Nick Clegg splits with coalition over education policy
Nick Clegg has accused his Tory partners of letting "ideology" get in the way of education, but insists the coalition is not in crisis.
PM wants Tories 'to finish the job we've started'
The Prime Minister asked today for the Conservatives to be given the chance to "finish the job we've started".
Cameron appears fired up and hungry to win next election
David Cameron appeared fired up in his speech to the Tory conference, but he must not underestimate some of Labour's populist policies.
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MP 'told paper he could use network for business gain'
The Daily Telegraph claims the MP for Wrekin, Shropshire - Mark Pritchard - told an undercover reporter he could use his “network” to set up meetings with politicians in countries where he had parliamentary connections.
The Conservative MP is heard in the covert footage saying: "To be completely brutal, I know the mayor, I know the prime minister, I know the speaker.“I don’t lobby. I don’t, whatever. But my network I will use.”
The newspaper claims the MP was secretly filmed offering his services as a consultant and offering to fix up meetings, including dinner with the prime minister of Malta.
The MP has denied the claims and has asked the parliamentary standards watchdog to investigate.
Labour: Tory MP 'right to refer himself' to watchdog
A Labour Party spokeswoman said:
It is right that Mr Pritchard has referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
It is essential that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards urgently investigate to ascertain whether or not the House of Commons Code of Conduct has been upheld in principle and practice.
– Labour Party spokeswomanEvery passing scandal and further investigation only goes to reinforce why Ed Miliband was right earlier this year to call for new rules and new limits on MP's outside earnings.
The perception that some MPs are only in it for what they can get, not for what they can give, merely serves to further undermine Parliament.
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Tory MP denies 'foreign deals' claims
Conservative MP Mark Pritchard has denied "hurtful and malicious" claims that he was exploiting foreign contacts to set up business deals.
Mr Pritchard, MP for Wrekin, Shropshire, said he has asked the parliamentary standards watchdog to investigate after The Daily Telegraph reported that he claimed he could use his "network" to set up meetings with politicians in countries where he had parliamentary connections.
"The allegations made by the Telegraph are false - and I deny their claims," Mr Pritchard said. "They have selected quotes out of context to fit their desired story, which is both hurtful and malicious and seeking to damage me.
"This is not the first time the Telegraph have made false claims about me for which I have subsequently and successfully sued them for libel. I cannot comment further as I am consulting libel lawyers. I have asked the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate the matter".
Nick Clegg splits with coalition over education policy
Nick Clegg has accused his Tory partners of letting "ideology" get in the way of education, but insists the coalition is not in crisis.
Read the full story'Continuing argument' in Coalition over green policies
There is a "continuing argument" raging in the Coalition Government over the merits of investing in a low-carbon economy, according to Business Secretary Vince Cable.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is a continuing argument in the coalition, because Liberal Democrats have been arguing that we need to maintain a long-term priority towards a less carbon-based and polluting economy, and we have to make the decisions associated with that."
MP's wife tweets anger after whip loses role
The wife of Robert Syms, who was a Conservative whip, has taken to Twitter to air her anger after he lost his position in the reshuffle.
The self-proclaimed "David Cameron cheerleader" launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister after her husband's demotion:
PM just fired father of my kids over the phone. Gave up chairmanship of a cttee to be a whip, worked hard and was widely acknowledged...
to be a good whip. He was utterly gracious and took it like a man, I am beyond furious. Loyalty counted for nothing.
Luckily for Dave he'll continue to be super loyal. I'd be fixing up drinks with Afriye, Crouch, Wollaston, Norman. No not really.
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Union leader is 'the real winner' of Labour reshuffle
The Conservative party have accused Ed Miliband of using his shadow cabinet reshuffle to please the unions after a series of high profile promotions and demotions.
The Conservative party chairman said that the real winner of the Labour reshuffle was Unite general secretary Len McCluskey.
– Grant Shapps, Conservative Party ChairmanLen McCluskey is the real winner of this reshuffle. Ed Miliband’s purged the moderates and promoted those who want the same old Labour policy of more spending, more borrowing and more debt.
That’s exactly what got us into a mess in the first place And it’s hardworking people who would pay the price through higher taxes and higher mortgage rates.
If Ed Miliband is too weak to stand up to Len McCluskey, he’s too weak to stand up for hardworking people.
Afriyie refuses to 'back off' EU referendum amendment
A defiant Adam Afriyie has refused to "back off" from pushing the Government into an early referendum on EU membership.
The Conservative backbencher told Daybreak a referendum in October next year would give the British people "their say", provide "business certainty" and make a Tory win in 2015 "far more likely".
The Prime Minister has promised to hold an in/out referendum in 2017 if the Conservatives win the next election, but Mr Afriyie believes voters are unsure if the vote will go ahead.
EU vote change plan sparks anger in Downing Street
Senior Conservative figures joined Downing Street today to dismiss a Tory backbencher who said he wanted to change David Cameron's plans for a referendum on Europe.
Adam Afriye's dramatic announcement that he would seek a Commons vote on a 2014 in/out referendum sparked anger in Downing Street which said that David Cameron would "not let it stand".
ITV News' Political Correspondent Claire Stewart reports.
Cabinet Minister: 'Constituents matter the most'
Cabinet Office Minister Chloe Smith has said that she wanted to spend more time with her constituents for Norwich North, after she announced her decision to resign.
Stepped down as Minister,proud of record.Told PM of my decision in Sept:my constituency work has always mattered most http://t.co/kfsf8ZE2Xk
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