Heron's Eye: 01/08/08

MPs ordered to pay back money used for 'propaganda'

Five were ordered to repay funds, including three Plaid Cymru MPs, Elfyn Llwyd, Hywel Williams and leader Adam Price, who were each required to give back more than £5,000, and Sidiq Khan, a Government whip, and Malcolm Bruce, Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon, who returned £500.

Separately, Derek Conway, the disgraced former Conservative MP, was asked to return £13,161 after overpaying his student son for working in his office. [Telegraph]

That golden age? It never happened, except in the minds of pessimists

Mark Lawson on how the golden ages of Britain envisaged by commentators are often distorted and difficult to return to. [Guardian]

Blame the rich for feeding the drug industry

Melanie Reid on the hypocrisy within drugs prosecution based on income. [Times]

Clegg Does Realpolitik, Ends Policy of "Equi-Distance"

Guido on the Liberal Democrats positioning themselves to take advantage of anticipated Labour weaknesses in the next general election. [GuyFalkes]

Election spending: Labour shrugs off Electoral Commission reservations

The government today insisted its plans to curb spending outside of an election period – widely seen as an attempt to outmanoeuvre Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft — would not be derailed by the Electoral Commission's "strong reservations" about its proposed reforms. [Guardian]

Scottish Labour leadership: three MSPs line up to replace Alexander

Former Holyrood health minister Andy Kerr will today launch his bid for the Scottish leadership of the Labour party as nominations close at noon for what is widely expected to be a three horse race.

The leadership and deputy leadership contests were triggered by the resignation of Wendy Alexander, who quit five weeks ago in a row over donations to her leadership campaign last year.

Kerr, the MSP for East Kilbride, will launch his campaign just an hour before the noon deadline.

Cathy Jamieson, who stood down as deputy leader to pitch for the top job, and the finance spokesman, Iain Gray, have already launched their bids. [Guardian]

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Heron's Eye: 29/07/08

Harriet Harman denies plotting to bring down Gordon Brown

The term get off the pot or use it comes to mind when I think of Labour’s leadership issues in this parliament. Isnt the party in the exact same situation that it was in when they were hoping Tony Blair would voluntarily step down? [Guardian]

Clegg sights 50 Labour Seats

Despite underperformance at all the recent by-elections and London mayoral election the Lib Dem leader is highly optimistic for the party for the next election. [PoliticsHome]

Politicians Holidays

Michael White takes a look at politicians trying to look normal. [Guardian]

Tony Blair tipped for top EU post

New poll puts Mr Blair as frontrunner to become EU President. Is this a conspiracy to undermine the Lisbon Treaty? [Guardian]

Ken's comeback

Ken Livingston continues his electoral campaign, highlighting Mr. Johnson’s purging of women and ethnic minorities. [Guardian]

A law to label real fur - that should bring the voters back

Maire Antoinette digs the knife into New Labour. Why am I surprised that Polly Toynbee would be pick up on the issue of labelling real fur? [Guardian]

Road to nowhere

AC Grayling reminds us that hatred is not confined within the boundaries of religion or nationality. [Guardian]

From little acorns

Ed Pomfret cheerleads for a renaissance in new native forests. [Guardian]

The media's distorting lens

Paul Mason cautions on the language and intentions of the media when reporting criminal activity. The following CIF comments are recommended. [Guardian]

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