• [Feb 02] Tim Farron explains why he voted the way he did on the Welfare Reform Bill: MY four main concerns about the Welfare Reform Bill, which we were voting on through Lords' amendments yesterday, were to do with the exemption of cancer patients from Means-Tested ESA; the withdrawal of contributory ESA for young disabled people; under-occupancy penalties for social tenants; and the time-limit on contributory ESA.

• [Feb 03]: CLLR Richard Montague*, Tory councillor for North Richmond Ward, has so far failed to resign his seat on Richmond Council despite apparently moving to Barbados in December. It would seem that Cllr Montague, who was elected in May 2010, has moved to Barbados to take up a job as 'Head of Airport Operations, Caribbean' for Virgin Atlantic Airways. Cllr Montague's attendance record shows he hasn't attended any council meeting since November and his post has been piling up at the town hall. As a councillor, Richard Montague receives an annual allowance of £9,400 a year.

• [Feb 03]: RICHMOND'S Tory council is predicting a record underlying budget surplus of £9.3 million this financial year after unnecessarily cutting services and making staff redundant.

A report for next week's Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee shows that, excluding one-off items which could be funded from reserves, the council is predicting an underlying budget surplus of £9.3 million* this financial year. The projection is made as of 31^st December 2011, three quarters of the way through the financial year. The size of this projected surplus has grown rapidly during the year and is £2.2 million higher than the projection published just three months ago, so the actual year-end surplus could be even bigger.

• [Feb 03]: RICHMOND'S Tory Council has been so zealous in its efforts to slash public services that it is now stashing a hoard of over £100 million of unspent residents' money, which it is lending out at low interest rates to other councils around the UK as well as to the UK Treasury.

At the same time, the council has just decided to increase to no less than 8 % the interest it charges to elderly residents needing a loan to pay for residential care whilst their home is being sold, as well as introducing a new £500 'administration fee'.

• [Jan 31] Paul Burstow writes: I NEVER really thought I'd be giving interviews on the topic of poo, but that's exactly what I was doing yesterday. It's all part of a drive to encourage more people than ever before to spot the signs of bowel cancer. So on Monday I launched the Government's first ever national bowel cancer awareness campaign, in the hope that we can save lives across the country.

• [Jan 27] Jonathan Walker writes: BRITAIN'S big cities are dragging the country down instead of driving economic growth, Business Secretary Vince Cable has warned. While major cities in countries such as Germany are centres of prosperity, those in the UK outside London "are lagging behind the rest of the country and have a lot of social problems", he said. But the Government's plans to decentralise power down to councils and local enterprise partnerships were designed to transform the fortunes of Britain's great cities, he insisted.

• [Jan 31] Trevor Smith* writes: STORM clouds are gathering over whether Iran should be invaded as a pre-emptive strike to prevent its manufacture of nuclear weapons. Already, Israel seems to be moving pro-actively, while the subject would have been discussed by Cameron during his recent trip to Saudi Arabia. The US has initiated the tightening of economic sanctions against Iran and has raised its naval profile in the Persian Gulf, though it would clearly prefer to postpone any military action until after the US Presidential election in November. Meanwhile, are the various diplomatic manoeuvres around Syria a rehearsal for future action against Iran?

• [Jan 30] Dan Rogerson* writes: PERFORMANCE data for secondary schools were published last week, and there is an important difference between the latest figures and those that have been published in previous years. For the first time we are publishing separately the GCSE achievements of looked after children and children on free school meals at each and every school - the same group of young people who are eligible for the Pupil Premium.

• [Jan 30] Julian Huppert writes: Britain has an excellent track record in science and research, with many great figures in natural sciences, humanities, computing, computing, engineering and mathematics over the years. We continue to outperform other countries in our achievements in these fields, in terms of outputs per person and per pound. We publish one in seven of the world's most cited papers, and massively outperform other countries on papers and citations per pound spent or per researcher.

• [Jan 30] Brain Paddick writes: THE Mayor cut the police budget in London before central government did, but now Boris Johnson suddenly announces he's hiring more police officers. Ken Livingstone, who increased fares just as much as the current Mayor when he was in office, now promises to cut the cost of travel. What explains such dramatic U-turns? Oh yes, there's an election.

