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Union leaders resist political donations cap after Reform given £72m
Source: The Guardian
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BBC Politics
Unions warn against 'out of control' political spending
In a joint statement, unions say donations totalling £72m to Reform UK threaten the "integrity of democracy".
The Guardian
Polling turns politics into one big game. There are too many of them – and that does us no good | Jonathan Liew
Surely that’s the lesson the Reform polling furore should teach us. Politics should be about actually helping people, not mastering the line on a graph Solemn faces all round. We will listen. We will learn. We will hone and improve. Yes, it’s time for the latest bout of profound soul-searching in the UK polling industry following the allegations raised by the recent Channel 4 investigation that a polling firm reportedly failed to declare that three polls it published before the local elections in May were commissioned by Reform. By now these reckonings are becoming a regular occurrence in the wake of big elections: pollsters gather in a room, nibble biscuits, ritually self-flagellate, and pledge to learn all the right lessons from the electorate they’ve just catastrophically misread. Yet for all its very public ignominies, political polling is one of those rare and precious industries th
BBC Politics
Balaclava ban aims to address 'substantial' problems
Nottingham becomes one of the first cities nationally to take this step, its council leader says.
The Guardian
Pensioners just above threshold shouldn’t pay income tax, says No 10 – UK politics live
PM’s spokesperson says those whose only income is the state pension should not pay income tax in this parliament despite the expected rise to £13,000 The Liberal Democrats have said that they will try to introduce a cap on the amount people donate to political parties by amending the representation of the people bill as it goes through the Lords. Lisa Smart , the Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokesperson, said: We can’t keep playing whack-a-mole with each new attempt by Farage to sell out our democracy. Labour’s residency requirements aren’t good enough and the Conservatives simply sat on their hands whilst in power. For decades governments of both colours have stood by and done nothing. The scale of donations made to Reform in recent days is unprecedented in British politics and should deeply concern anyone who cares about the health and integrity of our democracy. We cannot afford to see the
The Guardian
UK sanctions on Israel ‘fall far short’ of its obligations, legal experts say
More than 130 sign letter to PM saying international law requires further measures to stop illegal settlements More than 130 legal experts, including 18 king’s counsel (KCs), have written to Andy Burnham saying that sanctions on Israeli settlements “fall far short” of Britain’s obligations under the international court of justice’s (ICJ’s) finding that the occupation is unlawful. The foreign secretary, Ed Miliband last week announced an import ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine and other measures. Signatories to the letter to the prime minister, including the leading lawyers Michael Mansfield KC and Imran Khan KC, and the former lord justice of appeal Alan Moses, say it is not enough. Continue reading...
BBC Politics
Unions urge ministers to soften planned changes to immigration rules
The home secretary wants to double the time it takes for most migrants to qualify for permanent residence.