In the News Tuesday 21st February

Author: Emily Randall

The Times is reporting there continues to be attempts to derail the reform of Lords by rebel Conservatives peers including threats on government’s entire legislative agenda, to go on strike and currently several are co-ordinating a campaigns fund to fight changes to have an elected second chamber. Yesterday the Independent reported that Nadine Dorries had weighed into the lords reform debate with her  “If Peers allow the trio of Clegg/Cam/GO (George Osborne) to shape the future of the Lords on the back of shoddy deals then they deserve to be kicked out."

Rupert Murdoch has also been tweeting, this time on Scottish Independence, declaring his support for independence. Alex Salmond is dismissing claims by UK Minister for Europe that if Scotland is successfully devolved  changes to border controls would require passport checks.

The Guardian is covering the consequences of electing police commissioners following on from several senior labour figures announcing their interested in standing. In light of proposals to cut the number of Parliamentary constituencies in Wales from 40 to 30. The Boundary Commission for Wales is carrying out a public consultation over the new 4 weeks including holding public hearings.

The increase usage of social media by journalists has been compared to phone hacking in a new study into the ethical implications of “plundering webpages without permission”   Ex News of the World journalist, Philip Campbell Smith,  has been convicted of conspiring to illegally access private information for profit. Dozens of disenchanted Sun Staff have joined the National Union of Journalists as News International moves its focus away from the UK. On his Huffington Post blog, ex NOTW jouranlist Neville Thurlbeck has called for Rupert Murdoch to recruit ex News of the World staff for the Sun on Sunday.