• [Jan 30] Simon Hughes: ON Monday we saw the first reliable data on the effects that the changes in higher education policy have had on applications to universities in England. Given the huge public debate on this issue, the background of mass protest and violence against which this decision was taken and the inevitable politicisation of this decision, it is no surprise that some people have decided to use the latest official Ucas figures and the top-line 8 % decline in the number of applications to make the case that higher university fees have put off young people from applying to university.

• [Jan 31] Jeremy Browne writes: THE government has a clear position on torture. We do not do it, we do not approve of it and we do not believe it has a place in the modern world. We find the practice abhorrent: it violates human rights and human dignity, and has a wide-reaching impact on both individuals and wider society.

• [Jan 31] Andrew Stunell writes: AS some of you may know from my previous postings, one of my responsibilities in government is the building regulations. So far, so dull, right? On the face of it, you might be forgiven for thinking so, but the building regulations offer a number of key tools and levers to tackle the carbon emissions produced from our buildings. Yesterday, I announced a Government Consultation on the latest proposals for upgrading the building regulations, and they contain a number of key proposals to significantly improve the sustainability of our built environment.

• [Feb o4]: LIB Dem leader voices approval of new energy secretary after strong record at Department for Business, Innovation and Skills . .

• Guardian profile [Feb 04]

• Biography

• [Feb 02] Nick Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East, Labour): (Urgent Question): TO ask the Chief Secretary to the Treasury if he will set out the Government's policy on the operation of tax avoidance schemes in the civil service.

• Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary, HM Treasury; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Liberal Democrat): I am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to set out the answer to this question. As hon. Members might be aware, departmental public spending encompassing the appointment of senior civil servants is audited against the Treasury's "Managing Public Money" guidance. That document makes it clear that

• [Feb 02] Hugh Bayley (York Central, Labour): WHAT his policy is on the Daylight Saving Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs), Business, Innovation and Skills; Kingston and Surbiton, Liberal Democrat): May I first pay tribute to my hon. Friend Rebecca Harris for her excellent work on her private Member's Bill? As the House knows, the Government supported the Bill, as amended in Committee. Unfortunately, and as the Leader of the House made clear last week, there is no way the Bill could complete its passage through both Houses in this Session, but it could be taken forwards by a private Member's Bill in a future Session. The Government would not, however, expect to introduce any trial of daylight saving time if there was clear opposition in any part of the UK.

• [Feb 02] Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West, Liberal Democrat): THE one seemingly hopeful part of the Government's otherwise dreadful response on pub companies was the unfortunately named PICAS-the pub independent conciliation and arbitration service. However, hope soon faded when it was revealed that it was to be pubco-funded, and this week it has been announced that it will be chaired by a Punch Taverns surveyor. Does the Minister think that licensees will want to use that supposedly independent body?

• [Feb 02] Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, Labour): FOR what reasons he does not plan to implement all the recommendations of the High Pay Commission.

Wayne David (Caerphilly, Labour): For what reasons he does not plan to implement all the recommendations of the High Pay Commission.

• [Feb 02] Baroness Doocey (Liberal Democrat): MY Lords, I want to concentrate on the children who are trafficked into the UK. One key problem is the points of entry. Children as young as 12 may travel unaccompanied from France and Belgium via Eurostar, provided that they have a form signed by a parent or guardian, listing who will be collecting them when they reach St Pancras. The problem is that there are no checks at all on who signs the forms, no facilities on the trains-the children are not supervised-and no controls when they arrive at St Pancras, so the entire process is completely and utterly meaningless.

• [Jan ] Tom Brake (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat): THE Prime Minister will be aware that talks between St George's Healthcare NHS Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust on their possible merger have been abandoned. I seek reassurance from him that Epsom and St Helier will be able to engage with local partners, such as local authorities and clinical commissioning groups, in order to come forward with a proposal that meets local health needs, and that the £290 million allocated for the hospital is still available.

• [Jan 31] Several hon. Members: rose -

John Bercow (Speaker): Order. There is enormous interest and I am keen to accommodate it. What is required is brevity, of which Sir Menzies Campbell is a past master.

Menzies Campbell (North East Fife, Liberal Democrat): WE will see whether your prediction is justified, Mr Speaker.

