Morning Report: March 10th

Today’s big story is public sector pensions, as former Labour minister John Hutton’s report on the subject is published. The report is expected to recommend that individuals pay higher contributions, work longer and earn less in retirement. The reforms will affect six million public sector employees. Understandably trade unions are said to be planning strike action, which the Guardian says could mean one million workers staying at home in protest, with the potential to paralyse the country. In the Guardian, John Cridlans says this is the “last rites” of the final salary pension scheme.

Does William Hague’s future lie outside the cabinet? The rumoues that the foreign secretary is unhappy and may want to stand down in the not too distant future are now reaching fever pitch. Steve Richards in the Independent says that even close colleagues of the foreign secretary are qondering whether or not he’s really cut out for power. He’s not looked on good form at all recently.

Dominic Carman, who finished 6th for the Lib Dems in Barnsley, just can’t stop digging. Yesterday he tried to brush off his comments on the people of Barnsley that many considered an attack on the town. Now he’s in the Guardian, with an alternative critique of his party’s performance. Anyone would think he was in career-saving mode…

Speaking of those who may be about to have their career saved, could David Laws be set for a comeback? The rumours of his return have swirled around Westminster since he was forced to step down ten months ago. Now the Indie claims that he may return in a “cabinet enforcer role“. He’ll need to be cleared by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards first though…