Top news today: expenses scandal, libel reform, SNP
Author: Zoe Stavri
Published on Oct 19, 2012
In the news today, the expenses scandal rumbles on, Ed Miliband speaks on libel reform and the SNP are expected to vote on Nato membership at their conference.
MPs RENT PROPERTY TO THEIR COLLEAGUES- Up to 27 MPs may be renting their taxpayer-subsidised homes to their colleagues, exploiting a lucrative loophole. Speaker John Bercow is attempting to block disclosure of who is implicated. What do you think of this practice?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/9619022/Expenses-scandal-27-MPs-let-one-home-and-claim-for-another.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2219886/Labour-MP-pocketing-19-000-year-renting-second-home-fellow-MP-shes-claiming-expenses-rent-THIRD-property.html
Our view: http://unlockdemocracy.org.uk/blog/entry/is-it-groundhog-day-for-the-expenses-scandal
MILIBAND: NEW LIBEL LAWS MUST INCLUDE PUBLIC INTEREST DEFENCE- The Labour leader has called for stronger free speech protections including a condition that libel suits must be in the public interest. Do you think anything should change in English libel law?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/miliband-new-libel-laws-must-include-public-interest-defence-8217390.html
SNP MEMBERS ASKED TO DITCH ANTI-NATO POLICY- At the SNP conference, Angus Robertson MP will ask the party to pass a resolution to join Nato if Scotland becomes independent, ending the party’s historic antipathy to Nato. Is this likely to pass?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19993694