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 Comment SPONSORED: ‘Industrial hemp and the challenge of turning Labour’s priorities into practice’ SPONSORED When Labour came to power in July 2024, we were clear about our priorities: economic growth, good… Bayo Alaba MP 23rd February, 2026, 6:00 am Comment ‘A day is a long time in politics, so we need ‘action this day’’ Time speeds up when you’re an MP and you’ve turned 51. The rolling phase of Wilsonian ‘long political… John Slinger MP 23rd February, 2026, 6:00 am News Strong support for child social media ban among Labour members, poll reveals Almost three quarters of Labour members support would support the government in a decision to ban social media… James Tibbitts 23rd February, 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
Comment SPONSORED: ‘Industrial hemp and the challenge of turning Labour’s priorities into practice’ SPONSORED When Labour came to power in July 2024, we were clear about our priorities: economic growth, good… Bayo Alaba MP 23rd February, 2026, 6:00 am
Comment ‘A day is a long time in politics, so we need ‘action this day’’ Time speeds up when you’re an MP and you’ve turned 51. The rolling phase of Wilsonian ‘long political… John Slinger MP 23rd February, 2026, 6:00 am
News Strong support for child social media ban among Labour members, poll reveals Almost three quarters of Labour members support would support the government in a decision to ban social media… James Tibbitts 23rd February, 2026, 6:00 am
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