Trust and democracy - 8 in the morning, April 7th

Mirror

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* The Guardian reviews the first day of the election campaign.

* In a speech this afternoon, Gordon Brown will announce Labour’s plans for fixed term parliaments and other changes including a move towards a written constitution.

* But existing bills on constitutional reform will be lost in the parliamentary wash up.

* Gordon Brown will not appear at the imminent nuclear summit hosted by President Obama because of the election campaign.

* As Danny Finkelstein says trust will be a key factor in this election…

* …One voter says: “I’ve been a Tory supporter all my life, but I don’t trust David Cameron enough to vote for him”.

* Today’s will be the last PMQs before the general election.

* Ministers have dropped plans in the budget for a 10% hike on tax on cider.

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.

View all articles by Alex Smith

‘The fate of the assisted dying bill: a quiet end or a painful struggle?’

Earlier this week, Lord Falconer, the promoter of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, said that…

George Peretz KC

2nd February, 2026, 6:00 am

Gordon Cragg / GVI Post Box. Hadley, Telford / CC BY-SA 2.0

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor – week ending 1st February 2026

Read what people have been writing to our editor about this week. Find out how to share your…

LabourList Staff

1st February, 2026, 4:00 pm

Trust and democracy – 8 in the morning, April 7th

Alex Smith

More from LabourList

‘The fate of the assisted dying bill: a quiet end or a painful struggle?’

‘Alcohol harm is a public health crisis — and industry lobbying is blocking action’

Letters to the Editor – week ending 1st February 2026