“The Sun Backs Blair”, its front page shouted from news-stands today. This time it is hoping to use the 4 million copies it sells every day – the highest circulation of a national daily – to do it again, but for Labour. It was “The Sun Wot Won It” for the Conservatives at the last general election, or so the newspaper boasted. It’s a disgrace,” David Prosser, the SLP’s Welsh secretary, claimed Tony Heath. “The constituency is being offered the choice of a Tory and an ex-Tory fighting on Tory policies.
Mr Scargill was said to be appalled at the choice of Mr Howarth, who crossed the floor to join Labour on the eve of the 1995 Conservative Party conference. The miners’ leader Arthur Scargill has announced that he will stand as Socialist Labour Party candidate in Newport East in protest at the selection on Sunday of Alan Howarth as Labour candidate. I have therefore decided I should retire from the Lord Chancellorship after the next general election.” In his response, Mr Major said: “You have served with enormous skill, patience and dignity as Lord Chancellor for almost 10 years – the longest continuous service of a Lord Chancellor this century.”. He wrote: “I will myself reach that age in July, and I think it right that I should bide by that rule. Lord Mackay said in his letter that he had himself promoted an Act of Parliament requiring judges to retire at 70. Yesterday John Major wrote back expressing his sadness at the news but saying that he fully understood Lord Mackay’s reasons. Lord Mackay wrote to the Prime Minister last week informing him of his decision.
The Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, has said he will retire after the election. Last year Sean Connery was quoted as saying that he would only take part in future films involving guns when there was a balance and moral image shown.” The launch of the advert was attended by the parents of two children killed in the tragedy, and two teachers who were injured.. Ban all handguns.”
Ann Pearston, spokeswoman for the Snowdrop campaign, defended the decision to use Connery, a star accused of glamorising violence in films, saying: “We don’t regard this as hypocritical … Connery says: “Is that more or less pleasure than watching your child grow up?” The film closes with the words: “Remember Dunblane. A voice-over from former 007 James Bond actor Sean Connery says: “It is said a total ban on handguns, including .22s, would take away innocent pleasure from thousands of people.” The man in the film fires a rapid succession of shots, devastating a human- shaped cardboard target. The commercial, which will be shown in up to 1,000 cinemas nationwide, opens with a man loading a .22 calibre handgun. Anti-gun lobbyists, who are calling on all voters to consider the banning of handguns as an election issue, yesterday launched a cinema advertisement to highlight their campaign.
Last day for candidate nominations.17 April: March inflation figures released.23 April: Deadline for late absent-voting applications, on health grounds.1 May: General election.7 May: New Parliament meets to swear in MPs and elect Speaker.14 May: State opening of Parliament, with Queen’s Speech of new government.. Candidate nominations open.16 April: March unemployment figures and government borrowing figures. Manifestos expected to be published this week.6 April: pay rises from Budget changes start to come into effect.8 April: Parliament dissolved: proclamation and issue of writs – starting election clock.14 April: Deadline for absent-voting applications. MPs will be paid through to formal dissolution weeks later.31 March: Easter Monday. There are also a number of backbench Private Members’ Bills, covering the sale of drugs in clubs, and alcohol and young people, but the Knives Bill, introducing curbs on the sale and advertising of combat knives, cleared Parliament under its own steam last night.Following Mr Newton’s statement to the House last night, Mrs Taylor demanded an assurance that “ministers will not, in the next few days, abuse their position to make statements to this House, except on matters of real significance or to provide genuine accountability”.Countdown to a new Parliament19 March: February unemployment figures.20 March: February inflation figures.Prime Minister’s last question time of this Parliament.21 March: Parliament prorogues, effectively rising for Easter.
are continuing and I shall make a further business statement tomorrow,” he said.Fourteen government Bills, among them two on Mr Howard’s plans to introduce mandatory minimum sentences, are before the Lords. Under the Bill, courts will give automatic life sentences for repeat serious sex and violent offenders and stiff minimum penalties for persistent burglars and drug dealers.The compromise was agreed after a meeting between Michael Howard, the Home Secretary, and Jack Straw, the shadow home secretary.But last night Labour sources said government proposals for an extension of grant-maintained schools and an increase of school selection of pupils, both included in the Education Bill, would have to be jettisoned if the remainder of the legislation was given high-speed approval, and agreed enactment, by the time the Commons was prorogued at the end of this week.Following the Prime Minister’s Downing Street announcement that the Commons would meet for the last time on Friday, the parliamentary “usual channels” – the business managers who include the Commons Leader, Tony Newton, and the Labour shadow, Ann Taylor, and representatives of the whips’ offices – went into negotiations over salvaging part of the legislative programme.But Mr Newton last night told MPs he was unable to deliver a full package of business for the rest of the week, indicating that full agreement had not been reached “Discussions … The amendment will give judges greater discretion in sentencing burglars and drug dealers. The Home Secretary’s flagship Crime (Sentences) Bill, which appeared to be doomed after a House of Lords amendment blocked it, now looks likely to be passed.
Labour has agreed to “fast- track” 17 law-and-order Bills, providing they are allowed a Commons vote on the Crime Bill amendment before the House finally rises on Friday. A wide range of crime Bills, including measures for tougher sentencing, and action against stalkers and sex offenders, are expected to become law before the election after a deal was agreed between Labour and the Home Office yesterday. “If you are rich and selfish you vote Tory,” Brian Moore, the former rugby union star, said earlier this year.Coming out for Major:Earl Attlee, grandson of the Labour PM Clement Attlee;Frank Bruno, former boxer;Lord Lloyd-Webber, composer;Baroness (PD) James of Holland Park, writer;Spice Girl Geri;David Seaman, goalkeeper;Michael Atherton, cricketer;Barbara Windsor, actress;Robert Powell, actor;Backing Blair:Gerry Robinson, Granada Group chairman;Jeremy Hardie, chairman of WH Smith;Dr Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi;Mel C, of the Spice Girls;Sir Terence Conran, restaurateur;Lord Attenborough, film director;Michael Cashman, actor;Richard Wilson, actor;Alan Shearer, football player;Stephen Fry, actor and writer.. They include two religious leaders – the Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks, and the next Bishop of Worcester, Peter Selby – and the designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran.
