from LabourList

Become a Friend

Support independent Labour journalism – for just £4.99 a month!

If you value what we do, become a Friend of LabourList today.