• [Feb 03]: Michael White writes: THE energy secretary's resignation may not be the end for the smart, ambitious former Lib Dem leadership contender . . Huhne is a fighter, who is not beaten yet.

• The rise and fall of Chris Huhne [Guardian Feb 03]

• Lucky Dave's show goes on as an(other) irritant departs [John Kampfner FT Feb 04]

• [Feb 01] Vince Cable writes: THE political cycle is leading around to another round of elections in May, this time for the London Mayor and Assembly. The excellent Lib Dem South West London Assembly candidate, Munira Wilson, is already campaigning and I hope activists will giver support. My thanks to Roger Crouch and the team who worked hard in the Feltham by-election before Christmas. It was an uphill battle but after a good focused campaign we achieved our, admittedly moderate, objectives.

• [Feb 01] Geoff Pope* writes: THIS year we are aiming to further strengthen our local organisation and campaigning capacity alongside a major effort in the London Elections. Indeed this is already well underway.Brian Paddick leads the Mayoral campaign and there is a big opportunity to increase our influence on the London Assembly. It is likely that we could hold the balance of power on the Assembly. So a big vote for both the Assembly top up up list and for Munira Wilson our energetic local candidate is our target.

• [Feb 01]Stephen Knight* writes: TWO key local themes have emerged in recent months that embody the battle lines in local politics:

- The first theme is education and schools, where the Liberal Democrat approach over the years has been a rigorous focus on improving outcomes for young people. It is an approach that has produced one of the most successful education systems in the country. We targeted investment where it was most needed to raise standards. Alongside this we invested in planned permanent expansion of our successful schools in order to accommodate growing pupil numbers.

• [Jan 31]: THE New Year brings annual fare rises and you may have noticed this has become a political hot topic in London. The Government put extra money into London to reduce the fare rises slightly, but passengers have still faced significant fare rises, above inflation. Whilst the current Mayor is sticking to his line of inflation plus 2 % every year for fares, the Labour former Mayor is intent on claiming he can cut fares by 7 % from October, putting them up again by inflation in 2015 which just does not add up.

• [Jan 30]: SUPPORT is growing for an overhaul of Whitton station, following proposals from a local passenger group, backed by Lib Dem councillors and GLA candidate Munira Wilson.

South West London GLA candidate and local Lib Dem councillors are calling on Richmond Council to work with the relevant authorities and prioritise Whitton Station for improvements this year. The most important issue is to make the station fully accessible, but other improvements include better drainage to prevent puddles and flooding on the walkways, re-opening of the toilets, extending canopies and aesthetic improvements to the footbridge. Scores of local residents have already signed a Lib Dem petition in support of these proposals.

• [Jan 28]: THREAT of Lords revolt compels health secretary to change NHS bill amid claims of 'sheer panic' in government over opposition . .

• Lansley forced into major climbdown on planned health reforms [Observer Jan 28]

• [Jan 27] Cllr Gareth Roberts writes: CONSERVATIVE group at Tues­day's council demonstrated that, whatever the position is nationally, the nasty party is alive and well locally.

Rather than support a Liber­al Democrat motion as tabled, calling upon the council to ensure no council employee is paid less than the London liv­ing wage, as set by Mayor Boris Johnson, Cllr Ar­bour, with the full support of Lord True, tabled an amend­ment supporting the substan­tive part of the motion yet attacking the national Lib Dem party for paying wages at less than the living wage level. That the exact same state of affairs exists within the Con­servative Party did not seem to concern them.

• [Jan 25]: RICHMOND Council staff will all now be paid at least the rate of the London Living Wage (currently £8.30 an hour) thank to a resolution put forward by the Liberal Democrats and passed at last night's Council Meeting.

The London Living Wage is set annually by the Mayor of London as the minimum basic rate of pay that is needed to live in London. A total of 17 non school staff and 49 school staff are currently paid on hourly rates below the £8.30 level and will see wage rises as a result of the decision of up to 50p an hour. Whilst the London Living Wage is increased annually by the Mayor of London to take account of rising living costs, the pay rates in local government have been largely frozen for three years. This means that the lowest paid council staff are now paid about 50p an hour less than the London Living Wage.