- Newsnight
- 6 Nov 07, 05:42 PM
Queen's Speech
Gordon Brown is hailing his first Queen's Speech as "the next step forward for a stronger, fairer Britain". There'll be bills to raise the school leaving age to 18 - build three million more homes - and allow more flexible working for parents with older children.
The most contentious proposal will involve terrorism, with ministers considering doubling the limit when suspects can be held without charge from 28 days to 56. The Conservative leader, David Cameron, has said the government's new legislative programme - outlined by the Queen during the State Opening of Parliament - shows that Gordon Brown has "nothing new to offer".
Michael Crick and David Grossman will be examining if this adds up to a new vision for Britain. And we'll be discussing the key policies with senior politicians from all three parties.
Spin
Michael will also have some intriguing new developments in a spinning row involving Downing Street and schools that thought they'd feature in a speech by the Prime Minister.
Credit Crunch
The Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, has warned of further shocks in the banking sector following the run on savings at Northern Rock. He also said it will be months before the full extent of the financial losses resulting from the downturn in the American mortgage market will be known. Following Northern Rock the Queen's speech addresses the issue of deposit guarantees but can Gordon Brown do anything to reduce our exposure to the credit crunch? Paul Mason is on the case.
US elections
The 2008 American Presidential election is considered one of the most wide open races in nearly a century. With 17 candidates, no obvious frontrunners, and the country at war, voters there have a great deal to consider. Residents of a small town in Virginia are already grappling with the issues that will drive them to the polls one year from today. Washington correspondent, Matt Frei takes us there, with the first in a series of reports.
- David Grossman
- 6 Nov 07, 04:42 PM
Just two hours after MPs got back to work after the State opening of Parliament, the Labour side of the commons is all but deserted. I can only count three hon members in their places. I know the Government is promising a bill to bring in more flexible working...
- David Grossman
- 6 Nov 07, 03:18 PM
As someone who has written many times about the importance of courage in politics Gordon Brown must have appreciated the bravery of in the Commons today. It is traditional that the first two MPs who get to their feet after the Queen's speech have license to make jokes and generally poke fun at some of their colleagues.
Continue reading "The Brown award for bravery?"
- David Grossman
- 6 Nov 07, 02:00 PM
The Queen's speech has been delivered - so far so much as expected. All eyes on the Commons for the clash between Brown, Cameron, Cable et al this afternoon. One thing that I hadn't expected was the way that Gordon Brown and David Cameron walked from the Commons to the Lords. Tradition dictates that the two main party leaders saunter in side by side and chat amicably. Some wondered whether the current PM would be able to stomach a chat with a man he doesn't really think all that much of.
Continue reading "What did Gordon say to David?"
- Newsnight
- 6 Nov 07, 12:38 PM
In a broadcasting first and Radio 5 Live will jointly host a live discussion on immigration this Thursday.
Senior politicians from all the main parties have been calling for a serious and considered debate on immigration - this is what we shall be doing.
Newsnight's will be speaking to an expert panel, and Radio 5 Live's Richard Bacon will be taking your views by phone, text and email. Both will be putting questions to the three main parties.
We want to start the discussion now and want to hear from you. What would you like to say to the three parties?
Do you think we have benefited economically from migration? What effect, if any, have you seen on public services in your area? Should there be limits, and have we as a society gained culturally from immigration?
Let us know what you think..
- Newsnight
- 6 Nov 07, 10:31 AM
Good morning,
There's quite a bit around today.
Queen's speech
Gordon Brown's blueprint for his next year in government will be outlined later today. The Queen will set out more than twenty bills in her speech to mark the State Opening of Parliament. It will include plans on a range of issues including counter-terrorism, immigration, affordable housing and education.
Mervyn King
The Governor of the Bank of England has said it was the chancellor who made the final decision not to support a move by Lloyds TSB to take over Northern Rock. Mervyn King told 大象传媒 Radio's File on 4 that he had told Alistair Darling it was "a matter for government". Mr King said Lloyds TSB had wanted a 拢30bn loan from the Bank of England at competitive rates as part of the deal. The collapse of the deal meant that Northern Rock had to go to the Bank of England for emergency funding. "I said to the chancellor: 'This is not something which a central bank can do'. Where does this leave the Chancellor?
Sarkozy meets Bush in Washington today. Is it worth examining their changing relationship and any diplomatic repercussions?
Pakistan - what will Benazir Bhutto's next move be?
US election
The 2008 American Presidential election is considered one of the most wide open races in nearly a century. With 17 candidates, no obvious frontrunners, and the country at war, voters there have a great deal to consider. Residents of a small town in Virginia are already grappling with the issues that will drive them to the polls one year from today. Washington correspondent, Matt Frei takes us there, with the first in a series of reports.
We could do the opening of St Pancras station as the playout. Any other thoughts welcome
Any thoughts on these? Guest ideas? Other stories we should do?
